Business plan development/Datblygu Cynllun Busnes
BWorkz
February 2026
Summary
The business plan project transformed BWORKZ from an enthusiastic start-up into a strategically focused charity with clear direction for the future. Ben summarised the value: "It doesn't matter what the size of the charity is, a business plan can support a charity at any level. For a start-up, it's probably more important than anything to get that plan in place, especially if you need to get funding."
The partnership between BWORKZ and Cranfield Trust continues, with a second project now underway to support the charity's next phase of growth. As John reflected, "Opening a hive was the easy part. Opening the charity was the difficult part. I'm very happy with everything we've had with Cranfield Trust so far, and we're looking forward to helping as many people as possible."
Crynodeb
Trawsnewidiodd y prosiect gynllun busnes BWORKZ o fusnes newydd brwdfrydig i elusen sy'n canolbwyntio ar strategaeth gyda chyfeiriad clir ar gyfer y dyfodol. Crynhoodd Ben y gwerth: "Does dim ots beth yw maint yr elusen, gall cynllun busnes gefnogi elusen ar unrhyw lefel. I fusnes newydd, mae'n debyg ei bod yn bwysicach nag unrhyw beth i gael y cynllun hwnnw ar waith, yn enwedig os oes angen i chi gael cyllid."
Mae'r bartneriaeth rhwng BWORKZ ac Ymddiriedolaeth Cranfield yn parhau, gydag ail brosiect bellach ar y gweill i gefnogi cam nesaf twf yr elusen. Fel y myfyriodd John, "Agor cwch gwenyn oedd y rhan hawdd. Agor yr elusen oedd y rhan anodd. Rwy'n hapus iawn gyda phopeth rydyn ni wedi'i gael gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Cranfield hyd yn hyn, ac rydyn ni'n edrych ymlaen at helpu cymaint o bobl â phosibl."
Background
BWORKZ is a small community interest organisation (CIO) based in South Wales that uses beekeeping as a means of supporting people experiencing mental health difficulties and learning disabilities. Founded by army veteran John Mustoe, the charity provides accessible, low-cost introduction courses at wheelchair-accessible apiaries, helping participants build confidence while learning about bees in small, personalised groups.
Cefndir
Mae BWORKZ yn sefydliad corfforedig elusennol (CIO) bach sydd wedi'i leoli yn Ne Cymru sy'n defnyddio cadw gwenyn fel modd o gefnogi pobl sy'n profi anawsterau iechyd meddwl ac anableddau dysgu. Wedi'i sefydlu gan gyn-filwr John Mustoe, mae'r elusen yn darparu cyrsiau cyflwyno sy’n hygyrch, rhad mewn gwenynfeydd hygyrch i gadeiriau olwyn, gan helpu cyfranogwyr i fagu hyder wrth ddysgu am wenyn mewn grwpiau bach, wedi'u personoli.
The challenge
"John's passion for beekeeping and helping others was clear, but like many start-up charities, BWORKZ needed support to develop the business structures required for sustainable growth. With no formal business plan yet in place, John recognised the charity would benefit from guidance on governance, data protection, and strategic planning. He explained, "I could pick up a frame of bees and tell you if they need anything, but I can't tell you how to run a charity. Without Cranfield Trust, we'd probably be kicking around in the dark and making too many mistakes."
Regional Manager Nicola Russell-Brooks recognised the challenge: "They'd started to run, but John was working out how to actually step away, reflect, and develop a real concept of how to move this charity forward to become financially sustainable."
Her
"Roedd angerdd John am gadw gwenyn a helpu eraill yn glir, ond fel llawer o elusennau cychwynnol, roedd angen cymorth ar BWORKZ i ddatblygu'r strwythurau busnes sydd eu hangen ar gyfer twf cynaliadwy. Heb gynllun busnes ffurfiol eto, cydnabuodd John y byddai'r elusen yn elwa o ganllawiau ar lywodraethu, diogelu data a chynllunio strategol. Eglurodd, "Gallwn godi ffrâm tŷ gwenyn a dweud wrthych os oes angen unrhyw beth arnyn nhw, ond ni allaf ddweud wrthych sut i redeg elusen. Heb Cranfield Trust, mae'n debyg y bydden ni'n ymbalfalu o gwmpas yn y tywyllwch ac yn gwneud gormod o gamgymeriadau."
Cydnabuodd Rheolwr Cymru, Nicola Russell-Brooks, yr her: "Roedden nhw wedi dechrau ar redeg yr elusen ond roedd John yn gweithio allan sut i gamu i ffwrdd, myfyrio, a datblygu cysyniad go iawn o sut i symud yr elusen hon ymlaen i fod yn gynaliadwy yn ariannol."
