Rank Network visit to Plymouth: Celebrating and investing in social enterprise

Recently, Rank Foundation Chair William Wyatt travelled to Plymouth, the UK’s first Social Enterprise City, to spend time with our local Network, attend the launch of phase three of our Participatory Grant-Making (PGM) Programme, and see first-hand the impact of our long-standing investment in the city.

Our relationship with Plymouth goes back a long way. Since 2018, we’ve invested nearly £5.5 million into its social enterprise sector. That support has helped more than 50 organisations strengthen their work and build a more resilient sector that’s well placed to tackle the city’s social, health and economic challenges.

In 2021, we launched a £1 million fund to support projects that address isolation and loneliness – issues that came into sharp focus during the pandemic. Livewell Southwest, Plymouth’s integrated health and social care provider, joined us with £500,000 in match funding. Together, we’ve supported 27 projects, and the evaluation speaks for itself: they’ve generated £15 million in net social value – an impressive return of £15 for every £1 invested.

This visit was a great opportunity to reconnect and reflect – to celebrate what’s been achieved and look ahead.

I joined our former CEO, David Sanderson, and Phil Davies, our Associate for Plymouth, at the launch of the latest phase of the PGM programme. The event was hosted at the Devonport Market Hall by our fellow trustee Lyndsay Hall, with local Network members and partners joining us on the day.

Phil spoke about how to access the funding, and Geoff Baines, Deputy CEO at Livewell Southwest, gave a speech about the impact and long-term potential of the programme. I also had the chance to thank David as he prepared to step down as CEO. Lyndsay kindly arranged a special gift from the communities in Plymouth, which David received as a token of appreciation for his two decades of dedication and leadership.

During my time in the city, I had the privilege of meeting several remarkable Network members.

I met Mel Tucker and Jo Dench-Owens from Iridescent Ideas CIC, who run the SHE (Supporting Her Enterprise) project. It’s a brilliant initiative that helps women who feel isolated at home to explore entrepreneurship, building their skills and confidence through workshops, one-to-one advice and peer support. What stood out to me is how the project meets women where they are – recognising that traditional business support often doesn’t work for everyone, and offering something more flexible and empowering.

I also spent time with Owen Finnie, co-founder of Pollenize, a pioneering social enterprise using science-led, nature-based approaches to protect pollinators and restore biodiversity. With a repayable grant of £18,000 from Rank, they’ve been able to scale their work and deepen their impact, both through conservation and public education.

The energy and collaboration I saw in Plymouth are a reflection of what makes our Network so special. And it’s a powerful example of what’s possible when we invest in people and places with care, respect and trust.