Thought Leadership

Sponsored by Bunzl. 58% of social enterprises have leadership teams that are at least half female. This award recognises a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise who represents excellence in her field of work. Find out who has made the shortlist below: Elysha Paige - Bloody Good Employers Elysha is Director of Bloody Good Employers who are revolutionising the way that people think about menstrual and gender equity at work. As a mentor and volunteer she has supported numerous women and marginalised people with their careers and access to resources to support survivors of gender-based violence. She lives with Adenomyosis - a menstrual health condition that causes severe pain and heavy bleeding which further fuels her ambition to create a more inclusive society for women and people who menstruate. @bloodygoodperiod Viviene Bish-Bedeau – Construction and Engineering Opportunities (CEO)      Viviene Bish-Bedeau, Founder and Director of Construction and Engineering Opportunities (CEO), is a trailblazer in empowering disadvantaged youth and promoting diversity in the construction and engineering sectors. With a commitment to breaking down barriers, she provides mentorship, training, and support to individuals from all backgrounds. Her leadership and innovative programs exemplify her dedication to social change and creating opportunities for personal and professional growth. @ceo_cic Dee Murray - Menopause Experts Group   Dee Murray, CEO and Founder of Menopause Experts Group, is renowned for her groundbreaking work in menopause education and support. Her initiatives have empowered women globally, offering comprehensive training programs that reduce stigma and promote workplace equality. With a background in psychotherapy, Dee combines her expertise to advocate for mental and physical health during menopause. Her leadership and vision have made significant impacts, inspiring women and fostering diversity in over 20 countries. Nicola Pollock – MorphFit Gentle Movement Project Nicola has been central to the planning and delivery of MorphFit Gentle Movement's projects from launch at the height of the pandemic. Nicola supported the development of sessions which centre around light to moderate chair-based, and where appropriate, standing exercises and lifestyle interventions. With a passion for working with people, Nicola has worked tirelessly to create sessions and adapt movements to ensure that programmes are accessible for all in need. @morphfitgentlemovement Maggie Gordon-Walker – Mothers Uncovered (Livestock charity)  Maggie directs Mothers Uncovered, constantly generating ideas to reach out to mothers, and ways they can make money in these times of austerity. Social obstacles to a woman succeeding in the business and voluntary sector are well known – hence the importance of Maggie’s focus on the lived experience of mothers, especially their mental health. The context in which she is working is tough but Maggie remains undaunted, vibrant and vital. @mothers_uncovered Hayley Hulme - Starts With You Hayley is an exceptional leader renowned for her dedication, resilience, and innovation. She inspires andmotivates others, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive work environment that empowers individuals toreach their full potential. Her innovative strategies have significantly influenced organisations andindustries. Committed to social responsibility, Hayley actively engages in sustainability, diversity, andinclusion initiatives. Her mentorship has uplifted numerous women, making a lasting impact on theircareers. @startswithyoubolton Paula Jennings – Stepping Stones Paula joined Stepping Stones NI in 1998 when it was a small pilot project. She was determined from day one that people with learning disabilities should have the equal opportunity to gain skills, qualifications and employment. Paula’s vision was always very clear – people with disabilities and barriers to learning and employment can thrive if given the right support. Over the last 26 years, Paula has built a robust and successful organisation that now includes six social enterprises and four core services. Jasmine Cannon-Ikurusi, The Sapphire Wellbeing and Employability Academy     Sapphire is a dedicated social enterprise focused on empowering marginalised and ethnic minority communities. Jasmine, CEO of Sapphire aged 30, has transformed countless lives through her dedication to empowering marginalised communities. Despite overcoming racism, dyslexia, autism, and dyspraxia, her unwavering commitment has fostered inclusion, economic growth, and mental wellbeing, making her a true champion for women and social justice. @scommunitygroup Sarah Jordan - Y.O.U Underwear         Y.O.U Underwear is a multi-award-winning ethical business who make stylish, organic cotton underwear for men, women and girls. Sarah, a multi award-winning social entrepreneur, moved from the world of charity digital and tech to underwear in 2016. With previous experience including more than 25 years in senior leadership roles across the not-for-profit, commercial and publishing sectors, Sarah’s passion lies in empowering women and girls. A regular public speaker at universities and business start ups, Sarah is also Trustee of The Beam Foundation and is on a mission to inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs. @youunderwearuk

