Social enterprises and community-owned businesses thus come in all shapes and sizes, and they play a vital role in community development, in social regeneration and economic transformation. They are central to the foundational economy, and keep capital—human, social and cultural, as well as economic—circulating in local communities. Crucially, they demonstrate that commercial success can and does go hand in hand with social purpose and a community ethos. 

A recent article by Grace Blakeley in the Tribune highlighted how, under the umbrella of Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, social enterprises in Blaenau Ffestiniog provide a world-leading example of grass-roots alternatives to the model of post-industrial capitalism. Before COVID-19, 15 social enterprises in Blaenau employed almost 200 people between them. These include CellB, a cinema and arts centre, and Antur Stiniog, a mountain biking centre. As Blakeley puts it, in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and I quote,

'a critical mass of people stopped believing that it’s impossible to change the world around them. And as soon as they gave up that limiting belief, change just happened.'