A founder of a community record label, hailed as a leading example of social enterprise in Pembrokeshire, says there are good opportunities for other ventures of this kind in the county. Robin Benson founded Tidy Like Records to give disadvantaged young people the opportunity to develop their musical creativity and job skills. The philosophy of a social enterprise like this will form the basis of a seminar to be held in the county during National Enterprise Week. The event, to be hosted by PLANED in conjunction with Pembrokeshire Enterprise Network and Pembrokeshire Social Enterprise Network on November 16, is aimed at individuals or community groups who have ideas for enterprises which could create employment and benefit local communities in Pembrokeshire. Kathryn Bradbury, PLANED's social enterprise support officer, said the speakers would include Steve Cranston, of Energy4All and Anne Stephenson, of the Welsh Assembly Government. Kathryn said the growing social enterprise sector can play an important role in the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of Pembrokeshire. "Social enterprises are businesses that operate in the same way as the many successful, privately- owned small and medium enterprises based in Pembrokeshire. There is little difference apart from the way the profits are distributed. Social enterprises use their income to satisfy social aims that benefit a community.' In the case of Tidy Like Records, money earned from selling the music is spent on supporting new ventures. The event at Letterston Village Hall will begin at 1.30 pm. "It will be useful for people who are running a community project and need advice or are looking for sources of funding,' said Kathryn Bradbury. "They will be able to hear information on how to source grants of up to £10,000 which are available for voluntary groups.'