Sponsored by Barclays Business Banking. This award recognises a social enterprise that has brought something truly innovative to market in the past year. Read on to find out more about the pioneering work of the various social enterprises from across the UK that have made the shortlist this year: Big Issue Group The Big Issue Group is a social enterprise and B-corp which looks to unlock entrepreneurial solutions for people living in poverty. It started as a magazine sold by vendors on the streets of the UK and now has many different ways of helping individuals and communities to earn, learn and thrive. @bigissueuk Change Please CIC Change Please is an innovative social enterprise revolutionising the approach to tackling homelessness through its holistic programs. By training individuals experiencing homelessness as baristas and providing them with essential support services, Change Please creates pathways to stable employment and housing. Its "Driving for Change" initiative repurposes buses to deliver comprehensive health, social and employment services across London. Partnering with organisations like Colgate and HSBC, Change Please supports thousands annually and champions social change through impactful scalable solutions. @changeplease Clear Voice Clear Voice is an award-winning language services provider, delivering a complete suite of interpreting and translation solutions. Its services are relied upon across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. As a social enterprise, Clear Voice returns 100% of profits to its parent charity Migrant Help, helping support refugees, asylum seekers, and the survivors of modern slavery. Clear Voice also runs an initiative called the InPower Project which fully-funds unemployed refugees through the education they require to become professional interpreters.  @ClearVoiceUK Even Even’s low-cost period underwear is the first of its kind in the humanitarian sector. For the same cost as two packs of disposable sanitary pads, Even’s pioneering period underwear, lasts for five years when washed and reworn. Its mission is to ensure women in the most vulnerable circumstances have free, long-lasting access to the products needed to take care of themselves safely and with dignity. Qualia Law CIC Qualia Law CIC, is the only non-profit in the UK providing Court of Protection Deputyship by qualified and regulated solicitors to help safeguard and protect the property and finances of people who lack capacity, or are unable to manage their own financial affairs.  This service takes the duty away from the local authority, the worry away from the individual, and the cost away from the taxpayer.  @qualialawcic RAW RAW was born to prove that people who have walked and survived life's toughest challenges have the power to transform those experiences into assets that any employer would love. Powered by its amazing Crew, 75% of whom have overcome issues such as addiction, mental and physical health issues, incarceration and societal exclusion, RAW has grown to provide furniture products and circular economy services to some of the UKs leading brand and institutions. @raw_workshop St Helena Hospice St Helena is a Colchester based charity which provides palliative and end of life care to local people facing incurable illness in north east Essex, supporting them, their families, friends and carers. It provides individual care and total support wherever it is needed; at home, over the phone via a 24/7 advice line, and at the hospice. St Helena also provides bereavement support to adults and children, regardless of where or how their loved one died. @sthelenahospice

Sponsored by Nestlé. Social justice is fundamental to the social enterprise movement. This category is open to all social enterprises who are addressing issues around diversity, inclusion and equity. Read on to find out more about our pioneering shortlist who are embedding these principles across their work: Built By Us Built By Us is an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to positively impacting the construction sector by increasing inclusion and diversity in the built environment. Its work breaks down barriers to opportunities for industry students, practitioners, and founders who are underrepresented in the sector. Built By Us creates links between individuals and organisations to proactively address inclusion throughlearning, strategic support, talent search, and mentoring. Its goal is to create a world built for all, by all. @builtbyusUK City Health Care Partnership CIC Providing the highest quality health and care services, City Health Care Partnership CIC’s vision is to lead and inspire through excellence, compassion and expertise in all that it does. CHCP helps to keep people healthy, happy and out of hospital in Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Merseyside. It generates