Social Business Wales has officially announced the highly anticipated finalists for the Social Business Awards Wales 2026.
Following an exceptional response to this year’s call for entries, the shortlist highlights the immense strength, diversity, and positive social impact driving the social enterprise sector across Welsh communities.
The finalists have been carefully selected across eight distinct categories, each designed to celebrate excellence, innovation, and a dedication to social justice and sustainability.
Glenn Bowen, Director of Enterprise at Cwmpas, expressed his optimism for the sector’s trajectory:
“The quality and number of entries for this year’s Awards show the depth, breadth and diversity of the social enterprise sector in Wales, so I am optimistic and excited about the future of our communities.”
The winners will be revealed during a live celebration evening on Wednesday, 7th October 2026, at Y Muni in Pontypridd. Tickets are currently available for members of the public and the business community to join the finalists in celebrating their achievements.
The full list of categories and finalists for the Social Business Awards Wales 2026 includes:
Category 1: One to Watch Award
Sponsored by Trivallis
Open to social enterprises operating for less than two years (as of April 2026) that demonstrate growth and a clear future vision.
- PAN Cymru is a parent-led social enterprise supporting families involved in the child protection system through co-produced Parent Cafés, training and consultancy. Founded on lived experience, it brings parents and professionals together to build understanding, reduce stigma and improve outcomes, creating stronger relationships, more responsive services and better support for families across Wales.
- Redberth Croft CIC is a Pembrokeshire-based social enterprise creating inclusive opportunities for veterans, neurodivergent individuals, carers and people facing isolation or mental health challenges. Rooted in lived experience, it empowers people through community, environmental and wellbeing projects, helping them to build skills, confidence and purpose while celebrating difference and potential.
- Hubbub is a community-focused social enterprise in Penarth creating supported work experience and employment pathways for young people with additional learning needs and neurodiversity. Through a sustainable retail model, it builds confidence, independence and skills while reducing waste proving that, with the right opportunities, young people can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Category 2: Social Enterprise Innovation Award
Sponsored by The CoOp
Recognising that social enterprises are nearly three times more likely to develop new products or services than mainstream businesses.
- Invisible Walls works with children, families and those in custody to strengthen relationships and reduce isolation. Through prison visitor centres, trauma responsive services, family interventions and school partnerships, they help families to feel supported, informed and hopeful about the future.
- PACTO (Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations) is a charity and social business dedicated to improving accessibility and reducing transport inequality across Pembrokeshire. By supporting community transport providers, volunteers and innovative local services, PACTO helps people stay connected to healthcare, education, employment and community life, creating a more inclusive and resilient county.
- Wales Weightlifting Federation CIC is the national governing body for weightlifting and strength-based activity in Wales, combining sporting excellence with community impact. Through education, participation programmes, competitions and partnerships, it supports healthier, stronger communities while developing athletes, coaches and clubs, ensuring every surplus is reinvested for public benefit.
Category 3: Prove it: the Social Impact Award
Sponsored by Elite Supported Employment Agency
Open to enterprises operating for over two years, focusing on the excellence of their impact measurement and stakeholder reporting processes.
- Boss & Brew Academy is a Cardiff-based social enterprise using coffee as a tool to build confidence, skills and opportunities for young people aged 16 to 24. Through barista training, work placements and its youth-led café, it helps young people to gain qualifications, employment experience and brighter futures while reinvesting all income into free programmes.
- With Music in Mind is dedicated to improving well-being and reducing isolation amongst older adults. They run welcoming, informal singing sessions, gentle exercise classes, and social activities across the Vale of Glamorgan, offering adults aged 50 and over an affordable way to stay active and connected.
- People Speak Up is a South West Wales arts and mental health charity dedicated to connecting communities and reducing isolation. Based in Llanelli, they offer free creative writing, storytelling, and spoken word workshops designed to build resilience, foster intergenerational understanding, and empower individuals to find their voice.
Category 4: Environmental Social Enterprise Award
Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank
Celebrating excellence among established social enterprises operating within the green and environmental sectors.
- Welcome to Our Woods is a community-led social enterprise in the Upper Rhondda Valley working on revitalising the local landscape. They sustainably manage regional woodlands to improve community wellbeing, offer outdoor activities, and provide green skills training. They are helping to shape a sustainable, resilient future through land stewardship and nature connection.
- Too Good to Waste works to reduce landfill by giving household items a second life. They collect quality surplus furniture and appliances, offering them at affordable prices in our showrooms. Every purchase and donation helps support local communities and creates a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
- Benthyg Cymru aims to make borrowing as easy as popping out for a loaf of bread. Supporting community “Libraries of Things” across Wales, it lets people borrow everyday items—like DIY tools, camping gear, and kitchen appliances—rather than buy them. The initiative saves money, reduces household clutter, and cuts carbon waste to build a circular economy.
