Inquiry examining the Role of social Enterprises in

Thank you for your invitation to contribute to this inquiry from the Learning and Enterprise council.

Introduction on Enfys. The Enfys Foundation is a social enterprise that has developed a strong track record in the field of communi- ty recycling, in particular the collection, repair and re-use of unwanted household furniture and electrical appliances, which it makes available to people in need.

Enfys has diverted over 1000 Tonnes of Waste in the last 6/7 years and helped over 90,000 people. They have had access to Furniture and Appliances and other household effects that people were going to throw away. 90% of people who pass through our doors, which are open to the Public, are on benefits

As an organisation we have long-since recognised that our day-to-day operations can and do provide opportunities for a wide range of individuals to gain knowledge and practical skills in the repair of domestic appliances such as; washing machines, tumble-driers and dishwashers. We would like to make more of these opportunities.

The Domestic Appliance Training Project that we have developed will build our own capacity, the capacity of the community recycling sector and that of the wider domestic appliance repair trade in the UK, to offer training to help these people gain a nationally recognised qualification and help them move on to gain employment as a Domestic Appliance Service Engineer or in related trade sectors. Our Training Material, is a Partnership Project with the Author of the infamous Haynes Manuals Brand for Domestic Appliance Repairs. The course that has been developed is the only one of its kind and offers the opportunity for candidates to gain an industry recognised accreditation developed to meet the standards required by the new QCF framework for vocational qualifications.

We believe that this project is of its time. The new government has just announced in its ‘Program for government’ that it will ‘support the creation and expansion of mutuals, co-operatives, charities and social enterprises, and enable these groups to have much greater involvement in the running of public services’. We welcome this policy as recognition of the added value that we can bring. We believe that we can do ‘more for less’ helping to ease the burden on core education budgets by delivering quality accredited training within the context of real work environments, located in busy recycling operations, which are widely recognised as being at the ‘front-line’ of our efforts to promote re-use and minimise waste in the UK.

Experience of Working with WAG. In August 2008, The environment Minister Jane Davidson visited our project and signposted us to Gwenda Thomas AM. She felt it wasn’t in her remit to help further, but agreed the idea was good. Other advice giv- en was more signposting, but in actual fact, we had already started those processes and highlighted to WAG that it had in fact shown flaws in some areas, such as not having a representative from Wales, interfacing with the UK’s Weee Advisory Board (WAB).

Further dialogue was attempted to contact Gwenda Thomas, but there was protestation from her PA about where we could meet. It was initially insisted that we meet in our Charity shop, which is basi- cally a converted downstairs flat, as my office was on Fabian Way and not in her constituency. Despite the fact that we operated all over Port Talbot, I was getting resistance on a minor detail, but eventually it was agreed we could meet at my office. The appointment eventually being made some months later, was postponed and an attempt to reschedule failed on the part of Gwenda’s Office, again not coming back to or- ganise it despite my repeated attempts. As it happens Peter Hain knocked my home door on Sat 26th of June 2010 whilst canvassing Gwenda Thomas for the next elections. I stated my experience with her and now am back in dialog, but one does wonder how this situation managed to end up like this. Two years ago, Bethan Jenkins AM and AM visited Enfys, where our Training Project con- cept was explained, and whilst certain moves where made to raise awareness of Enfys, again nothing was concluded and we were given more signposting. Furthermore, I had a visit from Brian Gibbon, who again signposted. I’ve had an unofficial visit from Jeff Cuthbertson AM at the request of the Sector Skills Council (Summit Skills), who once again signposted. Another visit came from Andrew Davies AM, who stated that we needed more people like myself in Wales with the innovation of the Training Project, and who tried to open doors with Swansea Council, but brought nothing concrete from his endeavours. Other correspond- ence ensued with John Griffiths, then deputy Minister for skills and who both gave cre- dence to the concept but only signposted and gave information we already knew. I met with Alun Cairns AM at his surgery in Swansea and he too felt there was some merit in exploring this further, stating that he felt David Cameron, who is now the Prime Minister would like this idea. Alun had an election to deal with and wanted to pick up on it afterwards, where I’m still waiting for him to reply to recent emails.