social value through reinvestment in colleagues, communities and services, with a social return on investment of £55 for every £1 spent. @chcphull Community Renewal Trust Rom Romeha Rom Romeha means “For Roma, By Roma”. This team employs 12 Roma staff speaking 15 languages and has supported at least 75% of all the Roma migrant families in Glasgow over the last five years. It started from tiny beginnings almost exactly ten years ago, with a test of an “Open Door” drop-in session for local migrants in Govanhill. Over time this has grown and grown, becoming more impactful, more ambitious and more sustainable. Founders and Coders Founders and Coders offers an accessible educational pathway that opens doors to careers in software development. Its mission is to diversify the tech industry by removing barriers for underrepresentedgroups and providing support from school age to old age. Founders and Coders' unique peer-led learning model hones soft skills and deepens software development knowledge, fostering a thriving community of lifelong learners. Grange Pavilion Youth Forum Grange Pavilion Youth Forum is incredibly popular with the young people of Grangetown with children of all ages attending sessions every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Grange Pavilion Youth Forum aims to connect children and young people’s social and emotional wellbeing through companionship, having their own space to be comfortable, and where they would experiment playfully and imaginatively, supporting young people in empowering, innovative, and challenging sessions that can be delivered throughout the year. Money A+E Money A+E is a social enterprise transforming lives through money advice and education. It promotes diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice, empowering disadvantaged groups, diverse ethnic communities, and young people to achieve financial stability. Its initiatives include the Racial Justice in Finance project, consultancy services, and the Grow Your Own project. Rooted in lived experience, the team ensures services are relevant and impactful, significantly reducing poverty and fostering inclusive financial systems. @moneyaande Nuneaton Signs Nuneaton Signs are a social enterprise, with a core purpose is to “provide meaningful employment andtraining for people with disabilities through the manufacture and sale of signs.” It designs and manufactures a variety of signage solutions for a wide range of sectors and valued customers. Nuneaton Signs opens its doors every day to provide opportunities and training for those furthest from the work marketplace and reinvests 100% of its surplus into this purpose. @nuneatonsigns Women in Banking and Finance Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF), established in 1980, is a volunteer-led social enterprise dedicated to promoting diversity, gender equity, and inclusion in UK financial services. Pioneering debates, lobbying, and policy-making, WIBF collaborates with corporate partners and industry bodies to implement practical solutions for industry challenges. WIBF's initiatives, such as development programs, leadership opportunities, and networking events, empower women to advance their careers and demonstrate the significant benefits of diversity and inclusion within the financial sector. @womeninbankingandfinance

Sponsored by BDO. For a social enterprise in the education, training or employment sectors that can demonstrate excellence in vision and strategic direction, and clearly evidence their social, environmental and community impact. Find out more about the impactful social enterprises who have made the shortlist below: Change Please CIC Change Please is an innovative social enterprise revolutionising the approach to tackling homelessnessthrough its holistic programs. By training individuals experiencing homelessness as baristas and providing them with essential support services, Change Please creates pathways to stable employment and housing. Its "Driving for Change" initiative repurposes buses to deliver comprehensive health, social and employment services across London. Partnering with organisations like Colgate and HSBC, ChangePlease supports thousands annually and champions social change through impactful scalable solutions. @changeplease Cockpit Cockpit is London’s centre for excellence in contemporary craft and home to 175+ independent creative businesses. For over 30 years, it has nurtured and supported craftspeople at all stages of their careers and opened pathways into creative employment for young people from all backgrounds. As the UK’s only business incubator for craft, its provides funded studio space and in-house business coaching, enabling makers to thrive and become leaders in their fields. Cockpit is where careers in craft are made. @cockpitstudios Money A+E Money A+E is a social enterprise transforming lives through money advice and education. It promotes diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice, empowering disadvantaged groups, diverse ethnic communities, and young people to achieve financial stability. Its initiatives include the Racial