Six Social Firms have been selected to go through to the national stage of the Social Enterprise Awards, which recognise and celebrate the vital work carried out by the most successful social enterprises in the UK. They are:
England
Scotland
Wales
The businesses were selected by a panel of judges at the regional stage based on the following criteria:
- proof of impact on society and/or environment
- innovative approach to addressing social/environmental needs
- quality of business.
CEO of Social Firms UK, Sally Reynolds, comments: "We are delighted with this result and send our warmest congratulations to these national winners. This Social Enterprise Awards competition has been open to the whole social enterprise sector of c. 62,000 organisations. For the Social Firm sector, which consists of just 170 businesses, to have six organisations win at the first regional level is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the quality of the enterprises involved."
Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Coalition, gave this message of support: "We were really pleased to see so many Social Firms on the Social Enterprise Awards shortlist, and send them our congratulations. They have been recognised for being exceptional social enterprises, and at the same time exemplify the diversity and breadth of social enterprises across the UK. Good luck to them all in the next stage of the awards.”
What happens now
Each of the four nations will announce their three winners on Social Enterprise Day (19 November). These 12 social enterprises will then compete to win the UK prize in their category. Also, the eight winners of the 'Established Social Enterprise' category will be put forward to win the overall grand prize of Social Enterprise of the Year. The winners of this second, national stage will be decided via an online voting procedure from 20 - 30 November and will be announced at a gala event in London on 3 December.
Watch this space....!
If any of our Social Firms UK members get through to the national stage, please help us support them by voting for them online between 20 - 30 November. We'll publish any details as soon as we have them on our own Social Enterprise Award page at http://www.socialfirms.co.uk/events/social-enterprise-awards.
For more information from organisers, Social Enterprise Coalition, visit www.socialenterpriseawards.org.uk.