I had dialog with AM in the summer of 2009 who directed Peter Black to see if he could help, and he did enable some dialog with , whilst Education Minister, and this did bring a visit from her department in November 2009. A follow up was arranged and we met with Kate Crabtree Head of Vocational Qualifications and Credit Development and Kim Ebrahim Head of Vocational Qualifications Regula- tion and QA Branch and the Sector Skills Councils Summit Skills and a representative from a Major award- ing body. This meeting and its outcome has still not been concluded but we were led to believe that we would get a Service Level Agreement, backed by their department, which was DCells, which would form a Pilot test on the use of the Material to achieve an NVQ Level 2 in Electrical Servicing on Domestic Appli- ances. We’ve found flaws in communication with this department and changes in personnel, that let the whole momentum and endeavour lapse and if it wasn’t for my own persistence, would have been forgotten. As we speak, a Trevor Clarke Head of Credit Framework on CQFW has taken this up stating that recently, it was the first he heard of this. We await his input as he is on holiday for the next week. We were informed by Crabtree and Ebrahim, that Meurig Thomas Head of Sector Policy and Programme Branch was the only one who could carry this forward. I contacted him and his recent reply was that his team had been restruc- tured and that Social Enterprises did not fall under his remit. Subsequent communications with Summit Skills to enlighten them of this, left the SSC dumbfounded as they hadn’t a clue who was responsible now. Meurig Thomas in this case, did not signpost which was most unusual for WAG Department Heads. Al- though his department still manage the Performance of SSC’s and take an overview of their activity in Wales and progresses the Sector Policy work, he failed to Signpost. You will see from the Letter of Support we have from Summit Skills, how this scenario beggars belief. You will see also just how much support we have had from Summit Skills and how as you read my experience, just how difficult it is to make progress as a Social Enterprise with an innovative and high potential concept.

I have always had my eye on being established as an Accredited Training Centre, ready for the new Contract from DCells, to be issued in July 2010, but the nightmare of working with WAG to achieve that status has likely meant this won’t be achieved. I do understand that we’d have to work in partnership as a Sub Contrac- tor, but as things stand, this does not look very probable.

Our Concept ticks all the boxes in the Following areas, and probably others: § Skills That Work for Wales. § Green Jobs Strategy § One Wales One Planet § The aims of the Welsh Assembly Government for social enterprises § Towards Zero Waste

This has been an almost complete waste of my time and that of The WAG because of its failure to have a single person of responsibility to investigate this potential, and make a decision to trial it and see whether indeed it can deliver “More for Less” and be considered for adoption in policy through increasing delivery platforms throughout the Unitary Authorities in Wales.

I say almost complete waste of time, because of two things. 1. The environment Dept led by Jane Davidson did commit last year to providing Grant to the Recy- cling ReUse Sector. Although that process was longer than it should have been, we eventually se- cured a grant of £10k for a business plan which has now just been completed. I found this department to be helpful on a lot of matters, but far too slow because of its autonomy and lack of communication protocols with other Departments such as Social Services, Housing and Education. 2. Our relationship with the SSC responsible for the National Occupational Standards, Summit Skills has been excellent, and we are now involved in Consultation with them for the new QCF Standard in Domestic Appliance Engineers. They have evidence of the need and the skills and have encouraged us to work towards helping them bring the industry to work with a Qualification that works, and a method that makes sense, led by Social Enterprise.

Working with Neath Port Talbot Council

NPT have been helpful in being the first council to offer us a ReUse/Recycling credit and they also now help us by bringing ReUseable Items to us on a weekly or fortnightly basis. However we feel we can offer more assistance to help bring their costs and ours down, in the collection process. Many councils are not aware of their exact costs, although I do believe this is changing, but we’ve been operating this opportunity for almost 7 years. If we could have the facility to bring ALL items offered to us at the household, then there would be no need for NPT to send out a Collection team. We would ask for a small amount for collecting it on their behalf. The council appear to be non-negotiable on this, despite me offering it some years ago. Its my belief that this could have been phased in through natural waste and working closer together. We are hopeful that the new Waste Strategy may open doors and we will need to wait and see, but The WAG should help facili- tate these infrastructures and cost savings initiatives.

Working with Swansea Council

Our experience with Swansea Council has been a more challenging one and we found them less helpful over the last 6 years. There is a change going on at the moment, as recently they have relented on paying a ReUse/Recycling credit, and relations are a bit better. However, the same principles apply as stated above about NPT. Swansea do not bring us anything, but allow us access more, to some of their goods collected by their own teams. It is hoped that both councils will come to the table more in future, but on both counts I believe that they should have been more helpful in the past. They, along with other Authorities were given additional Millions to help service the Statutory Waste Management obligations, but when questioned about core costs and outputs for delivery on In Vessel Composters and Aneorbic Digesters, we failed to find out. How easy would it have been to allow an SLA for us and other Welsh Projects to take a small amount of that pot, and utilise it in allowing us collection or/and development of ideas like we were presenting. The problem has been lack of Trust and Willingness in our experience and this is without justification as we’d been talking with them for over 6 years.