Justice in Finance project, consultancy services, and the Grow Your Own project. Rooted in lived experience, the team ensures services are relevant and impactful, significantly reducing poverty and fostering inclusive financial systems. @moneyaande The Dusty Knuckle Bakery The Dusty Knuckle is a prestigious bakery and café in London. It uses its busy, seven day operation to train young people facing barriers to becoming independent adults. This centres largely on young offenders, care leavers and those in insecure accommodation. Through the training they take stepstowards fulfilment, employment and independent living. @thedustyknuckle WYK Digital WYK Digital is revolutionising access to tech careers in the UK. Founded in 2020, this social enterprise ensures "What You Know" outweighs "who you know" in the digital sector. Through free 10-week courses combining skills training with real-world projects, WYK empowers young people from diverse backgrounds to secure well-paying tech jobs. With over 600 lives transformed and impressive employment outcomes, WYK is changing the face of the digital industry. @wykdigital  

Sponsored by GLL. Social enterprises are often on the frontline of delivering innovative ways to deliver the services we rely on. This award is for a social enterprise for whom the majority of their income comes from the public sector and which delivers public services (for central or local government, NHS, criminal justice or other statutory body). Find out who made the shortlist below: CDS CIC CDS CIC brings dental care to people who cannot be treated in general dental practice; its patientstypically have learning disabilities, mental ill health or very severe anxiety. They may be in situations orlocations that traditional dental services cannot reach such as homelessness centres or secure settings. It is also contracted to provide oral health improvement and epidemiology programmes. CDS's social purpose is to enable the communities it supports to enjoy a better quality of life. @CDS_CIC Family Fund Business Services Family Fund Business Services (FFBS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Family Fund, a national charity supporting families of disabled and seriously ill children. FFBS is a grant administration service, which enables clients such as local authorities to distribute welfare support to those in need across the UK. FFBS gift 100% of profits to Family Fund, having generated over £15 million since 2013. As Family Fund’s largest source of unrestricted funding, FFBS help sustain the vital work of the charity. @FF_Business Mastercall Healthcare Mastercall Healthcare is an award winning social enterprise organisation providing a range of ‘out ofhospital’ healthcare NHS services across the North-West of England and nationwide. It is rated ‘Good with Outstanding for Caring’ by the Care Quality Commission. With over 28 years’ experience as an innovative, highly performing, social enterprise organisation, it is passionate about providing the very best patient care at the very best place for the patient. @MastercallH SH:24 CIC SH:24 is a multi-award-winning digital sexual health service partnering with the NHS to provide online sexual and reproductive health services across the UK. SH:24 offers STI testing, contraception, and photo diagnosis, and was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. The service has significantly increased access to sexual health services and received accolades such as The Queen's Awards for Enterprise and The Guardian Public Service Awards. A not-for-profit, SH:24 focuses on social good, innovation, and sustainable growth. @SH24_NHS Simon Community Scotland Simon Community Scotland has focused on responding to the causes and consequences of homelessness. It is a community of staff, volunteers and people who are homeless that combine to reach, respond and resolve the challenges and circumstances people find themselves in. Its ambition is that everyone has a safe place to live and the support they need. In any given year, Simon Community Scotland supports over 7000 people with 300 staff, 140 volunteers and over 70 partners across Scotland working with people living on the street, temporary accommodation and in their own homes. @simoncommscot Social Interest Group Social Interest Group (SIG) is a leading national charity that provides person-centred health and social care services through its member subsidiaries: SIG Equinox, SIG Safe Ground, SIG Penrose, SIG Housing Trust, and SIG Pathways to Independence. SIG’s purpose is to develop innovative solutions to bridge local health and social care gaps for people facing complex disadvantages. Through every interaction, program, and initiative, it provides diverse opportunities for employment, training, and education, addressing social value, health, and economic disparities. @socialinterestgroup Turning Point Turning Point is one of the UK’s leading health and social care providers. From detox treatment tosupported living, its services help people tackle substance use and mental health issues, and those withlearning disabilities lead independent lives.

