Bill Lockitt, Director and trainer at G2G Communities shows Gail Edwards (left) and Eleri Streeter its LEGO® Education Innovation project (photo by Wales Council for Voluntary Action)
A Denbighshire social enterprise company has doubled its staffing team, thanks to its success in obtaining Engagement Gateway contracts.
G2G Communities CIC, based in Rhyl, work with unemployed individuals to improve their chances of finding new jobs. The company helps people throughout Conwy and Denbighshire develop new skills and reinvests its profits back into community projects or businesses that benefit local people.
Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s free business support service, helped oversee their Engagement Gateway tendering bid, and provided advice with employment contracts, policies and procedures.
The Engagement Gateway contracts are supported by the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Funding from Cyfenter/Menter Môn and the Welsh Government.
“G2G Communities CIC is an innovative social enterprise company that has been successful in obtaining new tender contracts in recent months,” Siân Edwards, Business Wales Advisor for Conwy and Denbighshire explains.
“The company’s development has been well planned. Key to its work ethos is prioritising tasks, ensuring documentation, policies and guidelines are in place and working with advisors such as Business Wales to consult in areas where they need additional support and expert advice.
“It has been great to work with them offering specific support in key areas such as employment law, contract of employment plus ill health and sickness issues.”
Based at Bee and Station Business Centre in Rhyl, G2G is the only community based LEGO® Education Innovation Centre in the UK. The Lego Innovation Studio, which opened its doors last autumn, enables the community, businesses, schools and members of the industry to develop their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) skills by using LEGO® equipment. The company takes its Lego® Education and expertise out to schools throughout North Wales.
G2G Communities CIC has also opened a new ‘North Wales Innovation Centre’ where it helps turn people’s ideas into business propositions
Company owners and directors, husband and wife, Bill and Moira Lockitt have a strong track record of working within the education and learning sector. Establishing G2G Communities CIC back in 2010, both were keen to merge their skills and experience and develop the company in order to assist people living in their hometown of Rhyl and further afield. The company currently employs 9 staff members.
Moira Lockitt explains: “We see around 100 people a week at the Centre, and it is so rewarding see individuals develop and prosper. Through a variety of IT accredited training courses as well as courses on photography, childcare, art and craft plus our LEGO® education sessions, you can really see people’s skills develop. We’re also keen on encouraging the softer skills, building confidence, encouraging better communication, problem solving and motivational skills. We try and create a relaxed environment where people are happy to attend, drop in, enjoy the courses and feel at home.”
G2G Communities CIC has access to a wide range of courses and qualifications from Agored Cymru; learndirect; British Computer Society and Virtual College. It is also an UK Online Centre.
Dr Bill Lockitt said: “We’re really pleased with the support received from the team at Business Wales. Advisors have visited us here at Rhyl and it’s good to know that they are still available on the other end of the phone if we have any queries. Having an additional expert pair of eyes overseeing some of our policies and procedures has been of great reassurance to us.”
From practical tips on developing a business to assistance on matters such as exporting, human resources and training, Business Wales offers a wealth of information to help businesses access support from the public, private and third sectors.
Open to all businesses over twelve months old, the free advice service offers practical information and guidance to all small to medium enterprises based in Wales.
As well as providing expert guidance, all Business Wales services are delivered bilingually, ensuring everyone has access to the wealth of opportunities available.
To find out how Business Wales can help you develop your business, call 03000 603000, or visit www.business.wales.gov.uk for further information.
