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Case study - Empower - Be The Change (EBTC)

EBTC is an award-winning social enterprise that combines accredited leadership qualifications, training and coaching to empower individuals and teams to achieve their potential. Our training builds mental resilience, self-awareness, self-esteem, and the skills to take proactive choices to improve life circumstances, notably in terms of employment. Since inception EBTC has worked in partnership with a range of agencies to support over 600 people through qualifications and training.


Brief History

The company was founded by Jo Clay 5 years ago following 18 months’ work in collaboration with Vi-Ability setting up, delivering and managing the very successful “India Adventure” international volunteer programme.

On 6th May 2021 Empower – Be The Change celebrated its 5 year anniversary. The company has grown exponentially during this time: in year one we empowered 35 people with an income of £17,000; by year five we had empowered 500 people and had an income of £145,000.

My proudest moments

 We’re really proud of our awards and recognition within the industry:
- Social Enterprise UK: Finalists 2021 – Team of the Year, UK Roll of  -  Honour 2020, Finalists 2018 – Education, Training & Employment
- Social Business Wales: Finalists 2021 – Team of the Year & Tech for - Good, Highly Commended 2019, Winners 2018 – Education, Training & Employment
- Wrexham Social Business: Winners 2017 – New start-up and community impact
- Business Wales Mentoring awards 2018 & 2019 – Mentee and Mentor of the Year Award

Do you use Welsh in your business?

We have team members who are fluent in welsh and this has helped with delivery of courses in welsh speaking areas.

What has been your biggest challenge to date? 

 Like almost every other company, the challenge presented by Covid knocked all other challenges out of the park.  We’re very proud of the fact that, in March 2020 when the world stopped, Empower – Be The Change didn’t. From being entirely classroom based prior to the pandemic we successfully adapted all our programmes for online delivery, including creating a bespoke coaching product expressly to help people cope with the new routines and systems mandated by lockdown and work from home. We even increased our workforce during the pandemic.  To be honest we could have put this in the ‘My proudest moments’ section too …
We wouldn’t have done anything differently – in fact we’ve embraced our new way of working to such an extent that we have chosen to continue to work from home and our digital delivery is going from strength to strength.

What in your opinion are the benefits of using Sell2Wales

As a social enterprise working in the service sector, receiving information about tenders direct in our inboxes is invaluable and as we are a small company we can react nimbly and quickly to them which is brilliant.

Any tips you would give other businesses

Don’t give up, and keep on going – if the last 18 months have taught us anything it’s that we’re all much more resilient than we gave ourselves credit for … we just need to know where to find it.

www.empower-bethechange.org  

Twitter: @Empower_BTC 
Facebook: empower.bethechange 
Tumblr: empowerbethechange


0800 222 9004

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