Self-sustaining restaurant based on inclusive employment and internships

Pirmas Blynas, a Vilnius social enterprise, employs people with disabilities in its restaurant. Seven of 11 staff have disabilities, while 15 interns are trained yearly. It advocates inclusive career paths.

Pirmas Blynas is a social enterprise that runs a restaurant in the old town of Vilnius, Lithuania, pioneering the inclusive hiring of employees with disabilities in the catering sector in the Baltics. As its website states, Pirmas Blynas sells “the most delicious pancakes,” but it also caters to events and offices, makes Christmas presents for companies, and advocates for inclusive career paths, together with the Association of People with Down Syndrome. Seven of the 11 employees have a disability, and 15 interns are in training at any given time.

Problems Targeted

There is a lack of employment opportunities for persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities in the open labour market.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Pirmas Blynas is a social enterprise that operates a pancake restaurant in Vilnius, Lithuania. The restaurant employs people with (mostly intellectual) disabilities, providing them with meaningful work and training opportunities. Employees work in various roles such as serving tables, producing food products, and being the face of the restaurant, most of them part-time, encouraging as much interaction as possible between employees and customers. Employees receive a little more than the legal minimum wage and can keep their tips. The restaurant also employs two social workers and one cook. Interns receive hands-on training in various restaurant tasks, including serving, cooking, and event preparation, supporting their employability after the internship. In addition to pancakes, Pirmas Blynas roasts its own coffee and produces kombucha, waffles, and chocolate truffles. Pirmas Blynas collaborates with the Association of People with Down Syndrome to advocate for inclusive career paths. It offers social workshop services five days a week for eight people, aiming to increase their employability by developing general and special working skills.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Pirmas Blynas started as a for-profit business, but with a strong social mission, without any funding from government, the EU, or banks. After showing that the model really worked, Pirmas Blynas applied for an EU grant and is now supported by the European Social Fund and Vilnius City Municipality until 2029. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)

Pictures

Pirmas Blynas employs people with disabilities and sells “the most delicious pancakes”.

Pirmas Blynas employs people with disabilities and sells “the most delicious pancakes”.

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