Member updates

The Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, officially opened Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise’s (PDSE) Dental Education Practice in Plymouth city centre on Monday 29th June 2026, recognising an innovative partnership that is improving access to urgent NHS dental care while helping train the next generation of dental professionals. The Minister met staff from Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, members of the Dental Task Force led by Plymouth City Council, and undergraduate dental students. Although the practice welcomed its first patients on 9th February 2026, the official opening marks an important milestone in celebrating the impact the service is already having across the region. By the end of May, the practice had delivered 2,756 dental appointments to 1,585 patients since opening, including urgent dental care for patients referred through NHS 111 with conditions such as dental pain, infection and dental trauma. Run by Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise in partnership with the University of Plymouth, the Dental Education Practice has been designed to help address the growing demand for urgent dental care while also providing valuable hands-on experience for the next generation of dental professionals. The practice brings together dental students, Foundation Dentists, qualified Dental Therapists and Dentists, and highly skilled Dental Nurses, all working collaboratively within a carefully supervised and patient-centred environment. This multidisciplinary model ensures patients receive high-quality treatment while students and trainees develop the clinical confidence and professional skills needed for their future careers. Designed to simulate a real dental practice within an accessible city-centre location, the facility offers a fundamentally different teaching experience from a traditional large teaching clinic. Students and trainees are able to work alongside specialists and qualified clinicians, broadening their experience across a wide range of clinical disciplines and gaining exposure to the collaborative nature of contemporary dental care. This approach supports both exceptional patient outcomes and outstanding educational development. This model reflects Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise’s wider commitment to combining excellent primary dental care with high-quality clinical placement opportunities for students. Robert Witton, Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, said: “The official opening of our Dental Education Practice is an opportunity to celebrate what has already been achieved in just a few months. We’ve demonstrated that it is possible to improve access to NHS dental care while creating an outstanding learning environment for the next generation of dental professionals. This practice brings together students, Foundation Dentists, experienced Clinicians, and Dental Nurses in a truly collaborative setting that reflects how modern dentistry is delivered. Every patient treated not only receives safe, high-quality, compassionate care, but also plays an important role in developing the confidence and skills of our future workforce. We’re incredibly proud of the impact the practice is already having for patients across Plymouth and the wider region, and we’re delighted to welcome the Minister of State for Care to officially open this innovative facility.” Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the University’s Peninsula Dental School and Chair of the Dental Schools Council (UK and Ireland), said: “This practice represents a significant step forward in dental education. By embedding students within a modern primary care environment, they gain invaluable experience working alongside specialist clinicians and multidisciplinary teams while caring for patients with a wide range of dental needs. Plymouth graduates are recognised for their clinical confidence and compassionate approach, and the Dental Education Practice strengthens that reputation by providing even greater opportunities for hands-on learning. At the same time, we’re helping improve access to NHS dental care for our local communities, demonstrating the powerful impact that education and healthcare can have when they work together.” Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock, said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Plymouth today to officially open the Peninsula Dental Education Practice. This state-of-the-art facility will make a real difference for local people – delivering 12,000 NHS dental appointments a year, from urgent care through to more complex treatments.“It was a genuine pleasure to meet the students and hear first-hand about their training and ambitions. They are the future of NHS dentistry, and facilities like this are exactly how we rebuild that service from the ground up.” We are incredibly grateful to our patients, staff, University of Plymouth colleagues, and partners for their support during these first months since opening. Their contribution has helped establish a strong foundation for the practice, and we look forward to continuing to grow, welcoming more patients, and expanding opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, registered Clinicians, and Dental Nurses alike. A patient at the Dental Education Practice commented: “I have had dental phobia for many years following traumatic experience of dental care. The team were very understanding, patient & supportive. I had three extractions, one of which was very stubborn & extremely painful to extract. The dentist & assistant were absolutely amazing, supporting me with empathy throughout the procedure. Thank you so so much.” This innovative facility has also been recognised for its design, having been shortlisted in the Education Project of the Year category at the 2026 Michelmore Property Awards. The Dental Education Practice represents an important investment in both patient care and the future dental workforce. By combining high-quality NHS dental services with innovative education and training, it is helping improve access to care across the South West while equipping future clinicians with the experience and skills needed to meet the evolving needs of patients. Find more information on the impact of the Dental Education Practice here. For more information on the services available at the Dental Education Practice, please refer to our website: www.peninsuladental.org.uk/clinics/plymouth-city-centre/ or contact pdse-info@plymouth.ac.uk

