is a

social enterprise A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in financial, social and environmental well-being. This may include maximizing social impact alongside profits for co-owners. Social enterprises ha ...

organisation, based in

Anglesey Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...

(), Wales. It mainly operates in Anglesey and

Gwynedd Gwynedd () is a county in the north-west of Wales. It borders Anglesey across the Menai Strait to the north, Conwy, Denbighshire, and Powys to the east, Ceredigion over the Dyfi estuary to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The ci ...

, although some of its programmes and funds extend to other parts of

north North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and

west Wales West Wales () is a region of Wales. It has various definitions, either covering Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, which historically comprised the Welsh principality of ''Deheubarth'', and an alternative definition is to include Swa ...

. Menter Môn focuses on delivering local projects, including those specialising in local regeneration, the environment and culture. Within Menter Môn is , a

trading company Trading companies are businesses working with different kinds of products which are sold for consumer, business, or government purposes. Trading companies buy a specialized range of products, maintain a stock or a shop, and deliver products to cus ...

which specifically focuses on programmes improving the rural economy.

Background and history

Operationally ''Menter Môn'' consists of two companies, Menter Môn Cyf and Annog Cyf. Menter Môn Cyf is a social enterprise development company, while Annog Cyf is its

. Menter Môn is a programme and project delivery agent, whose purpose is to design, implement and evaluate public sector programmes, such as those formerly funded by the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

(EU). Menter Môn Cyf is based at Llangefni Town Hall, Anglesey. ''Annog'', on the other hand and created in 2000, focuses on delivering projects that specifically supports the rural economy, rather than rural development. ''Annog'' delivers projects on the behalf of the private, voluntary and public sectors, and was created by Menter Môn to develop an income to support Menter Môn overall. While named after Anglesey (), Menter Môn also works in

, and sometimes other parts of

North Wales North Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdon ...

and

West Wales West Wales () is a region of Wales. It has various definitions, either covering Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, which historically comprised the Welsh principality of ''Deheubarth'', and an alternative definition is to include Swa ...

. Menter Môn's managing director stated Menter Môn now works across four counties in North Wales, those being Anglesey, Gwynedd,

Conwy Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy ...

and

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, Flintshire to the east, Wrexham to the southeast, Powys to the south, and Gwynedd and Conwy to the west. Rhyl is the largest town, and Ruthi ...

, through its social enterprise fund. The majority of its activity is centred on Anglesey and Gwynedd. Menter Môn was started in 1995 as a one-person EU programme manager, for the EU's

LEADER Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations. "Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...

, within Anglesey council, and was first incorporated as an independent community-owned

limited company In a limited company, the Legal liability, liability of members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by Share (finance), shares or by guarantee. In a c ...

in 1996, to support local economic development and to administer European Union

rural development Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life, quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Often, rural regions have experienced rural povert ...

programmes. Since its establishment, it had managed more than £50 million in grants from multiple financiers, and has backed 80 business startups annually. Menter Môn has managed to survive, despite similar enterprises, such as ''Antur Dwyryd Lln'' in Gwynedd, collapsing. In 2007, research conducted by Menter Môn, revealed that the

red squirrel The red squirrel (''Sciurus vulgaris''), also called Eurasian red squirrel, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus''. It is an arboreal and primarily herbivorous rodent and common throughout Eurasia. Taxonomy There have been ...

s in

Pentraeth Pentraeth () is a village and Community (Wales), community on the island of Anglesey (''Ynys Môn''), North Wales, at . The Royal Mail postcode begins LL75. The community population taken at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 1,178 ...

forest had limited genetic diversity. A woodland ecologist, described the situation as "worrying", and that additional red squirrels from other parts of Wales would need to be introduced to address the high risk of inbreeding. In December 2022, Menter Môn partnered with organisations, across the six counties of North Wales, to provide the ''Croeso Cynnes''/Warm Spaces network, to assist in the

cost-of-living The cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living for an individual or a household. Changes in the cost of living over time can be measured in a cost-of-living index. Cost of living calculations are also used to compare t ...

crisis. In March 2023, Menter Môn, through its Neges project and Anglesey council, provided free ready meals to community freezers to assist in the cost-of-living crisis. In June 2023, ''Larder Cymru'', run by Menter Môn, participated in an innovative food event at the

Senedd building The Senedd building (), in Cardiff, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; ; formerly the National Assembly for Wales). The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006, Saint ...

