There is always much to celebrate about the impact of social enterprise in Scotland at both a local and national level. Our awards are designed to raise the profile of social enterprise and we duly note that without such fabulous organisations on the ground this would of course not be possible.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards were launched in 2009 to celebrate the best of social enterprise across the UK. Social Enterprise UK developed a UK social enterprise awards framework which also provided the opportunity to develop the annual Social Enterprise Awards Scotland. The winners in most categories of the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland are automatically short-listed in the UK Social Enterprise Awards (depending on which categories are chosen by Social Enterprise Scotland).

Previous Winners by Year

Since 2009 we have awarded 66 organisations and individuals. Listed below is each year and you can see the Alumni from each category by clicking on the year.

2023

The 2023 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland winners were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Beatrice Wishart MSP for Shetland Islands at the Scottish Parliament on 26th October 2023.

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Isle of Skye Ferry CIC
  • One to Watch – Aban
  • Environmental Social Enterprise – Merry-go-round
  • Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice – Resilience Learning Partnership
  • Health and Social Care – Macaulay College
  • Tech for Good – Red Chair Highland
  • Buy Social Market Builder – Circular Communities Scotland Reuse Consortium
  • Social Enterprise Employee Champion – Lisa Gemmell, Be-inn Unity
  • Social Enterprise Volunteer Champion – Janie Conlon, Grassmarket Community Project

2022

The 2022 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland winners were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Ariane Burgess MSP for Highlands and Islands at the Scottish Parliament.

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Hey Girls CIC
  • One to Watch – Coffee Saints
  • Environmental Social Enterprise – Wood RecyclAbility
  • Health and Social Care – Lingo Flamingo
  • Buy Social Market Builder – Social Supermarket
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Catherine Jones, Grassmarket Community Project
  • Social Enterprise Volunteer Champion – Adam Leishman, FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland (FSGWS)

2021

The 2021 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland winners were announced at an online awards ceremony hosted by Tom Arthur MSP for Renfrewshire South.

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Locavore
  • One to Watch – Greater Govanhill
  • Environmental Social Enterprise – Remake Scotland
  • Health and Social Care – Talking Mats
  • Buy Social Market Builder – Social Supermarket
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Jocky Stewart, Cyrenians

2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland were paused for 2020 and instead replaced by a digital showcase.

2019

The 2019 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland winners were announced at an awards ceremony at the Scottish Parliament hosted by Daniel Johnson MSP for Edinburgh Southern.

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – CFINE
  • One to Watch – Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – The Spark
  • Environmental Social Enterprise – The Shieling Project
  • Market Builder – PwC
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Paul McColgan (Community Development Trust)

2018

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) Scotland
  • One to Watch – Caledonia Cremation
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – GTS Solutions
  • Environmental Social Enterprise – Point and Sandwick Trust
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Helen Houston, Invergordon Development Trust
  • Social Enterprise Champion (under 26) – Jordan McPhail, Aspire Community Solutions

2017

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Grassmarket Community Project
  • One to Watch – Projekt 42
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – INCH Architecture and Design Ltd
  • Market Builder – CRNS Reuse Consortium
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Chris Martin, Callander Youth Project Trust

2016

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Homes for Good CIC
  • One to Watch – Freedom Bakery
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – Social Enterprise Adacemy
  • Market Builder – Social Investment Scotland
  • Inspiring Youth (Business) – Edinburgh Student Arts Festival
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Clare Carpenter, The Melting Pot

2015

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – COPE Ltd
  • One to Watch – Eurobiotix CIC
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – Cre8te Opportunities Ltd
  • Market Builder – Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
  • Inspiring Youth (Schools) – Arkleston Primary School
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Isobel Grigor, Calman Trust

2014

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Wasps Studios
  • One to Watch – Lochbroom Woodfuels
  • ‘Build it’ Social Impact – Cunninghame Housing Association
  • Market Builder – City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network
  • Inspiring Youth (Business) – Icecream Architecture CIC
  • Inspiring Youth (Schools) – Stonelaw High Fair Traders

2013

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – The Link Group
  • One to Watch – Fun Factory
  • Market Builder – North Lanarkshire Council
  • Education or Training Social Enterprise – Calman Trust & Big Kids Enterprises (Schools)

2012

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – GREAN
  • One to Watch – Hebridean Chocolates
  • Inspiring Youth (Schools) – Stonelaw High Fair Traders
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Susan Aktemel, Homes for Good

2011

  • Social Enterprise of the Year – Factory Skatepark
  • One to Watch – Talking Mats
  • Market Builder – International Network of Street Papers (INSP)
  • Inspiring Youth (Schools) – Udston Primary School
  • Social Enterprise Champion – Robert Tamburrini, ng Homes

2010

The Social Enterprise Awards Scotland did not run in 2010.

2009

  • Social Enterprise of the Year (Large) – Alloa Community Enterprises
  • Social Enterprise of the Year (Small) – SE Clydebank
  • One to Watch – The Breadmaker