Deadline: 05-Jul-2024
Nominations are now open for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2024.
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 Awards shine a spotlight on the leading lights of the social enterprise movement across fifteen different categories reflecting the strength, breadth, and impact of the sector.
Award Categories
- Category 1 UK Social Enterprise of the Year
- Category 2 One to Watch Award
- Category 3 Prove It: Social Impact Award
- Category 4 ‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
- Category 5 Social Investment Deal of the Year
- Category 6 Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year
- Category 7 Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year
- Category 8 Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year
- Category 9 Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year
- Category 10 Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Award
- Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year
- Category 12 International Impact Award
- Category 13 Community-Based Social Enterprise Award
- Category 14 Social Enterprise Innovation of the Year
- Category 15 Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise of the Year
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 2022 or 2023 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.
For more information, visit UK Social Enterprise Awards.