Brewed with purpose: NEMI Teas releases 2025 Impact Report showcasing record growth and social change

Two new reports launched today set out recommendations for reforming NHS commissioning and public procurement to better support social enterprises, with Lord Victor Adebowale arguing the choice is "what kind of country we want to become". This morning, Social Enterprise UK launched two reports at the House of Lords containing recommendations for how the government can further support social enterprises to create fairer, more resilient, and healthier communities.  The British Government committed to using its supply chain to create social value back in 2012 with the Social Value Act. It then doubled down on that commitment in 2025, with the National Procurement Policy Statement stating that social enterprises “are more likely to generate diverse and thriving local economies, creating jobs and economic growth” and asking commissioners to maximise spending with them.    The legislation was an important step. But years after they’re first implemented, systems need updating to remain fit for purpose. By tackling issues such as too many short-term contracts, risk averse local government commissioners and lengthy, repetitive bidding processes, the potential of social enterprises - and the communities they work in - can be fully unleashed by the government.   And it’s the same in the NHS. 1,200 social enterprises deliver billions of pounds worth of vital NHS care across the country, employ tens of thousands of staff, and play a central role in community health, mental health and social care.   They got on with delivering the objectives of the recent NHS 10 Year Plan (from hospital to community; from sickness to prevention) for many years before it became policy. Yet social enterprises remain disadvantaged compared to other NHS service providers.  The All-Party Parliamentary Group of the Social Cooperative and Community Economy has been conducting a series of inquiries looking at the contribution to public services that social enterprises make, with many leaders attending meetings to provide that evidence. Mark Simms, CEO of P3, which works to prevent homelessness and support individuals with complex needs, was one of those who did so. As he put it at the launch of the reports today, “We have become very good at managing the consequences of social failure and far less ambitious about solving the causes.”   ‘Accelerating NHS reform: levelling the playing field to unlock social enterprises’ looks at the disadvantages that social enterprises encounter in delivering health and social care services. The report contains a number of recommendations for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that doesn’t require new legislation – but does ask for parity when it comes to access to funding, capital and resources.  ‘A £400bn opportunity: unlocking social value for a fairer, more resilient UK’ is introduced by Patrick Hurley MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group of the Social Cooperative and Community Economy. It focuses on changes to procurement that could help the government achieve the kind of ‘good growth’ that raises living standards and reduces inequality.   “This is bigger than social enterprise,” said Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of Social Enterprise UK at the launch of the reports.   “It is about what kind of country we want to become. A country that extracts value, or a country that creates value. A country that waits for problems to become crises, or a country that invests in prevention and people. A country that concentrates wealth and opportunity - or one that shares both more widely.  “Social enterprises have spent decades proving what works. The evidence, innovation and leadership is there; the communities are ready. The only question that remains is whether policy and politics can catch up with practice.”  Thank you to our partners Access – the Foundation for Social Investment, Better Society Capital, Baxendale, Fusion 21, GLL and Locala for their support in producing these reports.

