UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026
Each year, the UK Social Enterprise Awards shine a powerful spotlight on the pioneering organisations transforming lives and communities across the country. This year, the Awards are back but with a difference.
For the first time, we’re taking the celebrations out of London and are heading to a city with a deep connection to the social enterprise movement and the fight for social justice – Manchester!
The UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026 will take place on 12 November and will be co-produced with Co-operatives UK, the network for the nation’s co-operatives and a vital organisation in the push for a better way of doing business.
Following on from last year’s ‘Festival of Hope’, this year’s theme will be ‘All Together Now’, capturing the spirit of unity, co-operation and community that is at the heart of our network.
As societal division is on the ascendancy, the Awards will be a call for unity and practical collaboration – celebrating the inspiring organisations that are showing us that strong community ties overcome division and that another, better way of doing business is possible.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE AWARDS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
Get your tickets
Tickets are now on sale for the UK Social Enterprise Awards! Social Enterprise UK members save nearly 50% in comparison to the full ticket price. Now is the time to join our movement and make the most of our membership benefits!
Why Manchester and why now?
In 1844 in Rochdale, near Manchester, a group of artisans working in the cotton mills fought to tackle the awful working conditions and low wages they and their fellow workers faced. They pooled their resources and opened the first-ever consumer co-operative, providing everyday essentials at an affordable price. The Rochdale Pioneers created a new model of doing business based on ownership and profit sharing – the co-operative movement was born.
Since then, Greater Manchester has been at the heart of it, and there’s no better place to celebrate co-operation over division and unity over hate than in the city that’s been so central to the social enterprise story.
This year’s ceremony will take place at New Century Hall in the city’s Co-operative Quarter, a venue full of live music memories from Hendrix and the Stones to the Madchester era!
Meet this year’s finalists!
We’re proud to reveal the shortlist for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026!
Across 15 different categories, the shortlist shows the strength, diversity, resilience and innovation of the social enterprise and co-operative movement across the economy.
Whether it’s through delivering innovative public services, creating jobs and opportunities, embedding environmental sustainability into their work, breaking down barriers for marginalised groups, or selling outstanding products to the public – every one of the shortlist shows that another way of doing business is possible. We’ve also introduced a new category for 2026, The Co-op of the Year Award – shining a spotlight on the nation’s leading co-operative businesses.
Support the movement as an Awards sponsor
The awards are an evening of many impact stories where founders, teams, patrons, buyers and policymakers come together to celebrate businesses that make purpose practical. If your organisation would like to align itself with this growing movement of mission-driven businesses, we have a range of sponsorship opportunities available.
By becoming a sponsor, you will enhance your brand by benefiting from the wide reach of both partners and give a national stage for your business to stand with the hundreds of innovators working tirelessly to prove that ownership, procurement, governance, social value and community wealth can be built into the way business works.
If you’d like to find out more about sponsoring this year’s Awards check out our sponsors pack below or email ella.camille@socialenterprise.org.uk.
The UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026 are brought to you by Social Enterprise UK and Co-operatives UK
Want a glimpse as to what the Awards are all about? Here’s some of the highlights from 2025!
We are pleased to be working with Cwmpas, Social Enterprise Northern Ireland and Social Enterprise Scotland to deliver the Awards.
Our current UK Social Enterprise Awards sponsors