Social Enterprise Awards 2012 open for entries
The sector’s flagship awards are now in their 14th year
Social Enterprise Awards, the competition that celebrates the work and achievements of people and organizations in the UK’s growing social enterprise movement, is now open.
As Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, says: “The challenging economic climate, whilst certainly tough and gruelling for some of our friends, has brought out the sector’s fighting spirit, and some of the best ideas and solutions the social enterprise sector has seen.The movement is full of brilliance and beauty, bursting with inspiring, driven and compassionate people who are making a difference, who want a fairer society, who are using their entrepreneurial spirit and business know-how to change people’s lives, benefit their communities, to save the environment from harm. The awards are an opportunity to stop for a moment and celebrate the very best of what is being achieved.”
New categories have been introduced this year to recognize the development and diversity of the sector, with a total of 14 categories open to applicants – more than ever before.
The organizers are looking for people who run businesses that most benefit society, community and workers.
The UK is home to 68,000 social enterprises, that include co-operatives, Community Interest Companies and trading charities. The latest figures show that Britain’s social enterprise sector is booming: 1 in 7 of all social enterprises is a start-up, more than three times the proportion of start-ups in the mainstream SME business sector. And over half (58%) of social enterprises grew their business last year, compared to 28% of SMEs.
The sector’s flagship awards, now in their 14th year, are organised by Social Enterprise UK, who are working with partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to reach out to Britain’s 68,000-strong social enterprise movement.
The winners will be judged by a panel of expert judges including some of the UK’s leading social entrepreneurs and announced at an evening ceremony to be held in London during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.
To read more: http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk
