Community

Benefit for Pembrokeshire communities was part of the founding vision for Bluestone.

Today, this is delivered across several streams and programmes.

Supporting the Local and Regional Economy

• Bluestone employs 905 people (521 Full Time Equivalent) of whom 97% live within 30 miles.
• Employees own a 30% share of the business. We believe Bluestone to be the second-largest employee-owned business in Wales.
• Bluestone is locally owned and operated.
• Local and Regional Economy support. Bluestone spends approximately £5 million per year in the local economy (£10M+ in Wales).

The Bluestone Foundation

• The Bluestone Foundation redistributes profit directly to local community groups through two dedicated funds.
• Community Access: The Bluestone Community Event opens the Blue Lagoon swimming pool to the public for six events each year.
• Community Partners: Bluestone provides ongoing support to a select group of organisations through advice, resources, collaboration and funding.

Supporting Local Causes

• Black Pool Mill Restoration: A Grade II* listed building was saved from dereliction. It has been restored and reopened as a restaurant.
• Support for a shared use cycle path in Canaston Wood. Bluestone provided funding towards a public, multiuser path in the local area.
• Armed Forces Covenant Signatories and Bronze award, 5 members of senior management team are veterans (from all 4 services). We also offer the Armed Forces Discount alongside the Blue Light discount.

Supporting Education

• Each year around 20 schools and local groups visit Bluestone for a 'behind the scenes' sustainability-related walk and talk.
• The Bluestone Academy works in close collaboration with Pembrokeshire college to administer an apprenticeship scheme. 74 people have achieved vocational qualifications (level 2 –7). 41 people are currently studying.

The Living Lab Research Hub

Bluestone is frequently sought out for collaboration with academia, government and third sector bodies looking to further the body of evidence on sustainable development. At any one time several projects are in progress, we refer to this as the “Living Lab”.

Current projects include:

• Switch: A PHD research project, with Cardiff and Swansea Universities. Using Bluestone’s energy infrastructure as a model for mapping efficiency in energy management using AI and digital twinning.
• Solar Field Biodiversity: using the solar field (5 hectares) as a research site for Swansea University’s School of Biodiversity.
• Air quality: Working with Swansea University and Health and Wellbeing 360. Bluestone is a research partner and case study for air quality modelling.
• Circular Revolution: Bluestone were a case study partner as part of a research project lead by Exeter and Swansea Universities, exploring the development of a sale of service model for white goods.
• Circular Economy Innovation Community (CEIC): A partnership between Cardiff Met and Swansea University. Bluestone is a partner of CEIC and was a case study for their learning programme