NEMI Teas, the award-winning London-based social enterprise, has officially released its 2025 Impact Report. The report highlights a landmark year of operational growth, environmental milestones, and life-changing employment opportunities for refugees resettling in the UK. Operating through a unique business model that prioritises social impact over private shareholder value, NEMI Teas combines a premium, 100% organic tea brand with its hands-on Changing Journeys employment programme. Transforming lives through tea Amidst a global displacement crisis, NEMI Teas continues to chip away at the systematic employment barriers faced by refugees. Through its chain of London-based impact hubs, TRAMPOLINE Café, the enterprise provides paid work experience, accredited hospitality training, and vital UK references. Key social impact highlights from the 2025 report include: Direct support: 19 refugees supported directly through training and mentoring, spanning 12 different nationalities (including Syria, Ukraine, Iran, and Eritrea). Fair wages: 2,302 hours worked by refugees, earning £34,669 directly at London Living Wage. Economic savings: Over £1million generated in government savings by moving individuals into stable employment. Empowering Graduates: In October 2025, NEMI handed over the keys of its first TRAMPOLINE Café site in Angel, London to programme graduate Yogi, transitioning the space into a highly rated independent Sri Lankan restaurant. "2025 was a year of investment and growth," said Pranav Chopra, Founder of NEMI Teas. Refugees arrive in the UK with incredible skills and resilience, but too often hit a wall: no UK reference, no foot in the door. NEMI exists to chip away at that wall. Every cup of our tea served in a café, hotel, or office is a direct contribution to that mission. Innovation in the cup and for the planet The past year also marked substantial expansions to NEMI’s product line and sustainable manufacturing infrastructure: TRAMPOLINE Teas launch: NEMI introduced its everyday, highly ethical sister brand featuring 100% Organic and Fairtrade certifications. Major B Corp corporate caterer Houston and Hawkes became the pioneer partner to swap mainstream office tea for the TRAMPOLINE range. Solar-powered production: NEMI brought its chai syrup manufacturing completely in-house. 100% of its finished goods are now blended, packed, and shipped under one solar-powered roof in Somerset. Landfill Diversion: By utilising plastic-free, plant-starch NeoSoilon teabags and NatureFlex wood-pulp envelopes, 11,570,200 teabags were diverted from landfills and safely composted with food waste in 2025. SBTi recognition: NEMI received official Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recognition for its commitment to zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions through 2034. Industry recognition and looking ahead to 2026 NEMI’s unique intersection of quality and purpose did not go unnoticed. In 2025, the brand was named to the SEUK Top 100 List for the 8th consecutive year and won the prestigious Footprint Drinks Sustainability Social Impact Award. Corporate giants like Nationwide Building Society and Accor Hotels have further integrated NEMI into their procurement chains to meet ambitious sustainability targets. Looking forward to the rest of 2026, NEMI Teas aims to scale its impact by targeting a 150% increase in refugees trained through its Bounce and Jump tracks. For the first time, the social enterprise will also open its programmes to individuals seeking asylum, while working to open a third TRAMPOLINE Café site through joint-venture partnerships. CLICK HERE TO READ NEMI'S IMPACT REPORT About NEMI Teas Founded in 2017, NEMI Teas is a London-based social enterprise that sources and sells exceptional organic teas. The company acts as a catalyst for social mobility by employing and training refugees, helping them break into the UK workforce and regain financial independence. nemiteas.com

Multi award-winning Oxford social enterprise brewery, bakery, and hospitality organisation Tap Social Movement appoints former Asahi Europe & International CEO Paolo Lanzarotti and former Punch Taverns CEO Giles Thorley to senior advisory roles as the company embarks on its next key growth stage and seeks to expand its impact on the lives of prison leavers. Lanzarotti brings extensive experience in the beer and brewing industry, with a particular focus on sustainably accelerating growth and scaling brewery operations while maintaining quality and consistency. At Asahi Europe & International Lanzarotti oversaw a group with 20 breweries and production facilities distributing across eight domestic markets and more than 80 internationally. He previously held a number of country Managing Director roles at SABMiller. Lanzarotti says: “For a number of years, I’ve admired how Tap Social have built a business balancing the delivery of growth in numbers alongside having a positive impact on people in prison and prison leavers. Now I’m excited to be part of the journey that will see this business having economic and social impact at greater scale. And the beer is pretty good too!” Currently CEO of Development Bank of Wales, Thorley joins Tap Social with nine years of hospitality management experience with Punch Taverns, which under his leadership became one of the largest pub groups in the UK. In both 2007 and 2008 Thorley earned the top spot in the annual “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Pub Trade” list. Thorley has a proven track record in backing exciting early-stage businesses in the hospitality, leisure and consumer goods sectors, including as an initial backer of Deliveroo. Thorley says: “Tap Social is a fantastic business that combines a great multi-function business model with a strong ethical stance – a model that encompasses a hugely innovative brewery, an award winning bakery, unique retail spaces, entertainment, and a principled brand.  