, focusing on sustainable food procurement. In August 2023, Rebecca Colley-Jones was appointed as Menter Môn's new chair, taking over from Wyn Morgan. Colley-Jones is Menter Môn's first female chair. In October 2023, Menter Môn partly funded the opening of a business support centre in

Barmouth Barmouth (formal ; colloquially ) is a seaside town and community in the county of Gwynedd, north-west Wales; it lies on the estuary of the Afon Mawddach and Cardigan Bay. Located in the historic county of Merionethshire, the Welsh form of t ...

. In November 2023, Menter Môn secured £1.75 million from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund and the

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) formed by the Energy Act 2004. It evolved from ...

, to funding community projects on Anglesey, emphasising language, culture, age-friendliness, low-carbon, the environment, and biodiversity. Part of this funding was used to develop a Gwynedd community fund.

Projects

Generally Menter Môn aims to deliver localised projects, with a focus on regeneration, environmental and cultural projects. Over its existence, Menter Môn has focuses on developing projects in the following areas: * Business innovation * Coastal communities * Community regeneration * Energy * Food and agriculture * Future-planning * Heritage * Music and the performing arts * Natural environment and biodiversity * Social enterprise * Tidal energy * Welsh language and culture * Youth enterprise

List of specific projects

Some specific projects of Menter Môn include: * Arloesi Gwynedd Wledig – Innovation project in Gwynedd * Arloesi Môn – Innovation project in Anglesey * Cwlwm Seiriol – Community project in

Seiriol Seiriol (, ) was an early 6th-century saint, who created a cell at Penmon Priory on Anglesey, off the coast of north Wales. He later moved to Ynys Seiriol ( Puffin Island). Narrative Seiriol was a son of King Owain Danwyn of Rhos, and young ...

, for improving the management of a sustainable local natural environment. *

Menter Iaith Menter Iaith (plural: ''Mentrau Iaith'', English: Language Initiative) is a community-based organisation which works to raise the profile of the Welsh language in a specific area. Each local ''Menter Iaith'' receives a basic grant from the Welsh L ...

Môn – Welsh-language promotion project * Bocsŵn – Music programme for children and young people in Anglesey * WiciMôn – Assist

Welsh Wikipedia The Welsh Wikipedia () is the Welsh-language edition of Wikipedia. This edition was started in July 2003. On 23 June 2007, it reached 10,000 articles, the 66th Wikipedia to do so. On 20 November 2008, it attained 20,000 articles. Less than a year ...

to raise the use of the

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

and information relating to Anglesey. * Theatr Ieunctid Môn – Arts opportunity programme for children and young people in Anglesey. *

Holyhead Hydrogen Hub Holyhead (; , "Cybi's fort") is a historic port town, and is the largest town and a community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Holyhead is on Holy Island, bounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and is separated from Anglesey island ...

– Hydrogen supply chain for the

Port of Holyhead file:Just inside the 'new' harbour at Holyhead port - geograph.org.uk - 579776.jpg, 300px, Just inside the 'New' harbour at Holyhead port., alt=Port of Holyhead From geograph.org.uk 8 October 2007 The Port of Holyhead () is a commercial and fe ...