Sponsored by Better Society Capital. Social investment plays a vital role in helping the social enterprise sector expand and develop. This Award recognises organisations that have been part of a great investment deal in the last 12 months that has helped the social enterprise to grow or the movement as a whole to develop and flourish. Find out which deals made the shortlist below: Barking & Dagenham Giving/The Boathouse Barking CIC The GROW Fund is BD Giving's flagship fund for social enterprises in Barking and Dagenham providing a £25,000 grant and business support. The Boathouse Barking CIC, a multi-purpose events space, was arecipient and used it to upgrade facilities to increase revenue from commercial event hires so more artists can access space and host community events. The GROW Fund is a 100% community-led funddemonstrating impact on local decision-makers, recipients of the fund and users of The Boathouse. @bdgivinguk @theboathousestudios Big Issue Invest/Lightning Reach Big Issue Invest is the Big Issue Group’s social impact investment arm. It invests in social enterprises, social-purpose businesses and charities creating core solutions to end poverty in the UK. Founded by entrepreneurs John Bird and Nigel Kershaw, from the Big Issue Group, it is one of the leaders in social impact investing. Lightning Reach is a financial support portal which makes it easy for people to find and apply for a wide range of personalised support (i.e. grants, benefits, and help with bills) in one place. In May 2023, it received an investment of £1million from Big Issue Invest and UnLtd’s Growth Impact Fund – a fund that targets its support at diverse-led, early-stage social enterprises with a vision for tackling inequality in the UK. @bigissueinvest @lightningreach Great Western Credit Union/Fair4All Finance Great Western Credit Union partnered with Ethex and managed to raise £980,000 from retail investorswhich was match funded by Fair4All Finance. This funding is used to improve and grow the access to fair and affordable financial services in the South West especially for low income households and people in vulnerable circumstances. This was the first retail raise by a community finance provider which inspired two other organisations to follow and many more to consider this route. @greatwesterncu @Fair4AllFinance Impact Finance Consulting/ARK Resettlement Services £700k social investment to ARK Resettlement Services provided by Social Investment Business FlexibleFinance Fund (£170k grant and £180k unsecured loan), and Trust for London (£350k secured loan) with the support of its advisor, Impact Finance Consulting. The deal has enabled ARKRS to secure its first repayable finance, and acquire a property to offer accommodation to more people on probation. @ark_resettlement_services British Land/Impact Hub London Impact Hub London secured a transformative deal with British Land who provided £3.5m of CAPEX and managed the Cat-A/B fit-out for a 10,650 sqft affordable workspace in Regent’s Place. Repayment for CatB and peppercorn rent with a profit share arrangement enabled what would otherwise have beenunaffordable. Not only did this secure a world-class space for inclusive innovation in Camden, with freememberships for underserved residents, but built aligned interests and a true collaboration to enablecommunity and global impact. @impacthublondon @britishlandplc Arts & Culture Impact Fund/Music Venue Properties A £1m secured loan from the Arts & Culture Impact Fund has enabled Music Venue Properties to launch a pioneering initiative bringing grassroots music venues into community ownership - protecting their vital contributions to their local neighbourhoods and to the UK’s music industry as a whole. @musicvenueproperties

Sponsored by Linklaters. An ability to effectively measure and communicate impact is vital for social enterprises, being used to evidence the difference they are making and also to attract additional funding and support. This award recognises a social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders. Read on to find out who has made the shortlist: Breadwinners Breadwinners is a not-for-profit social enterprise that provides artisan organic bread and pastries while supporting refugees through employment and work experience programmes. By operating market stalls and a wholesale model, it gives refugees jobs and creates a community of customers, socially responsible partners, and producers that promotes the integration of newly arrived individuals into the UK. All while offering the best sourdoughs, natural levains, and organic pastries! @wearebreadwinners Goldfinger Goldfinger designs and crafts timeless furniture and homeware from locally-sourced and reclaimed materials. It is an award-winning social enterprise working for the good of people and planet. Goldfinger’s craftsmanship is a central feature of the latest restaurant at the Tate Modern, Thomas Heatherwick’s new offices in King’s Cross and both Inhabit Hotels in West London. Goldfinger's artisans also design and craft bespoke furniture for private residents, often in collaboration with celebrated interior designers and architects. @goldfinger.design Hey Girls CIC Hey Girls exemplifies the principles of a leading social enterprise by addressing a critical social issue, promoting environmental sustainability, fostering community engagement, and committing to the professional development and equality of its team. It is a social enterprise with an innovative model, substantial impact on social equity and education, impressive business growth, and dedication to its team’s growth and inclusivity. @heygirlsuk Moneyline Moneyline, is a community development finance institution, with over two decades of community lending expertise. It offers small cash loans to the lowest 20% income households in the UK, those most excluded from mainstream financial