A dedicated news channel that aims to share the work of ethical businesses across Wales is set to launch this month. The channel, Responsible Business News, will shine a spotlight on those businesses going that extra mile supporting charities or their local community.

The channel is a partnership between Business News Wales and Social Business Wales, and is set to announce further partners in the coming weeks. It has also been designed showcase the Welsh organisations which have created social business models, that look to promote equality, the environment and those businesses giving something back to the community.

The launch of the new channel follows Business News Wales’ campaign to scale up its regional and industry offering, through the creation of more targeted news channels. Other channels include Business News Pembrokeshire, Manufacturing News Wales and Transport News Wales.

Mark Powney, managing director at Business News Wales said:

“Encouraging businesses to actively support their communities is an initiative that we truly believe in. Many organisations are keen to give something back, yet most are not sure how to take that first step. We hope that Responsible Business News, will help get them started and we will continue to see Wales’ ethical business sector grow.

“We are extremely supportive of social business and believe this model has a big role to play in shaping the Welsh economy over the next decade.”

Responsible Business News will include established expert columnists, monthly podcasts, regular features and events.

Derek Walker, Chief Executive of Wales Cooperative Centre, commented:

We need to make social businesses better understood across Wales to ensure that as many people as possible properly understand the impact and importance of our work.  Having a dedicated news channel to help shine a spotlight on this varied and innovative sector, which offers environmental and social value to our country, is a big step forward. We are delighted that our business support service for the sector, Social Business Wales, funded by ERDF and Welsh Government, will be playing a central role in making this channel a success.”

The social business sector in Wales is worth an estimated £3.18bn to the Welsh economy, a 34% increase on findings in 2016.

The ‘Mapping the Social Business Sector in Wales 2019’ report, identified a total of 2,022 organisations as operating in the social business sector in Wales, employing around 55,000 people and providing volunteering opportunities to an estimated 58,000 individuals. In addition, around a quarter of all businesses invest their profits in their social objectives and more than three-quarters pay the Real Living Wage to all their staff, compared to 48% of Welsh SMEs

Businesses wishing to share their news with the channel, can contact the news team on [email protected]