Simplification of our Concept.

We are trying to Pilot an Accredited NVQ Training Course from the best Training Source in its Class, where we want to use existing Education Budget, to help deliver Environment, Education and Social Outcomes in one Project. The Pilot is a forerunner to the prospect of a UK White Goods Skills Academy that will have Sustainable Development at its core.

Some of that Budget that goes to Colleges through DCells, could be put into our Skills Centre and allow us to also help the Environment by diversion tonnage and Carbon Saving, those in Poverty by supplying them Free or Low cost repairs or/and White Goods Appliances that are perfectly able to do the job. It also helps prevent low income families getting into debt, as we know many people are paying £400-£600 per year just renting a new Appliance. Additionally new jobs could be created providing Domestic Appliance Repairs within the confines of the Training Programme. More placements could be given to help people back to work, with Green Skills that the SSC’s say are required.

Other Departments at Local and National Level could also gain through the outcomes, and could be consid- ered as Stakeholders as well, with some budgetary input to the project(s)

Finally, a missing standard in Skills for Electrical Appliance Service can be supplied from a Welsh Based Project leading the way for the UK, and potentially in Europe.

Final thoughts.

I have operational roles in Enfys which are Accounts, Marketing, IT Systems & Processes, Policy & Stand- ards, Personnel Management and Fund Raising. I can’t do it all to the highest standard, but The WAG could have been more helpful in all areas and I really think that much has been hindered to help this Social Enterprise achieve its potential. If other SE’s in Wales have experienced half of what I have, then I don’t see a future that’s going to allow a potential flourishing economy through Public, Private and 3rd Sector Part- nership unless there is a shift in attitude, policy and protocols from The WAG.

Partnership is the way forward and without the will and commitment it will not work. Its recognised that delivery must come from a business focused plan, whilst an eye is kept on the focus of Social Enterprises’ core passions. Where there is a Will, there absolutely will be a way and all Ministers should put Action at the top of the answers to the Public questions. There are too many stock answers from Civil Servants, some- one needs to take responsibility where good initiatives from Social Enterprises are identified. Yes, there are successes such as Pack-IT in Wales, but a change in processes and protcols will deliver many more in a rea- sonable timescale.

In my opinion, there is too much being spent on duplicative aspects within projects that provide more Sign- Posting, such as the Wales Co-Operative Centre’s Convergence Programme, WCVA. FSB & CFAP which all have positive elements, but many just signpost and don’t do real things for real people who need help. Please don’t see all of my input as derogative, I can only speak about what I have found in my endeavours to seek assistance and I believe these points need to be raised.

There are too many Fire-Fighting initiatives in Wales and not enough preventions and we need to bring bal- ance to the strategy. Take Citizens Advice Cymru (A worthy programme), who have 36 Debt workers based in Wales and is funded by BERR’s Debt advice fund. According to the latest figures around 7,500 new clients have been helped since 2006.

The UK Government’s Pre-Budget Report of November 2008 also confirmed extra help for bureaux. £10 million has been allocated to the network up until 31 March 2010 to allow Citizens Advice to undertake na- tional promotional activities and to make grants to individual bureau of up to £50,000 to fund increased hours of service and the appointment of 1500 new trainee advisers. This added investment will increase the capacity of around 320 bureaux across England and Wales to help an additional 330,000 people a year. In Wales it was £3.15M for 37 Advisors.

Its great to be helping, and there is obviously the need but we should be providing more budget in propor- tion to the CAB, to projects like ours in Wales so that we can help reduce the numbers that are being helped by them in the first place. Perhaps even embedding CAB’s in Furniture Projects as a lot of it is debt related and prevention is better than cure and Awareness and Re-Education of ReUse as well as Finance Manage- ment should be part of the strategy. If projections on numbers who are going to need help, other than IVA’s and DRO’s then the demand for ReUse projects is going to go up. We need WAG to hear the sector more clearly and provide more help before its too late and we lose the valu- able skills in these projects. People need home security first, and a basic standard of living that doesn’t al- low Child Poverty. Then they want jobs and skills as well as systems that look after the Elderly and infirm. All need Household furniture and appliances and we need to find ways of reducing costs to getting them to those most in need. Jobs will come as the economy grows, but Green ones are important as is the ability to draw communities together and that can happen in Projects delivering real outcomes that help at the point of need.

I hope this inquiry has action points sooner than previous inquiry’s and that a full signed off report can be achieved in a reasonable timescale. I trust and hope this has been useful to you in this inquiry.

Regards

Robert Alexander

MD, Enfys Foundation, Elba Crescent, Off Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8QJ