People-Centered Economic Development or P-CED is a social enterprise which has operated in the Forest of Dean since 2006.

The unusual name derives from the work of psychologist Carl R Rogers who advocated a person-centered approach to therapy which enabled an individual to resolve their own problems, flourish and grow. P-CED places the person-centered approach into the context of business and sustainable local development.

It began with an idea about an alternate form of capitalism in which a new kind of business would re-invest at least 50% of profit into the community and social objectives. It was first deployed in Russia with an initiative which created a community bank and around 10,000 new micro enterprises – typically businesses run by one person to support their own family.

 What P-CED offers in the Forest is much the same approach, in assisting local people to help themselves by creating small businesses or social enterprise. P-CED are  founder members of the SEE What You Are Buying Into network and partners to the Charter for Compassion,

P-CED contributes to education in the International Economics For Ecology conferences and designs strategic initiatives focused on poverty eradication and childcare reform. It’s about placing people at the centre of business and economic development and moving away from 20th century production centered economics.

Core funding derives from business as a software developer serving both private and public sector including major corporations, government and the NHS. It’s a self-sustaining approach without government handouts. Though most current social objectives are overseas targets, P-CED invests in promoting localism though development of a hyperlocal network and a website for the Parkend and Whitecroft Community Plan.

In Parkend, we're planning a local development hub in a now derelict building which will engage in local renewable energy initiatives, help young people develop employment skills and guide those who want to create small business.   

 The outcome of the 2008 credit crisis has placed new emphasis on localism and local government can no longer ignore the potential for business which invests in community.