services. Moneyline's mission is to offer essential and appropriate financial services to low-income households, reducing barriers to credit access; whilst acting as a line of defence against loan sharks. Moneyline is a Community Benefit Society, a member of Responsible Finance and a Living Wage employer. @moneyline_uk Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise CIC PDSE is committed to improving oral health in the Southwest through the provision of treatment, education and engagement with communities. Its unique model brings together dental education, high-quality patient care and community outreach to deliver demonstrable social impact. Its clinics were established to tackle oral health inequalities in underserved areas and to address the lack of availability of dental care, treating patients who may not otherwise have access to a dentist. The Skill Mill The Skill Mill is a social enterprise providing real jobs for young people exiting the youth justice system supporting their transformation and rehabilitation through the delivery of environmental improvement services in the local community. The young people receive on-the-job training and qualifications and support to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the wider labour market. Partnerships with corporate organisations and local and central government ensure that the work carried out is meaningful and rewarding. @theskillmill Ravine Market Garden (The Advantage Foundation) Ravine Market Garden, a social enterprise by The Advantage Foundation Ltd, is dedicated to empowering young people facing mental health challenges through meaningful work, skills development, and nature-based activities. Located in South Belfast, Ravine has established itself as a transformative presence, creating a safe, supportive environment where young individuals can engage in horticulture, conservation, and environmental stewardship. The enterprise operates on social enterprise principles, reinvesting 100% of its profits to ensure continuous growth and support for its mission. By intertwining social and environmental goals, Ravine aims to build confidence, resilience, and employability in its participants, while promoting community engagement and social value. @theravineproject

Sponsored by Zurich Insurance Group. Social enterprises are part of a global movement, making the vision behind the Sustainable Development Goals a reality. This award is for a social enterprise working internationally, and which is having a big impact in their field. This award is open to UK-based organisations only with existing international operations. auticon UK First established in Germany in 2008, auticon now operates in 15 countries across three continents making it the largest majority-autistic business in the world. Leading by example, it continues to address the inequalities in employment for neurodivergent adults, highlighting the benefits of hiring neurodivergent talent and helping other organisations to follow suit. auticon is challenging outdated assumptions on who can and can’t contribute to a workplace. @auticon_uk Finance Earth Finance Earth is an employee-owned social enterprise with a mission to scale up funding into natureconservation, climate, and communities. Current investment to tackle the twin crises of climate changeand biodiversity loss falls billions of pounds short of what is required. Finance Earth works with leadingenvironmental charities, governments, and businesses to secure investment in projects that deliver realsocial and environmental impact. This year, Finance Earth facilitated the UK’s biggest ever transfer ofenergy assets into community ownership. @finance.earth IDEMS International CIC IDEMS builds open technology and digital public goods for social impact, delivering services in partnership with local organisations to build equity in the place of exclusion. An international team working globally, it has developed not only cultural competences to identify analytic methods from new perspectives, but also a collaborative approach to delivery that can be as transformative as what is actually delivered. This approach, and the values on which it is based, are codified in its organisational principles. Stand4Socks 16 hours. That's the average amount of time spent wearing socks every day, yet socks are typically dull, poorly made, and standardized. Despite existing since ancient Egyptian times, there's been very littleinnovation…until now. Stand4 Socks is the direct-to-consumer challenger brand in the sock market. Thebusiness has spent years developing socks that have enhanced comfort and durability without sacrificing style or ethics. For every pair of socks sold, means a donated pair to someone in need. @stand4socks Tea People Tea People is a speciality tea focused social enterprise. Its vision is to eliminate poverty in tea growingregions of the world. It procures, curates and sells a wide range of high quality whole-leaf tea and herbalinfusions many of which have won the prestigious Great Taste Awards. Tea People tea is sold to consumers and businesses in eco-friendly packaging and is available in loose leaf form and in pyramid teabags which are 100% plastic free. @teapeopleltd The Burnt Chef Project CIC The Burnt Chef Project is a global not-for-profit dedicated to improving mental health within the hospitality industry. It provides comprehensive education, accessible therapy services, and pioneering research to support hospitality professionals. Initiatives include stigma-busting merchandise, free e-learning programs, a podcast, workshops, and free therapy across multiple continents. The Burnt Chef Project collaborates with international organisations using creative campaigns to raise awareness, promote a healthier, more supportive working environment and advocate for sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. @theburntchefproject