Whether it is the support for the rehabilitation of offenders or sourcing of sustainable products and a focus on local suppliers, the Tap Social Movement is one to join and one that I am excited to support.” As senior advisors, backers Lanzarotti and Thorley will help strategically guide the scale and direction of Tap Social’s expansion into new markets. A recipient of two Great Taste 2025 awards for Time Better Spent (5.1% Juicy IPA – 2 Stars) and Jobsworth (3.4% Session Pale Ale – 1 Star), Tap Social distributes select beers to more than 240 Waitrose & Partners supermarkets in the UK. Tap Social currently runs three Oxfordshire community venues, including its award-winning wholesale bakery and café Proof Social Bakehouse. Later this year it opens Day Release, a purpose-built café, bar, bakery, and community venue at Milton Park, the UK’s largest science, business, and technology hub, as well as additional outlets later this year.  To date Tap Social has created more than 112,000 hours of paid employment for people in prison and prison leavers. It was named the UK’s “Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year” in 2024, and is currently the “Community-Based Social Enterprise of the Year.” Learn more about Tap Social Movement and its mission to reduce reoffending and turn lives around at tapsocialmovement.com. About Tap Social Movement With a shared passion for social justice and independent beer, Paul Humpherson and sisters Amy and Tess Taylor founded Tap Social Movement in 2016 to provide support, training, and fulfilling employment to people who have had contact with the criminal justice system. In addition to its commercial production brewery, Tap Social currently runs four community venues across Oxfordshire, including its bakery Proof Social Bakehouse and Day Release, its newest location opening in mid-2026 at Milton Park. It brews a range of modern, accessible beer highlighted by its award-winning core range, which includes its best-selling Juicy IPA Time Better Spent.

Team England is delighted to announce a new partnership with GLL, the UK’s largest charitable leisure social enterprise, as preparations build toward the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The partnership brings together two organisations with a shared mission: helping people across England get active, discover new sports and feel part of something bigger. Through its network of Better leisure centres, GLL supports millions of visits every year, and will now play a major role in connecting communities to Team England in the lead‑up to the Games. At the heart of the partnership is the Team England National Sports Weekend, taking place on 18th – 19th July 2026 across GLL venues nationwide. The weekend will open the doors to Commonwealth sports, offering free or low‑cost sessions, coaching and taster activities for local communities. Around 300,000 people are expected to take part, giving families, young people and new participants the chance to try something different, get closer to the spirit of this year’s Commonwealth Games, and meet some Team England legends. Speaking about the partnership, Mark Osikoya, CEO of Commonwealth Games England, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with GLL who are an organisation that share our belief in the power of sport to bring people together. With their incredible reach into communities across England, this partnership will help more people feel connected to Team England and inspired by the journey to Glasgow 2026.” Peter Bundey, CEO of GLL, added: “GLL is proud to support Team England and to help open up Commonwealth sports to people of all ages and abilities. The National Sports Weekend will be a fantastic celebration of movement, community and opportunity. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of people into our centres this summer.” GLL has a long track record of supporting both elite and community sports, from backing the London 2012 Games bid to operating Olympic venues in legacy mode.  In 2008 it launched the GLL Sport Foundation, to help talented young athletes facing financial hardship.  To date the Foundation has provided over 35,000 awards and almost £20million worth of support to aspiring sportsmen and women.  About GLL Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. Operating under the Better brand, it manages over 250 public sport and leisure centres, 114 libraries and 10 children’s centres in partnership with over 70 government, public agency and sporting body partners. It has 750 leisure members and welcomes 59 million customer visits per year. gll.org