The solution
Cranfield Trust matched BWORKZ with volunteer consultant Ben Butler-Madden, an experienced volunteer with a strong background in business planning and financial management. Ben provided John with a business plan template and worked through each section methodically over regular sessions.
Ben explained the approach: "Because it was a start-up, we created a slightly bespoke business plan structure to work out what the proposition was going to be and what the three-to-five-year plan would look like. If anything, it was more about reining in the ideas and getting really focused on a couple of things initially."
Ben's approach was patient and adaptable, taking time to break down business terminology and tailor his explanations to ensure the concepts landed effectively. John joked, "It took Ben about five minutes to realise I didn't have a clue what was going on, and then he dumbed everything down to my level. He did a fantastic job."
Ateb
Parodd Ymddiriedolaeth Cranfield BWORKZ â'r ymgynghorydd gwirfoddol Ben Butler-Madden, gwirfoddolwr profiadol gyda chefndir cryf mewn cynllunio busnes a rheoli ariannol. Rhoddodd Ben templed cynllun busnes i John a gweithiodd trwy bob adran yn fethodolegol dros sesiynau rheolaidd.
Esboniodd Ben y dull gweithredu: "Oherwydd ei fod yn fusnes newydd, fe wnaethon ni greu strwythur cynllun busnes ychydig yn bwrpasol i weithio allan beth oedd y cynnig yn mynd i fod a sut fyddai'r cynllun tair i bum mlynedd yn edrych. Os rhywbeth, roedd yn fwy am reoli disgwyliadau a chanolbwyntio ar gwpl o bethau i ddechrau."
Roedd dull Ben yn amyneddgar ac yn hyblyg, gan gymryd amser i dorri terminoleg fusnes a theilwra ei esboniadau i sicrhau bod y cysyniadau yn glanio'n effeithiol. Fe wnaeth John jôc, "Cymerodd Ben tua phum munud i sylweddoli nad oedd gen i syniad beth oedd yn digwydd, ac yna fe wnaeth ddod a phopeth i lawr i'm lefel i. Fe wnaeth waith gwych."
The impact
The business plan gave BWORKZ the structure and confidence to grow strategically. John described the transformation: "It's given us a lot more confidence when it comes to how the charity is run. If the charity is ticking away nicely in the background with all our governance in place and all our legal structures, safeguarding, we can help as many people as we can, knowing that all the boxes are ticked before they've even put the suit on."
The charity has expanded from a single site to three locations across Wales, with plans for further growth. John has also begun developing income streams, including selling honey through local shops and craft fairs. Nicola observed, "There's a whole different person working in there now. He's really thinking like a businessman; how do we make money? How can I actually start to draw a salary? How can we employ other staff?"
For beneficiaries, the improved governance means greater reassurance about safety standards. John explained: "We've had people reaching out who've heard how fantastic BWORKZ was and how safe they felt. Having everything wrapped up in a nice little box to show them before they come to the site is quite beneficial for service users of all backgrounds."
Effaith
Rhoddodd y cynllun busnes y strwythur a'r hyder i BWORKZ dyfu'n strategol. Disgrifiodd John y trawsnewidiad: "Mae wedi rhoi llawer mwy o hyder i ni o ran sut mae'r elusen yn cael ei rhedeg. Os yw'r elusen yn ticio'n braf yn y cefndir gyda'n holl lywodraethu, ein holl strwythurau cyfreithiol, diogelu ar waith, gallwn helpu cymaint o bobl ag y gallwn, gan wybod bod yr holl flychau wedi'u ticio cyn iddyn nhw hyd yn oed roi'r siwt gwenyn ymlaen."
Mae'r elusen wedi ehangu o un safle i dri lleoliad ledled Cymru, gyda chynlluniau ar gyfer twf pellach. Mae John hefyd wedi dechrau datblygu ffrydiau incwm, gan gynnwys gwerthu mêl trwy siopau lleol a ffeiriau crefftau. Meddai Nicola, "Mae yna berson hollol wahanol yn gweithio yno nawr. Mae'n meddwl fel dyn busnes mewn gwirionedd; Sut ydyn ni'n gwneud arian? Sut alla i ddechrau tynnu cyflog? Sut allwn ni gyflogi mwy o staff?”
I fuddiolwyr, mae'r llywodraethu gwell yn golygu mwy o sicrwydd ynghylch safonau diogelwch. Esboniodd John: "Rydyn ni wedi cael pobl sy'n estyn allan sydd wedi clywed pa mor wych oedd BWORKZ a pha mor ddiogel oedden nhw'n teimlo. Mae cael popeth wedi'i “lapio mewn bocs bach braf” i'w ddangos iddynt cyn iddynt ddod i'r safle yn eithaf buddiol i ddefnyddwyr gwasanaeth o bob cefndir."
