The Festival of Hope
The UK Social Enterprise Awards 2025
Each year, the UK Social Enterprise Awards shine a powerful spotlight on the pioneering organisations transforming lives and communities across the country. This year, we’re doing something special, transforming a national landmark into a festival of all things social enterprise – a Festival of Hope.
Nearly 75 years ago, the Southbank Centre was built after the war to host the Festival of Britain, created to bring the country together and look forward towards a brighter future. At a time of economic uncertainty, rising populism and division, we’ll be taking over this beloved venue to create a festival celebrating those businesses which are creating hope for people and communities across these isles.
Across 15 categories, the Awards will recognise those pioneering organisations in a sector full of stars.
Join us for this celebration of the makers, the community builders, the job creators, the radicals, and the dreamers who make up the social enterprise movement.
MEET OUR FINALISTS
Book your place
The Festival of Hope will be a social enterprise night like no other. It’s a chance to connect with inspiring businesses and meet our incredible shortlist of Awards finalists.
It will be an evening focused on community, on diversity and in pride – of the achievements of our sector and what they contribute to the country. What’s more it will be full of creativity, joy and fun!
Tickets are available to anyone in our membership community and also to organisations looking to actively buy from and support social enterprises. If you’re looking to partner with purpose-led organisations, this is an event not to miss!
If you’re not in our membership, find out more about being part of our network and the benefits it can bring to your social enterprise by clicking on the button below.
A spectacular new stage
After three unforgettable years at the Roundhouse, this year the celebration is moving to the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall for what will be the biggest and best Awards yet.
For the Festival of Hope, we’re going to be reimagining the Awards night itself – creating more space to connect, a vibrant theatre-style ceremony, and an atmosphere that is as inclusive, dynamic and full of energy as the movement it celebrates.
The Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying 11 acres along the river and its four venues anchor London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. It exists to present great cultural experiences that bring people together by providing the space for artists to create and present their best work and by creating a place where as many people as possible can come together to experience bold, unusual and eye-opening work. We’re proud to be working with this fabulous venue to host our flagship event.
Support the movement – Become a sponsor
Help us put on a party for businesses trading to address disadvantage, inequality and sustainability. Sponsor our awards to show stakeholders that your company is committed to a fairer, more equitable world.
Your support helps us host a night that uplifts the sector, celebrates collective achievement, and sends a powerful message: that business can be a force for good.
Find out more about the sponsorship opportunities available to you in our sponsors pack.
Meet the winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2024
The 2024 Awards took place in the heart of Camden at the Roundhouse, one of the capitals most iconic music venues. The ceremony brought together nearly 700 people for an evening of hope and inspiration.
The winners truly represented business at its best – from social enterprises creating opportunities for those facing barriers to work to those funding innovative solutions to the climate crisis, and from those selling gifts that give back to those tackling health inequalities – our award-winning businesses showcase how social enterprises are transforming lives across the UK. The overall Social Enterprise of the Year Award was won by The Workspace Group from Northern Ireland.
The Festival of Hope celebrates social enterprises from every part of the UK and we are pleased to be once again working with Cwmpas, Social Enterprise Northern Ireland and Social Enterprise Scotland to deliver the Awards.
Our 2025 Awards sponsors
Southbank Centre photos courtesy of India Roper-Evans and Victor Frankowski