Deadline: 30-Jun-23
Nominations are now open for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2023.
The UK Social Enterprise Awards are the country’s biggest celebration of social enterprises recognising the best in the sector. They are a chance to showcase the incredible contributions made by businesses that have been making a real difference in tackling social and environmental problems both in the UK and around the world.
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Thursday 30 November at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden, London.
Categories
- There are 15 categories in total, capturing the breadth, diversity and impact of the social enterprise community. These are:
- Category 1 | UK Social Enterprise of the Year: This award is open to a social enterprise that has been operating for more than 2 years that can evidence the criteria but that has also demonstrated and promoted social enterprise beyond the sector.
- Category 2 | One to Watch: This award is open to a social enterprise that has been operating for less than 2 years as of April 2023 that can clearly demonstrate the criteria but also articulate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it showing growth in their model.
- Category 3 | Prove It: Social Impact: This award is designed for any social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders. This award is not comparing the scale of different enterprises’ impact, but their measurement and reporting process.
- Category 4 | ‘Buy Social’ – Market Builder: This award is open to any social enterprise, public sector body or private sector organisation that has demonstrably made efforts within its own organisation and remit to create more opportunities to buy from social enterprises.
- Category 5 | Social Investment Deal of the Year: This is the award to enter if you have been part of a great investment deal in the last 12 months that has helped a social enterprise to grow, or the movement as a whole to develop and flourish. Both the investee and investor will be recognised.
- Category 6 | Public Services Social Enterprise: This is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years for whom the majority of their income comes from the public sector and who deliver public services (for central or local government, NHS, criminal justice or other statutory body).
- Category 7 | Consumer Facing Social Enterprise: This is open to a social enterprise that produces or delivers a retail product or service to the general public.
- Category 8 | Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise: This is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years in the education, training or employment sectors that can demonstrate excellence.
- Category 9 | Environmental Social Enterprise: This is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years in the green and environmental sectors that can demonstrate excellence.
- Category 10 | Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice: Social justice is fundamental to the social enterprise movement. This category is open to all social enterprises who are addressing these issues.
- Category 11 | Social Enterprise Women’s Champion: This award recognises a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise or organisation that supports social enterprises.
- Category 12 | International Impact: This is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years which are working internationally and having a big impact in their field.
- Category 13 | Community-based social enterprise: Social enterprises are powerful actors in shaping local places and communities. Be it operating in remote rural communities or supporting in inner cities, this category is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years.
- Category 14 | NEW: Social Enterprise Innovation of the Year: Social enterprises are more innovative than mainstream businesses – nearly three times as likely to have developed a new product or service in the past year than their mainstream business equivalents.
- Category 15 | Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise: This is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years that uses technology.
Eligibility Criteria
- All Award categories are open to organisations from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
- Organisations can apply for a maximum of three categories.
- If you have won a category in the past two years (at either the 2021 or 2022 UK Awards) you will not be shortlisted. Please do not apply for a category you have recently won.
- If you wish to make an Award application for any category other than;
- Category 4 ‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
- Category 5 Social Investment Deal of the Year
- Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year
- your organisation must be a UK based business that defines itself as a Social Enterprise using the following criteria. You will be asked to confirm that this is the case before proceeding with your application. Please do not enter any category other than 4, 5 and 11 if you do not meet the criteria.
- The business has a clear social or environmental mission that is set out in its governing documents.
- It is an independent business and earns more than half of its income through trading.
- It is controlled or owned in the interests of the social mission.
- It invests or gives away at least half your profits or surpluses towards your social purpose.
- It is transparent about how it operates and the impact it has.
- Non-social enterprises, for example, investors, corporates, public sector bodies and charities may put applications forward in the following categories:
- Category 4 ‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
- Category 5 Social Investment Deal of the Year
- Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year
- Social Enterprises may also enter category 4 & 5.
- Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year recognises a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise or organisation that supports social enterprises. Therefore, the nominee’s employer or the organisation the nominee represents must also meet the criteria listed.
For more information, visit UK Social Enterprise Awards.