Economy The recruitment squeeze ahead
NewsApril 2nd, 2024
Many people want an economy in which wealth is retained and shared in their community. In Blaenau Ffestiniog, that is becoming a reality – and we went to find out more.
In the past, industries such as coal and slate devastated the environment and blighted lives, while the profits were enjoyed by mine and quarry owners. Today, it is industries such as tourism and energy production which extract wealth from local communities.
Increasingly, people want to build a different kind of economy – one in which the wealth they create is retained and shared locally, which is sustainable environmentally, and which supports people’s languages and cultures. This community or social enterprise approach has been around for some time. However, progress is slow. But in Blaenau Ffestiniog there are so many social enterprises that they are forming the foundations of a new type of economy.
In summer 2023, a group of people from the Cynon Valley and area and Blaenau Ffestiniog participated in study visits to share experiences and learn from each other. This report sets out key findings from the collaboration.
The Bevan Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust and the Lipman Miliband Trust towards the costs of this project.
