When SoFab Sports first opened its doors in 2014, founder Dale Rawlins had a simple but powerful mission: to create training and employment opportunities for people furthest from the employment line. Today, that mission has grown into a thriving social enterprise with a retail presence in central Bristol, a Gloucestershire warehouse, and a £2 million turnover - all while proving that inclusive employment is not only possible, but transformational.

Building a business with purpose

SoFab Sports operates in the online sportswear and retail sector, but at its heart is a focus on creating positive social impact. More than 60% of its workforce are people who have experienced significant barriers to employment - whether living with a physical or mental disability, facing homelessness, or working to reintegrate into society after a period of instability.

Since it launched, SoFab has provided employment for more than 60 people from these backgrounds, helping many transition into secure, full-time roles. As Dale, SoFab’s Managing Director, explains, “We believe in inclusive employment and that all business workforces should reflect the diversity of their customer base. Every single purchase from our stores helps us achieve our goal.”

The challenge: growing with limited resources

Despite a clear mission and strong demand, SoFab faced challenges common to many social enterprises. Growth was constrained by the ability to purchase stock, difficulties managing cash flow, and the limits of scaling at an organic pace. Expanding operations meant taking on more overheads and risk - something that felt out of reach without external support.

How Resonance stepped in

Through two rounds of Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) investment – totalling £200,000 - via Resonance’s South West SITR Fund, SoFab gained the growth funding and governance support needed to step up operations. Beyond the capital itself, Dale also highlights the value of partnership: “Resonance have been brilliant for us. They’ve not only supported us with two funding rounds but also guided us through securing further investment through Social Investment Business (SIB). They’ve enabled us to take our business to another level.”

Why SITR investment made sense

Unlike traditional loans, SITR investment comes with a support network that understands the dual challenges of running a trading business while delivering social impact. For SoFab, this meant access to experienced investors who could provide both patience and guidance. “Not having the pressure of a bank loan and instead working with an investment team who ‘get it’ made all the difference, alongside the opportunity to be connected with people from other social enterprises that have experienced this journey before,” says Dale.

The difference social investment made

The SITR investments SoFab received enabled the enterprise to take more risks, grow at a faster pace, and - most importantly - amplify its social impact. This has meant:

• Moving over 30 people in Gloucestershire and Bristol from long-term unemployment into meaningful work
• Supporting four people from homelessness into independent living
• Creating numerous first-time jobs for people who had never been employed before

The real measure of SoFab’s success lies in the difference it is making to the people it employs. Scott Reid, now a Warehouse Assistant, shares his journey:

“My journey with SoFab began in February 2022 and I’ve never looked back. I came with baggage: I’m ex-army, an ex-convict, an alcoholic, and I’d also suffered a bleed on the brain that left me with speech and cognitive challenges. Finding work felt difficult. At SoFab, I’m not judged, which is great for me. My confidence is coming back, and my life has changed for the better since joining.”

Looking ahead

From a single idea to a £2 million enterprise, SoFab Sports demonstrates the power of pairing commercial success with deep social mission. With the right investment and support, Dale and his team are not only selling sportswear but they’re also changing the employment landscape, one opportunity at a time.

And as Dale puts it, the vision is simple: “One day we hope SoFab Sports isn’t unique and that every business will reflect the diversity of its customers in its workforce.”

The Resonance Enterprise Investment (REI) Fund

As social enterprises like SoFab Sports continue to prove their value both socially and economically in delivering positive social outcomes for the people and places they support, unlocking the capital needed to help them grow is essential.

One of the ways this is happening in the UK is through social impact-focused investment funds like the REI Fund.

Building on the success of Resonance’s SITR & Health & Wellbeing Challenge (HWCF) funds, REI enables capital to flow directly into high-impact social enterprises working within their communities to create positive change in at least one of three key impact areas:

• socio-economic inequality
• improving health and wellbeing
• supporting the transition to a lower-carbon economy.

The UK’s social enterprise sector is a vibrant, fast-growing part of the economy—delivering essential services, creating inclusive employment, and building community resilience. With structured, mission-aligned finance from initiatives like the Resonance Enterprise Investment fund, the sector is better positioned than ever to tackle systemic challenges and build a more equitable future.

Find out more about the Resonance Enterprise Investment (REI) fund here:

For social enterprises 

For institutional investors 

Resonance Enterprise Investment CIC is proud to be a partner on the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) for all our loan facilities for England-based social enterprises. Find out more about GGS HERE.