Our board is made up of members, voted in by members. Their responsibility is to guide the network forward and to represent our members at key events throughout the year. We also have action groups working to develop and progress key strategic aims for social enterprise in the city. If you would like to get more involved in either of those options then we would love to hear from you. Email us here

 

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a member of the network then click here.

Gareth Hart

Gareth Hart

Director & Network Manager

Gareth Hart – Gareth is the founder and director of Iridescent Ideas and has been a champion of the social enterprise movement in Plymouth and the South West. He was the elected chair of PSEN for seven years 2013-2020 and chairs Plymouth’s Inclusive Growth Group. Gareth led our successful bid to become the first ‘Social Enterprise City’ in the UK and has a history of working successfully with a range of social enterprises from tiny start-ups to national organizations on issues such as governance, social investment and social impact

Why is Social Enterprise the best way to do business? Social enterprise needs to become the default for all business in the world

Ed Whitelaw

Ed Whitelaw

Director

Ed is Head of Enterprise and Regeneration for the South West at Real Ideas Organisation. With an academic background in environmental management, social economics and education, he is also a director of Billy Ruffians Brew Co., a trustee of education charity Cycle of Knowledge, a Churchill Fellow 2020 and a fellow of the RSA and the Higher Education Academy.

Why is Social Enterprise the best way to do business?
Business can have the power to heal. Heal the deep inequalities of our society, through the better distribution of power and wealth; and the power to heal our environment, through being generative, not degenerative. Social enterprise understand this and that is why it is the best way to do business.

Pat Patel

Pat Patel

Director

Pat has been the director of Tamar View Community Complex for over 20 years. He is also a City Councillor and is the Shadow Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport. He lives in and works hard for St Budeaux; for the past 20 years he has brought about many positive changes, such as the Co-op store and a nursery owned by the community, and he runs a community youth club, toddler groups and a food bank to support residents of his community.

Jon Blyth

Jon Blyth

Director

Jon’s interest and involvement with social enterprise evolved from co-establishing Fotonow CIC. A decades further exploration of creative learning, social engagement and social enterprise has further led me to collaborations that established St Saviours CIC in Plymouth and Arts Lab CIC. I was also a non executive director in 2014 when Plymouth Social Enterprise Network was consolidated as a CIC. My advisory roles include the board for Sound Communities CIC, Field Notes CIC, Vital Sparks among many others. Jon currently oversees the MA Enterprise and Creative Practice program at Plymouth College of Art and their Art + Social Action academic research group

Why is Social Enterprise the best way to do business?
Social Enterprise is the best way to do business because it has solutions to inequality

Charles Thornton

Charles Thornton

Director

Charles Thornton is a Lecturer in Service Operations Management and Business Strategy at Plymouth Business School. Before working in Higher Education, Charles had a career in commercial banking.  His research interests are focused around the use of resources in product diversification strategies and resource identification.  He was a School Governor for 9 years and sat on the Academy Trust Audit and Risk Committee and is currently a member of the Executive of the British Academy of Management.

Why is Social Enterprise the best way to do business?
Social enterprises not only provide investment, growth and strong business ethics but also put money directly back into communities and society in general.

Lauren Packham

Lauren Packham

Director

Lauren is enthusiastic about social entrepreneurship, making the world a better place and making people’s lives more fulfilling and enjoyable. She is passionate about wellbeing and started her company, Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing CIC, with her beliefs at the forefront. Masters educated with a varied work history, she has changed careers to focus on her own health and wellness, while helping others do the same.

Why is Social Enterprise the best way to do business?

Social enterprise is the best way to do business because it aligns profitability with purpose, creating value not just for shareholders but for society and the planet. As a compassionate person, I believe that businesses have a responsibility to address pressing global challenges, such as resource depletion, inequality, and environmental degradation. Unlike traditional profit first models, social enterprises prioritise sustainable practices, ensuring that finite resources are used wisely and responsibly. They also reinvest profits into initiatives that benefit communities, promote equity, and protect our planet. By focusing on people and purpose, social enterprises redefine success in a way that fosters long-term prosperity for all. This holistic approach resonates deeply with my values and offers a pathway toward a more ethical and sustainable future.

Plymouth Social Enterprise Network
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