Something Everyone in Wigan Has
We believe that everyone has at least one ‘something’. Something that they love to do and something that they’re really good at — something that can be turned into a community business. Are you Made in Wigan?
A Movement for Local Enterprise
Made in Wigan came about following funding by Power to Change under the Empowering Places programme.
‘Made in Wigan’ is a project that aims to work with all anchor institutions and the private sector to ensure there is a ‘line of sight’ of social enterprises and community businesses in neighbourhoods that will empower local people to:
- Spend locally
- Develop their own Social Enterprise or Community Business, showcasing their 'special something' and turning it into a service that meets the needs of the local community
- Educate future generations of entrepreneurs — working with primary and secondary schools to educate young people in how to identify what type of future enterprise leader they will be within their community
Support Your Local Businesses
In 2020, Wigan and Leigh Community Cooperative led a working group to attain the Social Enterprise UK Enterprise Place kitemark for Wigan Borough — recognising the strength of the social enterprise sector in the town.
In conjunction with the Local Authority Community Wealth Building Strategy, one of the key aims is to ensure that local residents buy local. This means that goods and services that meet the needs of local people are available from local enterprises.
We host a number of events each year to promote the sector to a wider public audience.
Browse & Buy from Local Enterprises
Within our Wigan Hub, we have a retail shop that promotes and sells goods produced by local enterprises. Each enterprise produces a range of goods for sale — and as you browse, you can read their story and why the goods are made and by whom.
We also have an e-commerce platform where you can browse goods from many local enterprises, with items posted directly to your door — or available for click and collect at the Wigan Hub.
We’re always looking for new producers to sell their goods.
- Shop goods from local social enterprises and community businesses
- Click and collect available at Platt Bridge Community Zone
- Items posted directly to your door via our e-commerce platform
- Become a producer — enquire to sell your goods
Young People & Adults
In addition to our support for new and existing community businesses, we are striving to ensure that the social enterprise economy continues to grow and develop throughout the borough. We have programmes to educate all ages on what makes an enterprise social — and we provide individuals and groups with an alternative to the traditional employment routes.
Young People
Working with primary and secondary schools to educate young people in how to identify what type of future enterprise leader they will be within their community.
Adults & Job Seekers
Providing individuals and groups with an alternative to the traditional employment routes — helping people identify a skill or talent that can be developed into a community business.
Social Enterprise Mentoring
Mentor-driven support for people wishing to learn how they can become part of an existing community business — or start a new one.
Support for Community Business
From 2017 to 2022, WLCC, under the Power to Change Empowering Places Programme, worked with new and existing Community Businesses to help them to develop and grow.
A Community Business is a locally rooted organisation that generates income through trade, reinvests profits locally and delivers a broad community impact.
We have provided seed funding for 11 community businesses so far and provided a space for three of these at our Platt Bridge Hub.
Do you have a skill or talent that you think could be developed into a community business? Do you already provide support to members of your community? Get in touch to find out more about the support we offer or current training opportunities.
Our Stories
Real stories of people across Wigan and Leigh who’ve been supported through the Made in Wigan initiative — in their own words.
Nicole Is Made In Wigan
Nicole Robertson is a Project Coordinator for Embrace Wigan & Leigh, a charity that works with people with disabilities and people that may be socially isolated. Along with another colleague, Nicole is working within the 'Let's Connect' project to help people break out of their confining circumstances in order to meet new people and do new things. It's in this capacity that she referred Lesley Grimes to Made in Wigan and more specifically, the Miss Places Community Business. As a result Lesley is enjoying a new lease of life!
Johnny Is Made In Wigan
At just twelve years old Jonathan Ashcroft suffered life changing injuries when a car struck him whilst returning home from school. Now in his mid-twenties, his road to recovery has not only been a physical test but a mental test — one which resulted in social isolation. Nevertheless Jonny met with Made in Wigan's David Baxter to discuss the creation of a Community Business dedicated to developing skills in wood and metal working — and as a result, the Men's Sheds Community Business was born.
Sophie Is Made In Wigan
Sophie Jones always had a passion for cooking and baking and, having recognised the opportunity that the Made in Wigan initiative was presenting, she grabbed it with both hands. The Platt Bridge Community Zone was the perfect place to develop a Café Community Business — and so, with the help of Made in Wigan, Sophie's vision became reality. Tastebuds is not only a Community Business in its own right, it's also a meeting point for anyone wanting to find out more about how Made in Wigan can help them develop their own ideas.
Our Hubs Within the Community
Platt Bridge Community Zone
Where it all began. Home to WLCC’s head office, training rooms, Embrace Wigan and Leigh, Jack in the Box Nursery and a number of community businesses developed through Made in Wigan.
Tudor House
Our second community hub — offering office space, a community room, food pantry, artisan wall and meeting spaces for local social enterprises and community groups.
Are You Made in Wigan?
Whether you have a skill you’d like to turn into a community business, want to volunteer, buy local or find out how we can support you — we’d love to hear from you.
There are various ways to get in touch: you might want a phone call first, come and visit us, or bring someone along for an initial chat. Whichever route you prefer, we can accommodate.
Contact Made in Wigan