A Caerphilly social enterprise set up to help ex-armed forces veterans to forge new print and media industry careers is itself proving victorious after just three months of trading.

Media Force Wales has already hit its sales targets with the help of £40,000 from the EU-funded South East Wales Community Economic Development programme towards supporting a new business development manager post and running costs.

The next step for the Bedwas House Industrial Estate-based project will be to start training former armed forces personnel and disadvantaged veterans in web design and technology, video and photography, exhibition design and film production.

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and run by a six-Valleys local authorities’ consortium of Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen, SEWCED has invested £6.4m in 110 social enterprises since it began in 2010, helping to create 18 social enterprises and 100 full-time jobs.

Media Force was set up by local printing company Tower Print’s four directors as a response to the business being ‘inundated’ with requests for help from charities and other third sector groups. “We wanted to channel our efforts into a social enterprise so that we could direct organisations to a social enterprise media company,” said Director Darren Pole.

Along with the business development manager, the enterprise is also planning to provide an opportunity for a full-time trainee through the EU-funded Jobs Growth Wales, and also has a volunteer who is studying finance at university.

The business is currently working with the Welsh Guards on the regiment’s 100th anniversary celebrations, building a website and designing a new logo and a range of other materials to publicise the event.

“Our mission is to help and support disadvantaged personnel, the long-term injured and veterans,” said Darren Pole. “I believe people in the armed forces are not given the recognition they deserve and often get a raw deal when they come out.

“Local businesses should seek to assist them far more, as so many of them are willing to learn and should be helped with their reintegration into Civvy Street.”

The directors have bought some IT equipment but are unable to begin the training programme yet as they currently lack the capital to be able to afford a studio and classrooms.

“We’re actively seeking sponsorship or funding to expand our premises and purchase the equipment to allow us to fulfil that part of our business plan,” Darren added.

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development at Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “This is precisely the kind of project that the SEWCED programme supports – one that is genuinely helping to transform the lives of people and communities across South East Wales.”