The Social Cooperative Sheep

What The Social Cooperative Sheep does

Cooperativa L'Ovile – Cooperativa di solidarietà sociale ONLUS, branded in English as "The Social Cooperative Sheep," is an Italian social solidarity cooperative (ONLUS, registered in the Albo Cooperative a mutualità prevalente under n.A114164, fiscal code 01541120356) founded in 1993 and headquartered at Via De Pisis 9 in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The cooperative delivers social welfare services and work integration programs for vulnerable populations, operating across two primary lines: "Accoglienza, inclusione, educazione" (reception, mental health support, prison reintegration, immigration and asylum reception, socio-occupational services for adults with disabilities, social mediation, and sustainability education) and "Inserimento al lavoro" (work placement through environmental services, civil and industrial cleaning, industrial manufacturing, retail, and ancillary activities). Its core technology is not a software platform but a community-led operational model structured through sub-brands such as Barberia Sociale, K-Lab, Semiliberi (prison labor), Cucire per ricucire (sewing for women in difficulty), Common Ground, and Vivanderia Sociale.

L'Ovile generates operating revenue from four streams: (1) public services contracts with Italian municipalities and public administrations for social, residential, and work-integration programs, (2) commercial services spanning environmental services, cleaning, industrial work, and retail (including the Edicola dell'ospedale hospital newsstand, Barberia Sociale, and Vivanderia Sociale), (3) interest-bearing social loans ("prestito sociale") from cooperative members at 3% unrestricted and 4% for 5-year restricted tranches as of September 2024, and (4) 5x1000 Italian tax donations directed to specific social projects. The go-to-market motion is community-led: direct contracting with public entities, retail operations in regional Emilia-Romagna, and ecosystem partnerships with organizations such as Consorzio Oscar Romero (a wholly owned subsidiary for waste collection and transport), Sentiero Facile APS, Ecosapiens, K-Lab, and La Buona Terra. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because contracts are negotiated service-by-service with public administrations.

As of the latest social balance, L'Ovile employs 418 workers (16% foreign), with documented impact metrics of 152 disadvantaged people inserted into work, 613 people hosted in residential and socio-occupational services, and 168 people involved in social inclusion, mediation, and housing activities. Operations are concentrated in Reggio Emilia province and the wider Emilia-Romagna region through facilities including the Polveriera site (housing Vivanderia Sociale and Barberia Sociale) and Casa San Giovanni in Novellara (reception center for women in difficulty). The cooperative holds ISO 9001:2015 (re-certified May 26, 2026), ISO 14001:2015, UNI/PdR 125:2022 gender equality certification, EU Ecolabel, AGCM Rating di Legalità three stars (2015), and White List registration, alongside Albo Gestori Ambientali and RENTRI registrations for waste transport.

Name

The Social Cooperative Sheep

Legal name

Cooperativa L'Ovile – Cooperativa di solidarietà sociale ONLUS

Website

https://ovile.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cooperativa L'Ovile is an Italian non-profit social cooperative (ONLUS) based in Reggio Emilia that delivers social services and work integration programs for vulnerable populations — including mental health, immigration, prison reintegration, and environmental services — primarily under public administration contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and work integration services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI), Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness) (EDAAADAE), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Social cooperative services
• Work integration programs
• Environmental waste management
• Social inclusion services
• Mental health support

Headquarters

HQ city

Reggio Nell'emilia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Services Contracts: Revenue from contracts with public administrations for social services, residential services, and work integration programs
2. Commercial Services: Revenue from environmental services, cleaning services, industrial work, and retail operations
3. Social Lending: Interest-bearing loans from cooperative members to fund social objectives and work integration programs
4. 5x1000 Donations: Italian tax donation mechanism (5 per thousand) from citizens directing tax to the cooperative for specific social projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cooperativa L'Ovile runs reception, social inclusion and education services for vulnerable populations (mental health, prison reintegration, immigration and asylum, socio-occupational support for people with disabilities, housing mediation) alongside work integration programs that place disadvantaged workers into environmental services, civil and industrial cleaning, industrial manufacturing and retail activities. The cooperative also operates its own social enterprise projects such as Barberia Sociale, K-Lab, Cucire per ricucire and Semiliberi that combine vocational training with production of goods and services.

