Steve Garrett

As Founder of Riverside Real Food (formerly RCMA Social Enterprise) I helped steer Cardiff’s award-winning Riverside Farmers’ Market through twenty-five years of growth as a sustainable social enterprise, and initiated various spin-off activities such as: the RCMA Community Garden; writing an Urban Farmers' Market Toolkit; and helping set up and manage the Riverside Market Garden (now Coed Organics)  - a food producing social enterprise near Cardiff

My many roles with Riverside Real Food have given me a significant insight into what factors contribute to a successful outcome for any small business.

For five years I was a tutor with Cardiff University’s outreach education programme and taught a regular course on ‘Kickstarting a Social Enterprise’. I’m also a Role model with Big Ideas Wales, going into schools and colleges to encourage and inspire young people to be entrepreneurs, and in 2024 was a judge and mentor for the Youth Enterprise programme.

As a mentor with the DTA, New Start Wales and Social Business Wales I have advised numerous community groups and individuals on converting their dreams and aspirations into economically viable and socially responsible businesses, and understanding the importance and challenges of balancing business viability and ethical/sustainability concerns.

I previously worked as a grant advisor and assessor for the ‘Local Food’ and ‘Making Local Food Work’ programmes, and as a Skillshare Mentor with the Plunkett Foundation. I was a winner in the Environmentalist category of the Inspire Wales Awards and shortlisted for a Leading Wales Awards.  I am a Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, and a Level 2 award winner with UnLTD, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs.  I also sat on the UnLTD grant-giving panel for several years