Helping disabled people to take rollercoaster rides, rock out or roar on their favourite team is the Access Card, created by UK Social Enterprise Award winners Nimbus Disability. We went to meet them. When you walk into the buzzing office of Nimbus Disability in Derby, you’d never guess that just a few years ago, the team consisted of just four people. Now home to 44 staff, the office feels like a fun, happy place to work, complete with a basketball ring and full sized (amputee) Star Wars stormtroopers looking on from one corner. The majority of staff at Nimbus are disabled, which reflects Managing Director Martin Austin’s view that they make the best employees for this kind of work because they've got lived experience. “But it’s also this constant message of ‘what is social impact?’ and having a proper methodology for giving meaningful employment opportunities to disabled people is a part of our social impact itself,” said Martin. The team is expanding, and just about to take up more space on the floor upstairs. How did it all go so right? Going viral In 1996 Austin was working at charity Disability Direct, when laws were passed which required both local authorities and private companies to take steps to avoid discrimination of people with disabilities. As a result, more enquiries came in asking for consultancy to help with the changes, and Nimbus was born as a trading arm to the charity. The gamechanger was the Access Card, launched in 2013. Ticketing agencies and entertainment venues needed a simple way to know that someone applying for disabled access was genuine. Disabled people needed a simpler way to access live entertainment without having to fill in lots of forms. The Access Card was the solution. And then it went viral. Customers started turning up at venues and showing them the card; those venues would then get in touch with Nimbus. “Over the last few years, I think we've just gotten to a point of saturation where the awareness of the scheme amongst disabled people and businesses has just flooded in,” said Martin. The technology behind the card means the experience of disabled people attending live events has been transformed. Venues can now provide nuanced, dignified, and personalised support for more than 1,000,000 members having over 5 million experiences each year. As well as venues, the Access Card helps holders get into festivals and theme parks such as Alton Towers. Award winning tech Little surprise then, that Nimbus Disability took the Technology Social Enterprise of the Year award home at the UK Social Enterprise Awards last year. Martin had applied to the awards previously seeking peer recognition, and the company had been listed as finalists in 2013. “We've won industry specific awards, and we've won disability specific awards, but the SEUK Award was always the one that was really special to us because it was the one that came from people that really understood who we are and what we do,” said Austin. He goes on to say that it felt particularly good because in some of the early years of the business, they couldn’t afford to attend the awards. Austin compares the value of the award to that of having SEUK membership – proof of their values to the businesses that they work with. For the individuals who take up the Access Card, he feels the award cements the fact that Nimbus is an impact first business. The process of applying, even when they’ve been unsuccessful in previous years, has also been useful, regardless of the outcome. “The hardest thing that we found over the years was talking ourselves up. But to be able to think about yourself in terms of celebrating what you do is really important. The ambition of being an award winner is a useful benchmarking exercise,” said Austin. “If you don’t get shortlisted, you get invited to a great night out with some great networking anyway!” nimbusdisability.com

The categories for the UK Social Enterprise Awards have been created to reflect the diversity within the social enterprise community. More information, including detailed category criteria, can be found on the application portal. Please note that for most of these awards, social enterprises need to have been trading for at least two years with the exception of the One to Watch Award. CLICK HERE TO APPLY UK Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by Keegan & Pennykid The overall award for a social enterprise that has a clear vision, excellence in impact, and that has demonstrated and promoted social enterprise beyond the sector. One to Watch Award The One to Watch Award is for a social enterprise that has been operating for less than 2 years as of April 2026. Key to winning this award is an ability to clearly articulate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it. Prove It: Social Impact Award For a social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders. This award is not comparing the scale of different enterprises’ impact, but their measurement and reporting process. ‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award For a social enterprise, public sector body or private sector organisation that has demonstrably made efforts within its own organisation and remit to create more opportunities to buy from social enterprises. This could be a local authority implementing a council-wide Social Value Act strategy, a company changing its procurement processes, or a social enterprise seeking to support the movement through buying social. Social Investment Deal of the Year This is the award to enter if you have been part of a great investment deal in the last 12 months that has helped a social enterprise to grow, create deeper impact for your community or the movement as a whole to develop and flourish. Both the investee and investor will be recognised. Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by GLL 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). Consumer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year For a social enterprise that delivers a retail product or service to the general public. Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by PwC 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. Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year For a social enterprise in the green and environmental sector with a clear evidenced environmental impact. Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Award 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. Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year For a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise who represents excellence in her field of work. International Impact Award For a social enterprise working internationally, and which are having a big impact in their field. This award is open to UK-based organisations only with existing international operations. Community-Based Social Enterprise of the Year Social enterprises are powerful actors in shaping local places and communities. Be it operating in remote rural communities or supporting in inner cities, this category is open to social enterprises that are locally rooted, trading for the benefit of their local community/place, accountable to their local community/place, and making local impact. Social Enterprise Technology or Innovation of the Year Sponsored by Fusion21 Social enterprises are more innovative than mainstream businesses – nearly three times as likely to have developed a new product or service in the past year than their mainstream business equivalents. This award open to social enterprises using new technology or bringing something innovative to the market in the past year. Co-op of the Year A new category this year, Co-op of the Year will recognise a co-operative of any size, model or type that best demonstrates a sustainable and successful business model, underpinned by the values and principles of co-operation.  The UK Social Enterprise Awards are co-produced by Social Enterprise UK and Co-operatives UK