Product overview

Cooperativa L'Ovile is a social solidarity cooperative (ONLUS) providing social services and work integration programs. Its core offerings include reception and inclusion services (mental health, prison reintegration, disability support, immigration services, education), and work placement services (environmental services, industrial cleaning, industrial manufacturing, retail). The cooperative operates various social projects including Barberia Sociale (social barbershop), K-Lab, Semiliberi (prison work programs), Cucire per ricucire (sewing workshops), and Common Ground. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but rather delivers social welfare services through community-based programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barberia Sociale: Social barber shop project - intercultural entrepreneurship project for socio-work inclusion of persons with migratory backgrounds, combining professional training, language labs, and barbery services.
• K-Lab
• Cucire per ricucire
• Semiliberi
• Ecosapiens
• Vivanderia Sociale di Polveriera
• Casa San Giovanni

Products and services

• Reception, inclusion and education services

Quantifiable outcome

• 152 disadvantaged people inserted into work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sentiero Facile APScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for 2025 5xmille campaign supporting fragile individuals and their families, particularly isolated people, through aggregation activities, inclusion promotion, wellbeing support, peer listening and anti-stigma initiatives.
• Consorzio Oscar RomerocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partnership for waste collection and transport services. Consorzio Oscar Romero operates waste collection Category 1/B including mechanized sweeping and collection centers. L'Ovile and Romero share RENTRI registration and coordinate environmental service operations.
• EcosapiensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camp services for children of workers, with 10% discount offered to cooperative members' children.
• K-LabminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDesign services partnership offering 10% discount for workers and 15% discount for cooperative members.
• La Buona TerraminorOthersAgricultural partnership providing free seasonal fruit and vegetables to workers through voucher program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Codess Sociale: Italian social cooperative (Cooperativa Sociale) providing integrated social, educational, and work-integration services across northern Italy. Direct comparable: both are Type-B Italian social cooperatives placing disadvantaged individuals into employment while delivering public-administration-contracted social services.
• Consorzio SIS: Network of Italian social cooperatives focused on social and work integration of disadvantaged people through public and private contracts. Direct comparable: shares the Type-B work-integration model, public-sector customer base, and Emilia-Romagna / northern Italy footprint.
• CSSA - Centro Servizi Sociali Aziendali: Italian social cooperative providing welfare, social services, and labor inclusion programs to disadvantaged groups under public contracts. Direct comparable: same ONLUS/cooperativa sociale status, same public-administration contracting model, same work-integration focus.
• Il Cammino Cooperativa Sociale: Italian social cooperative delivering rehabilitation, social inclusion, and work-integration services for people with mental health conditions, disabilities, and social disadvantages. Direct comparable: same mission population, same residential and work-placement service model, similar Italian regional scope.
• Coopselios: Major Italian social cooperative providing welfare, elderly care, disability, and social inclusion services through public contracts across multiple regions. Direct comparable: same Italian cooperative law regime, same public-administration customer base, and overlapping service lines in mental health, residential care, and work integration.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Italiana: Italian Catholic charitable organization providing social assistance, poverty relief, refugee support, and reintegration services through a national diocesan network. Broad incumbent peer: overlaps with L'Ovile in immigrant reception, support for women in difficulty, poverty alleviation, and community-based social services in Italy.
• Croce Rossa Italiana (Italian Red Cross): Italy's largest humanitarian organization, providing social assistance, emergency relief, refugee reception, and health services nationwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same Italian social-services ecosystem, particularly in refugee reception and emergency social support where L'Ovile also operates.
• Consorzio Gino Mattarelli (CGM): Largest consortium of Italian social cooperatives, aggregating hundreds of member cooperatives delivering social, health, educational, and work-integration services nationwide. Comparable as the umbrella entity representing the Italian social cooperative model that L'Ovile operates within.

Regional players

• Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca: Italian nonprofit foundation providing healthcare, social, and palliative care services with strong ties to Italian public health and social services. Regional peer: shares the Italian public-contract-funded service model and overlap in residential and disability services, though focused more heavily on healthcare delivery.

Emerging players

• Alisei Cooperativa Sociale: Italian social cooperative active in migration reception, social inclusion, and labor pathways for vulnerable populations. Emerging player: smaller scale than L'Ovile but directly comparable mission and service model, particularly relevant for benchmarking immigrant work-integration program design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Social Cooperative Sheep