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The UK’s biggest celebration of businesses with a social or environmental purpose is moving to Manchester. The UK Social Enterprise Awards will take place on 12th November 2026 at New Century Hall in the city’s co-operative quarter, the first time the awards have taken place outside London. New Century Hall was originally the headquarters of the Cooperative Wholesale Society, a collective of around 300 cooperatives. The roots of the Society can be traced back to the Rochdale Pioneers, a group of workers who sold food at fair prices and shared profits among members. During the 1960s the hall hosted concerts by Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, and was also a mainstay party venue during the city’s MADchester era. The event will be co-produced by Cooperatives UK and Social Enterprise UK for the first time. Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, said: "Greater Manchester is the perfect place to celebrate businesses that put people and purpose first. Co-operatives are owned by their members, rooted in their communities and built to share power, opportunity and impact. These are values we share with the wider social enterprise movement, so we’re proud to be working with Social Enterprise UK to bring the awards to Manchester.”  "When I think of the term 'northern powerhouse', I instantly think of the great city of Manchester. I'm delighted that we'll be working with Co-operatives UK to bring this joyful event to the birthplace of the first businesses specifically set up to benefit communities," said Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of Social Enterprise UK.  Following on from last year’s ‘Festival of Hope’, this year’s theme will be ‘All Together Now’. The awards recognise sector excellence in social enterprises of all sizes across a range of 15 categories, from innovation to impact. Amongst last year’s winners were Social Enterprise of the Year Change Please, a coffee company using profits to tackle homelessness, and ‘One to watch’ winners EcoCoach CIC, which provides inclusive PE and sports coaching for schools. More information about applications and tickets will be announced soon on social media channels. For now, enjoy the launch video below!

Multi award-winning Oxford social enterprise brewery, bakery, and hospitality organisation Tap Social Movement appoints former Asahi Europe & International CEO Paolo Lanzarotti and former Punch Taverns CEO Giles Thorley to senior advisory roles as the company embarks on its next key growth stage and seeks to expand its impact on the lives of prison leavers. Lanzarotti brings extensive experience in the beer and brewing industry, with a particular focus on sustainably accelerating growth and scaling brewery operations while maintaining quality and consistency. At Asahi Europe & International Lanzarotti oversaw a group with 20 breweries and production facilities distributing across eight domestic markets and more than 80 internationally. He previously held a number of country Managing Director roles at SABMiller. Lanzarotti says: “For a number of years, I’ve admired how Tap Social have built a business balancing the delivery of growth in numbers alongside having a positive impact on people in prison and prison leavers. Now I’m excited to be part of the journey that will see this business having economic and social impact at greater scale. And the beer is pretty good too!” Currently CEO of Development Bank of Wales, Thorley joins Tap Social with nine years of hospitality management experience with Punch Taverns, which under his leadership became one of the largest pub groups in the UK. In both 2007 and 2008 Thorley earned the top spot in the annual “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Pub Trade” list. Thorley has a proven track record in backing exciting early-stage businesses in the hospitality, leisure and consumer goods sectors, including as an initial backer of Deliveroo. Thorley says: “Tap Social is a fantastic business that combines a great multi-function business model with a strong ethical stance – a model that encompasses a hugely innovative brewery, an award winning bakery, unique retail spaces, entertainment, and a principled brand.  Whether it is the support for the rehabilitation of offenders or sourcing of sustainable products and a focus on local suppliers, the Tap Social Movement is one to join and one that I am excited to support.” As senior advisors, backers Lanzarotti and Thorley will help strategically guide the scale and direction of Tap Social’s expansion into new markets. A recipient of two Great Taste 2025 awards for Time Better Spent (5.1% Juicy IPA – 2 Stars) and Jobsworth (3.4% Session Pale Ale – 1 Star), Tap Social distributes select beers to more than 240 Waitrose & Partners supermarkets in the UK. Tap Social currently runs three Oxfordshire community venues, including its award-winning wholesale bakery and café Proof Social Bakehouse. Later this year it opens Day Release, a purpose-built café, bar, bakery, and community venue at Milton Park, the UK’s largest science, business, and technology hub, as well as additional outlets later this year.  To date Tap Social has created more than 112,000 hours of paid employment for people in prison and prison leavers. It was named the UK’s “Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year” in 2024, and is currently the “Community-Based Social Enterprise of the Year.” Learn more about Tap Social Movement and its mission to reduce reoffending and turn lives around at tapsocialmovement.com. About Tap Social Movement With a shared passion for social justice and independent beer, Paul Humpherson and sisters Amy and Tess Taylor founded Tap Social Movement in 2016 to provide support, training, and fulfilling employment to people who have had contact with the criminal justice system. In addition to its commercial production brewery, Tap Social currently runs four community venues across Oxfordshire, including its bakery Proof Social Bakehouse and Day Release, its newest location opening in mid-2026 at Milton Park. It brews a range of modern, accessible beer highlighted by its award-winning core range, which includes its best-selling Juicy IPA Time Better Spent.

Nuneaton Signs has been manufacturing signs for Wates Group since 2018. The partnership has enabled the business to grow and sustain their mission of providing meaningful employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities. Nuneaton Signs Nuneaton Signs is a social enterprise which provides employment and training for people with disabilities through the manufacture and sales of signs. The company has been running for over 40 years, having been set up in 1982, and has grown to be one of the UK’s leading signage manufacturers. 100% of its profits are reinvested back into the business to create more impact.   The partnership with Wates Since 2018, Nuneaton Signs has been working with Buy Social Corporate Challenge founding partner, Wates, delivering on projects across the country. Wates is the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance company and supporting and scaling the social enterprise sector is at the heart of their social value delivery. After initially meeting at a networking event, the two businesses have developed a strong partnership, with contracts from Wates unlocking more opportunities for innovation and impact at the social enterprise.   “The impact of the partnership is a well-established relationship that delivers goods Wates would be purchasing, but with additional social value. Supporting the social enterprise sector and facilitating employment for those furthest from the workforce aligns with our purpose to reimagine places for people to thrive.”  - Su Pickerill, Head of Social Value, Wates Group The impact As Nuneaton Signs reinvests 100% of its surplus back into its core purpose, having consistent work is essential. Thanks to Wates’ partnership over the past years, the organisation has been able to support more individuals into meaningful employment than ever before. It now employs 89 people, 74% of whom have a disability, learning disability, life-impacting medical condition, or mental health condition. The regular work provided by Wates has been a major contributing factor to this success. Beyond buying commercial services, Wates has also supported Nuneaton Signs through participation in its ASSETS programme, a seven-month business support programme for social enterprises in the construction industry, which has helped grow skills and develop the business.  “Wates was one of the first construction companies that supported us and truly believed in our capabilities. From our first order with Wates to the present day, our turnover has trebled, we have employed a further 30 persons with disabilities and have opened a second manufacturing facility.”  - Becky Anderson, Commercial Sales Manager, Nuneaton Signs Additionally, Nuneaton Signs was able to increase their positive environmental impact. The social enterprise has grown and adapted to meet the environmental challenges faced by its customers, developing a 100% PVC-free, fully recyclable material range used by Wates, as well as materials made entirely from recycled content for environmentally focused projects. Its partnership with Wates has helped ensure it remains at the forefront of sustainability within an industry that can often be wasteful. nuneatonsigns.co.uk  wates.co.uk