Category 5: Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Justice Award
Honouring established social enterprises actively addressing social justice and equity issues within their operations.
- NeuroBusiness CIC has a simple but ambitious vision: to create a world where Neurodivergent people have the same opportunities to thrive as everyone else. They exist to tackle the inequalities that prevent many Neurodivergent people from living fulfilling, independent and connected lives.
- Ffair Jobs grew from a grassroots movement led by young people in Butetown, Grangetown and Riverside, Cardiff. Through the Community Jobs Compact, they connect local talent with inclusive employers, champion fair work and create pathways into employment, helping to ensure that Cardiff’s opportunities are shared more fairly by all.
- More Than Flags and Rainbows CIC is working to make a Wales where everyone can thrive free from discrimination, bullying and exclusion. Through innovative programmes, training and consultancy, they help schools, organisations and communities to embed inclusion in practice.
Category 6: Social Enterprise Women’s Champion Award
Recognising outstanding female leadership within a social enterprise senior team or supporting organisation.
- Emma Williams is the Founder & CEO of emwillcare and creator of Less Distress, an award-winning Welsh social-impact business using behavioural science and AI to improve dementia care. One of only 80 dementia-focused Behaviour Analysts worldwide, Emma is transforming how distress is understood and prevented, while championing women-led innovation, Welsh entrepreneurship and scalable social impact.
- Katy Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Mothers Matter, a Welsh social enterprise supporting families through perinatal mental health challenges. Combining lived experience with visionary leadership, she has expanded vital services across South Wales, championed maternal wellbeing, reduced stigma, and created life-changing support for parents facing isolation, trauma, loss and anxiety.
- Danielle John is the founder of The EmpowHER Project CIC and Team Lead at Cyfle Cymru, using lived experience to empower women facing trauma, addiction, homelessness and disadvantage. Through advocacy, mentoring and trauma-informed support, she has engaged hundreds of women, championed systemic change, and created pathways from survival to leadership.
- Sarah Miles is the Managing Director of With Music in Mind (WMIM) and a passionate social enterprise leader dedicated to tackling loneliness and improving wellbeing for older people. Over 11 years, she has grown WMIM into a thriving community organisation, creating the award-worthy Y Galon hub, championing inclusion, collaboration and sustainability, and transforming lives across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Category 7: Community-based Social Enterprise Award
Sponsored by Cynon Taf Housing Group
Celebrating established enterprises acting as powerful agents in shaping and supporting local rural or urban places.
- Welcome to Our Woods is a community-owned social enterprise transforming public woodlands and local assets in the Upper Rhondda. From renewable energy and sustainable forestry to wellbeing spaces and community enterprises, it creates jobs, generates local wealth and empowers residents to take ownership of their landscape, environment and future.
- Stori Brymbo is a community-led heritage charity and social enterprise transforming the former Brymbo Steelworks into a nationally significant visitor destination. Through heritage, education, research, volunteering and tourism, it celebrates Wales’ industrial past while driving regeneration, creating opportunities and delivering lasting social, economic and environmental benefits for future generations.
- PACTO is a Pembrokeshire-based charity and social enterprise tackling transport poverty and rural isolation. For over 20 years, it has connected people to healthcare, education, employment and community life through accessible transport solutions, volunteer networks and strategic partnerships, helping build a more inclusive, resilient and connected Pembrokeshire for all.
- GLL is a charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-operative that has been improving community wellbeing for over 30 years. Operating leisure centres, libraries and community facilities across the UK, GLL reinvests its surplus into services that help people lead healthier, happier lives. Its work demonstrates the power of bringing healthcare into the heart of the community, creating lasting social value and improving outcomes for local people.
Category 8: the Social Enterprise of the Year Award
Sponsored by GLL
Awarded to an established social enterprise demonstrating overall excellence and actively promoting the sector to the wider public.
- Myddfai is a Carmarthenshire-based social enterprise creating luxury Welsh toiletries, home fragrances and gifts inspired by local heritage. Through sustainable, cruelty-free products, every sale supports meaningful employment and work experience opportunities for people with autism, learning disabilities and additional support needs, showing how business can drive lasting social impact.
- Physical Empowerment CIC is a Welsh social enterprise helping women recover from domestic abuse through trauma-informed rehabilitation programmes that build physical, emotional and mental resilience. Founded from lived experience, it empowers survivors to rebuild confidence and independence while creating pathways into volunteering, leadership and long-term community participation across South and West Wales.
- Benthyg Cymru is a community-led social enterprise promoting borrowing over buying through a growing network of Libraries of Things across Wales. By helping people access affordable tools and household items, it saves money, reduces waste and strengthens communities, supporting a more sustainable, circular economy while fostering local collaboration and innovation.
Interested attendees can secure their place at the awards ceremony by visiting the official ticketing link.
