At a Glance
Location: Poland
Impact Areas: Sustainable Income
People Supported:
Youth, People with Disabilities
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2021
Overview
Heca supports people with physical or mental disabilities and young people who are homeless to access training and quality employment opportunities. The Polish social enterprise not only offers education, apprenticeships, job search mentoring, and office spaces to help program participants launch their careers but also directly hires its program graduates to work in its businesses.
One of Heca’s lines of business is Patentu, a company that produces hand-crafted, quality furniture using recycled materials such as plastic waste collected from corporate partners. Patentu’s furniture is designed for accessibility, built with universal design principles that accommodate the needs of children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.
Heca is committed to lowering its impact on the environment. In addition to upcycling furniture, Heca also contributes to curbing carbon emissions through Tczew Bicycle Couriers, a bicycle-based urban delivery enterprise that trains and hires at-risk youth, many of whom are graduates from Heca’s training programs.
To strengthen the local social economy, Heca frequently partners with other impact-oriented businesses and organizations to support and promote their services. In 2020, Heca prepared almost 4,000 gift sets with products from partner social businesses for its corporate clients.
Results & Impact
20
jobs generated for marginalized communities
44%
employees are women
300+
livelihoods improved
“For me, there is a correlation between our growth as a business and creating safe and attractive jobs for people at risk of exclusion. Right now we are working on our plan to bring homeless youth off the streets by providing them housing.
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NESsT Investment
During the pandemic, Heca offered career training to more than 400 people who lost their jobs, helping them to advance or pivot their careers and seek better opportunities. NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship will assist Heca to improve its business strategy and internal structures to prepare for scaling, which will enable Heca to offer more full-time employment opportunities and training courses.
Heca will especially receive guidance on developing the business model of Patentu. NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship’s investment will support the social enterprise to enhance its pricing, sales, and marketing strategies to reach new markets.