Exceptional Individuals is a social enterprise supporting neurodivergent people, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, into and within work. The organisation was founded 10 years ago by Matt Boyd, drawing on his own lived experience of unemployment and navigating work as a neurodivergent person. What began with the simple aim of supporting just one other person facing similar barriers has grown into a national organisation delivering impact at scale. Today, Exceptional Individuals is a neurodivergent-led organisation, with around 90% of its team identifying as neurodivergent. This lived experience sits at the heart of its work, shaping services that are practical, trusted and rooted in real-world understanding. Over the past year alone, more than 2 million people accessed the Exceptional Individuals website, reflecting growing demand for clear, accessible information about neurodiversity and employment. Around 5,000 people each day use the organisation’s online tools and resources to better understand neurodivergent traits and characteristics, often representing a first step towards self-understanding, workplace support or career progression. Exceptional Individuals supports individuals directly through workplace needs assessments, coaching and in-work support, helping neurodivergent people stay in employment, progress in their careers and avoid unnecessary job loss. This work not only improves individual outcomes, but also reduces the wider social and economic costs associated with exclusion from work. Alongside individual support, the organisation works extensively with corporate employers, delivering neurodiversity training, consultancy and practical guidance. This includes supporting line managers, HR teams and senior leaders to better understand neurodivergent talent, implement reasonable adjustments and embed inclusive practice across recruitment, retention and progression. By working with employers, Exceptional Individuals helps create environments where neurodivergent people can thrive rather than simply cope. As demand for neurodiversity support continues to grow, Exceptional Individuals is also expanding its work to train front-line staff in other charities and social enterprises, building sector-wide capacity and improving support for neurodivergent people across services. From its beginnings supporting a single individual, Exceptional Individuals has now supported thousands of neurodivergent people and worked with organisations across the UK, demonstrating the social and economic value of inclusive employment. Useful links To book a Workplace Needs Assessment or access in-work support: exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/workplace-needs-assessments/ To explore neurodiversity resources and quizzes, including support for individuals and those wondering if they may have neurodivergent traits: exceptionalindividuals.com/candidates/neurodiversity-resources/neurodiversity-quizzes/ To find out more about Exceptional Individuals and access further resources: exceptionalindividuals.com/

With growing scrutiny of AI in public services, social enterprise Beam has partnered with Nesta to gather public feedback on how its AI tool, Magic Notes, is being used in social care. Launched in 2023, Magic Notes uses AI to transcribe and summarise meeting notes for social workers and other frontline professionals. It was initially developed to support Beam’s own caseworkers who were struggling with administrative workload. Today, it is used by 65,000 practitioners across over 200 organisations, including local authorities, central government, health, social care and employability services.  The public consultation on Magic Notes was carried out through Nesta’s AI Social Readiness Advisory Label between September and October 2025. It involved 137 UK adults, including social care service users, who were asked to weigh the benefits and risks of using Magic Notes during 18 small-group deliberation sessions.  The findings showed strong public backing for Magic Notes, with 83% of participants feeling positive about social workers using the tool and 86% believing it would benefit social care as a whole. In particular, they valued the tool’s ability to free up social worker time, improve the quality of case notes, support job satisfaction and wellbeing, and enable better interactions with service users.  While participants supported the use of AI to reduce paperwork, they were clear that decisions about care must remain with people, not technology. Risks raised included accuracy, data privacy and over-reliance on technology, alongside a strong expectation that social workers review and approve all AI-generated summaries. However, after learning more about the tool and its safeguards, 74% said its benefits outweighed the risks. The consultation also highlighted deep dissatisfaction with the current social care system. Only 13% of participants said they were satisfied with how social care works today, reinforcing the scale of the challenge facing social care and the need for change. Kathy Peach, Director of the Centre for Collective Intelligence (CCI) at Nesta said:  “The government's AI Adoption plan is bound to fail unless there's public support for AI in public services. Our AI Social Readiness Advisory offers a way to build public confidence and trust, helping people to overcome initial concerns they may have about a tool. This is especially important in public service areas like social care that have a lot to gain from AI, but low public support for the use of AI might be stalling deployment.” Rachel Astall, Chief Customer Officer at Beam, said: “Responsible use of AI is central to how we build and deliver technology at Beam. We were encouraged to see that 86% of the public,  including people who access social care, felt that Magic Notes would benefit social care as a whole. The process surfaced thoughtful, practical suggestions for further improving the use of AI tools, and gave us a clear sense of what earns public confidence. We think it’s important that the public are consulted on how AI is used in public service delivery and we hope more organisations will take similar steps.” magicnotes.ai beam.org About the AI Social Readiness Advisory Label The Advisory Label is a structured public deliberation process that measures public confidence and trust in AI tools being used in the UK public sector. It involves an immersive, educational, and collaborative experience for citizens who weigh the benefits and risks of specific technologies to determine conditions for their trustworthy deployment.

