Social Enterprise Awards: UK shortlist announced
March 11, 2011
The Social Enterprise Coalition has announced the UK shortlist for the Social Enterprise Awards. The following Social Enterprise Mark holders have been shortlisted:
Social Enterprise Mark Holder of the Year
• GLL (Greenwich Leisure Ltd)
• Roots HR CIC
• Southville Community Development Association
Anne Malindine from the Southville Centre exclaimed:
“This is fantastic news – we’re delighted to be shortlisted and in such impressive company too! The award is a great opportunity to highlight the value of the Mark as a symbol of the best way to do business. We’re in our twentieth year and this would be the best icing on our birthday cake!”
Steve Ward from GLL advised:
“GLL submitted its application for Social Enterprise Mark holder of the year award as we wanted to openly demonstrate our commitment to the Mark and how we have embedded it into our organisation. As a charitable Social Enterprise operating within the service sector we are proud to publically show our commitment to Social Enterprise and the Mark via the various channels used to communicate to the thousands of customers who pass through the 90 leisure Centres in and around London every day.”
Commenting on the announcement of being shortlisted, Mark Sesnan Managing Director for GLL stated that “we are pleased to be shortlisted for the first Social Enterprise Mark holder of the year award. Since becoming the first leisure SE to be granted the award, we have ensured that we have continually integrated the Mark and what it stands for throughout our organisation and to our extensive network of partners and customers.”
Jan Golding from Roots HR CIC said:
“We are so excited to be shortlisted for this award. When we started out 2 years ago, we were dismissed by a third sector magazine as “just another trading company”, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We have worked so hard to show that HR services and consultancy can be delivered ethically and sustainably through a social enterprise model. Gaining the Mark in May ’10 was the first time that we felt we could hold our heads up with pride. It stands for everything we do – the use of our trading surpluses for better people management in our sector.”
The UK finals of the Awards will follow Voice11 on 30th March at The O2 in London. Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, will speak and present the Best Social Enterprise Award. More than 1,000 people are expected to gather at the evening reception.
Commenting on the UK finalists, Peter Holbrook, CEO of the Social Enterprise Coalition, said: “To get to this shortlist has been difficult work for our judges because the quality of the applications has been outstanding. I feel prouder than ever and am personally moved and motivated by the work that is going on in our movement. If anyone out there wants to see the Big Society they needn’t look any further.”
Categories
Social Enterprise Start Up of the Year
• Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre (Northern Ireland)
• Hebridean Chocolates CIC (Scotland)
• Lodsworth Larder (England)
• Vi-Ability Educational Programme (Wales)
Young Person’s Social Enterprise of the Year
• Ecovation (England)
• Stonelaw High Fair Traders (Scotland)
Social Enterprise of the Year
• Blue Sky Development & Regeneration (England)
• Co-options (Wales)
• Golspie Recycling & Environmental Action Network (Scotland)
• Newington Credit Union Limited (Northern Ireland)
Social Enterprise Leader of the Year
• Sharon Jones (Crest Recycle, Wales)
• John McMullan (Bryson Charitable Group, Northern Ireland)
• Susan Aktemel (Impact Arts, Scotland)
• Fay Selvan (The Big Life Group, England)
Social Enterprise Partner of the Year
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Low Sizergh Farm
• RBS Community Banking
• West Lindsey District Council
Social Enterprise Unsung Hero of the Year
• Donald Anderson (The Bread Maker)
• Alasdair Nicholson (Third Sector Hebrides)
• Graeme Perks (Skillbuilders)
• Joanne Mawdsley (The Legacy Rainbow House)
