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Shortlist announced for the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2025

We’re delighted to announce the shortlist for the UK Social Enterprise Awards! The Awards are a celebration of everything that makes the social enterprise sector so special, and this year’s shortlist really does show the strength, impact and diversity of the social enterprise movement up and down the country. The current shortlist will be joined by some of the winners from the Northern Irish Social Enterprise Awards, the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland, and the Social Business Wales Awards.
Here’s who’s made the shortlist this year:
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.
Centre for Information Resilience CIC
London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)
One to Watch Award
Sponsored by PwC
The One to Watch Award is for a start-up social enterprise. 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
Sponsored by Linklaters
For a social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders.
‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
Sponsored by Corps Security
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.
CBRE Global Workplace Solutions
Social Investment Deal of the Year
Sponsored by Good Finance
For an organisation that has 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.
Big Issue Invest – Great Oaks College
Charities Aid Foundation – Oaks Rise CIC
Firstport – Farmer Jones Academy CIC
Resonance – Community Ventures Ltd Middlesborough
Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) – Social adVentures
Wales Council for Voluntary Action – The Community Impact Initiative CIC and Tai Heulwen CIC
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).
East Coast Community Healthcare
Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise
The National House Project (NHP)
Consumer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year
Available to sponsor
For a social enterprise that delivers a retail product or service to the general public.
Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year
Available to sponsor
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.
Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company
The Community Impact Initiative CIC
Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Landmarc
For a social enterprise in the green and environmental sector with a clear evidenced environmental impact.
Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Award
Available to sponsor
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
Available to sponsor
For a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise who represents excellence in her field of work.
Felicia Mattis-Rome – Business Launchpad/Tooting Works
Anna Lane – Women in Business and Finance
Camilla Rigby and Rachel Mostyn – Women’s Work Lab
Ria Hebden – Wonder Women CIC
Hannah Oyewole – Young Ladies Club
International Impact Award
Available to sponsor
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.
The Centre for Information Resilience CIC
Community-Based Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
This award is for a social enterprise that trades for the benefit of their community, making a real local impact.
Therapeutic Activities Group CIC
Social Enterprise Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by Fusion21
A new award is recognising a social enterprise that has brought something truly innovative to market in the past year.
City Health Care Partnership CIC
Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Mitie
For a social enterprise that uses technology to achieve social impact.
We are pleased to be working with Cwmpas, Social Enterprise Northern Ireland and Social Enterprise Scotland to deliver the Awards.

Awards Sponsors

If you’re interested in sponsoring the Awards read through our sponsor pack or contact christopher.morgan@socialenterprise.org.uk.