This Social Enterprise Day, we’re celebrating Sheffield’s creative, bold, and compassionate changemakers, from food and repair to art, heritage, and education. As an accredited “Social Enterprise Place,” Sheffield is full of inspiring neighbours doing amazing work you can visit and support!
The Writers Workshop ✍️
Tucked away in Orchard Square, The Writers Workshop offers in-person and online classes, mentorship, and support for writers at every stage. Founded by Beverley Ward in 2021, it’s now a hub where authors find community and craft.
They strike a balance between accessibility and sustainability by keeping events fairly priced while ensuring their team of coaches, editors, and facilitators earn a fair living. You can join a workshop, attend a literary event, or drop into one of their open sessions.
Portland Works 🏭
One of Sheffield’s great heritage success stories, Portland Works is a Grade II* listed building saved from redevelopment and reborn as a community-owned home for makers and craftspeople.
It’s the birthplace of stainless steel cutlery, and now houses over 30 micro-businesses, from engravers and cabinetmakers to musicians, engineers, and a distillery.
Portland Works is also a learning space and heritage centre, offering outreach programmes and open days that connect the public with Sheffield’s industrial past and maker culture.
Chef’s Counter 🍽
Food is connection, and Chef’s Counter is one of Sheffield’s most imaginative social enterprises proving that. They host dining events in community spaces, offer catering, and now run a “Dine at Home” service delivering restaurant-quality meals to you.
What sets them apart is how they embed social impact into hospitality: creating pathways to employment for people facing barriers and channeling event profits into community groups.
Heeley City Farm 🌱
Once saved from urban development, Heeley City Farm has grown into a vibrant hub for sustainability, education, and well-being.
They offer organic growing, volunteering, therapy, and environmental education programmes, alongside renewable energy demonstrations at the South Yorkshire Energy Centre.
With friendly animals, thriving gardens, and a welcoming café, it’s a green space that brings people together to learn, grow, and connect in the heart of the city.
Reyt Repair 🔧
“Fix it, don’t toss it.” That’s the ethos of Reyt Repair, Sheffield’s volunteer-run repair shop in Pitsmoor. They help people save money, reduce waste, and learn new skills while keeping items in circulation.
Their services cover clothing, furniture, and electronics, and they run a community tool bank and a pay-as-you-feel service for computer repairs. Beyond repairs, Reyt Repair is a skills hub where volunteers share knowledge and support the community. No expertise required, just a willingness to learn!
Foodworks 🥕
Foodworks transforms surplus and locally grown ingredients into delicious, affordable food through their Community Cafes, Food Markets, and ready meals. Their mission is to tackle food waste, promote food justice, and build sustainable communities.
Working with growers and supporting hyperlocal food production on their farm, they offer volunteering opportunities that build confidence and knowledge in cooking and enterprise. Foodworks is a shining example of how creativity and care can turn surplus into sustenance and community into change.
The Green Estate 🌾
The Green Estate, one of South Yorkshire’s largest social enterprises, brings nature and community together. Based in Manor, they’ve transformed over 40 hectares of derelict land and buildings into thriving green spaces for people and wildlife.
Their work spans urban greening, food growing, heritage conservation, and community development from running a café and events to crafting furniture, maintaining gardens, and supporting grassroots projects. The Green Estate shows what’s possible when communities and nature grow together.
ArtWorks South Yorkshire 🎨
ArtWorks is an arts organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism to reach their potential. Their vision is to help people of all abilities thrive through creativity, expression, and collaboration.
They offer workshops, placements, exhibitions, performances, and commissions, giving artists opportunities to build confidence, life skills, and pathways. With space for painting, film, dance, drama, and more, ArtWorks prioritises teamwork and inclusion. By celebrating creativity and challenging perceptions, they show that enterprise is about dignity, purpose and the freedom to create.
Regather 🌱
Regather is Sheffield’s food co-operative, running an organic veg box delivery service with produce from their own farm and local suppliers. Their shop also offers bread, grains, and dairy, and they deliver hundreds of boxes each week.
Beyond the box scheme, Regather hosts community events, garden services, training pathways, and workshops focused on food innovation. It’s member-governed and reinvests profits locally, helping Sheffield build a fairer and greener relationship with food while fostering community development.
Printed by Us!
And of course, we have to include ourselves! Printed by Us is a Sheffield social enterprise combining craft, design, and social impact. Every screen-printed piece supports people moving on from homelessness into paid work, volunteering, training, and creative purpose. All products are designed by independent artists, printed in-house, and signed by both artist and printer.
How you can engage
Here are some ideas to make the most of Social Enterprise Day:
- Visit open days, studios, maker spaces
- Book into a class or workshop
- Eat a delicious meal
- Get your items fixed
- Volunteer or donate!
These are just a few of our favourite social enterprises in Sheffield, but there are hundreds more to explore on the Sheffield Social Enterprise Network website! Every visit, purchase, and share helps these organisations thrive and keeps Sheffield’s social enterprise community strong.
