Leadership and sustainability in community development: Social entrepreneurship in North Wales

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyze leadership and sustainability in community enterprises. The geographical location for our study is Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales which is home to several innovative and successful community enterprises. An interpretivist study employing a thematic analysis has been undertaken. Interviews were held with individuals who hold leadership, management, and volunteer roles. A participative dissemination event was also conducted with community members to discuss and build upon the interview-based findings. The data collected was coded using the six-step approach to thematic analysis. The results of the analysis revealed that the concept of leadership was difficult to define in a community enterprise situation. The survival of these enterprises often relies on the entrepreneurial and collective leadership skills of key individuals. The implications for socio-economic policy are support for the acquisition and development of collective leadership skills which could lead to enhanced sustainability of community enterprises.