Dr Birgit Kehrer, founder of award-winning ChangeKitchen CIC based in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, has been recognised as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring female entrepreneurs. Birgit, who founded her business in 2010, will be featured alongside leading female founders from across the country as part of Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 campaign, which celebrates the multi-achievements of women running businesses in the UK. The campaign celebrates 100 exceptional women across the UK who are driving innovation, growth, and positive impact in their communities, while running successful businesses. Birgit is being profiled for her achievements as a leading social entrepreneur committed to tackling food injustice one climate-friendly meal at a time, and providing volunteering, training and work experience opportunities to those marginalised from recognised, more mainstream, employment routes into the hospitality sector. On being featured in this year’s #IAlso100 lineup, Birgit said: “I am genuinely humbled, and delighted, to be named in this prestigious national list of female entrepreneurs. Looking at those who feature in the 2026 list, there are many female leaders who are incredible role models and whom I find equally inspiring.” “Being recognised through awards such as this f:Entrepreneur 100 is so much more than just a ‘nice badge’ – it helps give people, particularly women, a voice and an aspiration to achieve more. I’m privileged to have collaborated with, and supported, some wonderful people through ChangeKitchen CIC and our work as a professional, sustainable catering service and Kindness Café specialising in plant-based menus.” Launched in 2017 by Small Business Britain, the f:Entrepreneur campaign aims to raise greater awareness of the impact of incredible female business owners across the country, and help provide inspiration and role models to the wider small business community.  “It is brilliant to feature Birgit in this year’s #IAlso100 campaign. All of the female entrepreneurs in this year’s line-up are inspirational and remarkable role models,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain. “Their creativity, leadership, and community impact show exactly why supporting female founders is so important, not only for the UK’s economic growth but for the positive difference they make to wider society.” The #IAlso100 campaign offers a host of events, training, and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability, and confidence.  Female entrepreneurship continues to make a powerful economic impact, with estimates suggesting up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as men.1 To view the full list of the 100 female business owners featured in this year’s f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 campaign, visit https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2026/. About ChangeKitchen CIC A pioneer of climate-friendly, socially-driven catering ChangeKitchen CIC is widely recognised as the Midlands’ only fully climate-friendly catering social enterprise, delivering high-end corporate, private and third-sector catering while creating deep, measurable social impact. Over the past fifteen years, ChangeKitchen CIC has become a quiet powerhouse in Birmingham’s social economy, using food as a bridge into opportunity, dignity and community. Their work includes: 95,000 free meals cooked and distributed since March 2020, with 200 to 400 meals still provided weekly. Nearly 10,000 bespoke emergency food parcels delivered to people in crisis. 20 to 50 supported work placements offered every year to people furthest from the labour market. Growth from 2.5 staff to 12, many of whom joined following supported placements. Employment of survivors of modern slavery through partnership with the Jericho Foundation’s Equiano Programme. 50 to 100 tonnes of surplus food saved from landfill annually. A fully climate-friendly kitchen powered by low-carbon energy, composting, recycling and zero-waste principles. changekitchen.co.uk

During International Homelessness Week, social enterprise Connection Crew brought together over 70 leaders from social enterprises, homelessness charities, event partners and impact-driven organisations to celebrate 20 years of delivering employment pathways for people affected by homelessness. Since 2005, Connection Crew has: Provided work to 499 people affected by homelessness Delivered almost 300,000 hours of living wage work for people affected by homelessness Built long-term partnerships across the events, charity and social enterprise sectors Demonstrated that commercial purchasing decisions - such as booking crew - can be powerful tools for social change Connection Crew released its 20 Year Impact Report at the event which featured three speakers: Lord John Bird, Founder of The Big Issue Praised employment-led interventions as essential to breaking cycles of disadvantage. “Connection Crew is one of those rare organisations that doesn’t just give people a handout but a hand up.” Camilla Marcus-Dew, Head of Ventures, Connection Crew Founder of Amplify Goods and previously founder of SoapCo and Beco, Camilla challenged the sector to seize the opportunity presented by the events industry’s huge procurement power. “The power is in procurement choices, staffing an event with people that live up the road, working with SMEs, putting money in the hands of diverse businesses, and yes - getting purchase orders for the greatest events of 2026 into the inboxes of social enterprises like ours.” Warren Rogers, Director, Connection Crew Reflected on the collective potential of the UK’s over 100,000 social enterprises. “One choice. One action. One shift in how we turn up. When those small changes multiply across a sector, they become transformation.” Guests included representatives from St Mungo’s, Beam, Social Enterprise UK, Big Issue, Design Council, Deborah Hale MBE and a network of events companies whose bookings have generated Connection Crew’s impact. Photography enclosed here: 20th Anniversary Press Images, impact data and interviews with the speakers are available on request. About Connection Crew Connection Crew is a social enterprise working to fight homelessness through employment and living wage work by providing skilled crew to the events sector. Its model creates paid jobs, training and next steps for people rebuilding their lives after homelessness. connectioncrew.co.uk