, part funded by the

UK Government His Majesty's Government, abbreviated to HM Government or otherwise UK Government, is the central government, central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

. * Yr Hwb Menter – Enterprise hub * Afonydd Menai – Response to threat posed by the ( invasive)

American mink The American mink (''Neogale vison'') is a semiaquatic species of Mustelidae, mustelid native to North America, though human introduction has expanded its range to many parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. Because of range expansion, the Am ...

, and protecting the

European water vole The European water vole (''Arvicola amphibius'') or northern water vole is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, though it only superficially resembles a true rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep bro ...

. *

Morlais Morlais is a grid connected tidal stream energy project located in the Irish Sea just off the west coast of Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales. It is being developed by the social enterprise agency Menter Môn. The site has the potential for up to ...

Tidal Energy –

Tidal energy Tidal power or tidal energy is harnessed by converting energy from tides into useful forms of power, mainly electricity using various methods. Although not yet widely used, tidal energy has the potential for future electricity generation. T ...

project, part-funded by the EU, partnering with

Isle of Anglesey County Council The Isle of Anglesey County Council () is the local authority for the Isle of Anglesey, a principal areas of Wales, principal area with county status in Wales. Since 2022 the council has 35 councillors who represent 14 multi-member electoral war ...

. It would be the UK's largest tidal energy scheme. The programme also implemented

Starlink Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, LLC, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to around 130 countries ...

South Stack South Stack () is an island situated just off Holy Island on the northwest coast of Anglesey, Wales. Geology South Stack is an island known as a sea stack. It was formed by the wave erosion of sedimentary rocks that once connected the isla ...

, to address its poor mobile connectivity. * Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050 – Local entrepreneurship programme for young people in Anglesey and Gwynedd. It was later extended to

Ceredigion Ceredigion (), historically Cardiganshire (, ), is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the West Wales, west of Wales. It borders Gwynedd across the River Dyfi, Dyfi estuary to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire t ...

and

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

. * Tech Tyfu – Vertical farming project in Anglesey and Gwynedd. * Môn Larder – Local produce promotional programme for local supply chains. * IIP –

Investors in People Investors in People is a standard for people management, offering accreditation to organisations that adhere to the Investors in People Standard. From 1991 to January 2017, Investors in People was owned by the UK government. As of 1 February 20 ...

accreditation support. * "Made with Wool", with British Wool and

Bangor University Bangor University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. It was established by Royal charter, Royal Charter in 1885 as the University College of North Wales (UCNW; ), and in 1893 ...

, to promote

Wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

as a sustainable and renewable source. The project also created "wool paths" along some

bog A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and musk ...

s in Anglesey. * Ffiws – Collaborative space scheme * The Enabling Fund: Rural Economy – Annog-managed rural business scheme in Gwynedd * FerMôntation – Hydrogen and bacteria-based fermentation scheme to produce food. * Grymuso Gwynedd – Gwynedd community fund * Môn a Menai – Green space improvement project in Anglesey and Gwynedd. * Smart Towns – Rural programme addressing

high street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

degeneration and anti-social behaviour.

Past projects

Menter Môn was credited with helping the following projects in the past: * Halen Môn/Anglesey Sea Salt * Môn Maintenance

Assets

Menter Môn also developed some assets, in which it leases: * Llangefni Town Hall redevelopment * Princes Pier, Menai Bridge * Cooper Kingdom, Amlwch (

Amlwch Port Amlwch Port () is a port village in Anglesey, Wales. It is effectively an eastern suburb of the larger town of Amlwch. Between the 1991 Census and the 2001 Census the records showed Amlwch Port's population had dropped by over 1,000, to 2,628 ...

) * Llys Llewelyn * In 2008, it owned

Castell Aberlleiniog Castell Aberlleiniog (''Castle of the Mouth of the Lleiniog'') is a motte and bailey fortress near the Welsh village of Llangoed on the Isle of Anglesey, built between 1080 and 1099 by Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester. It is about two mil ...

References

{{Anglesey, state=collapsed Economy of Anglesey Organisations based in Anglesey Social enterprises