UK: 2007 Social Enterprise awards launched

The Enterprising Solutions Awards (ESA) are designed to “find the UKs most dynamic and innovative social enterprises” – businesses that trade for a social purpose – and winners will be announced on October 17 at an awards ceremony. First place wins a cash prize of £10,000 pounds and free membership of the Coalition. Three other finalists and the winner of the New Social Enterprise Award will receive £5,000 pounds each. Last year’s winner, Margaret Elliott of Sunderland Home Care Associates fame, encouraged all successful social enterprises to apply – not just for the cash reward but for the “phenomenal” publicity. She said: “When we won this award we were bursting with pride – and in fact were still on cloud nine. It was such a morale boost for the staff, to be recognised in this way?. Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Third Sector, Cabinet Office, said: “The Enterprising Solutions Awards showcase the dynamism and innovation that lie behind a growing movement of social enterprises up and down the UK. I congratulate the awards for highlighting the powerful impact social enterprises have on building a fairer society, and hope to see a diversity of applicants from the many areas in which the sector is making its mark.” The awards are run by the Social Enterprise Coalition on behalf of RBS, NatWest and the Cabinet Office, in association with The Observer, Capacity Builders, DfES and the DTI and accept applications from all established social enterprises regardless of their size or legal structure. www.enterprisingsolutions.org