Celebrating 15 Years of Impact: What’s New for the 2025 Social Enterprise Awards

Posted: 02 June 2025, in News

2025 marks a milestone year for Social Enterprise Scotland, as we celebrate not only the 20th anniversary of our organisation but also the 15th anniversary of the prestigious Social Enterprise Awards. This event has always been a moment to recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements of social enterprises across Scotland, and this year, we’re taking things to a whole new level!

A New Look for a Special Occasion

For over a decade, we’ve hosted our awards ceremony at the Scottish Parliament – an iconic setting that has showcased the remarkable contributions of our social enterprises. However, based on feedback from our members and with a desire to create an even more vibrant and engaging experience, we’ve decided to make a bold change this year.

In 2025, we’re moving the awards ceremony to the voco® Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, where we’ll celebrating in style with an elegant sit-down meal and entertainment, adding a fun and lively atmosphere to the formalities, as we honour the outstanding work being done by social enterprises across Scotland.

Improved Processes and Inclusivity: A Response to Feedback

We’ve listened carefully to the feedback from our members and have made several key changes to ensure that the process is more inclusive, accessible, and reflective of the diverse social enterprise landscape in Scotland. Here are some of the exciting updates for 2025:

  1. New Platform for Applications and Sponsorships: We’ve moved to a new platform that will hopefully provide a better experience for those entering the awards and will help us manage applications and sponsor engagement more effectively. This change promises a smoother, more transparent process for everyone involved.
  2. More Inclusive Submission Options: We understand that everyone’s voice matters. In response to feedback, we’re now accepting voice notes and video entries, allowing for greater diversity in how applicants can share their stories and impact. We believe this will help uncover even more hidden gems in the social enterprise sector.
  3. Streamlined Application Form: We’ve reviewed our application form to focus what matters most, reducing the time needed to apply.
  4. New Award Category – People’s Choice: We’re introducing a brand-new category this year – the People’s Choice Award. This category is designed to give the public a voice in recognising the social enterprise or individual that has made the most impact in their communities from all shortlisted organisations. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the grassroots efforts of social enterprises that may not always make the headlines but are making a difference on the ground.
  5. Revised Judging Process: We’ve reimagined our judging process to ensure fairness and to give a fresh perspective each year. Previous award winners will be judging a different category from the one they won in the previous year, ensuring a well-rounded and objective evaluation of all applicants.

Stronger Collaborations Across the Nations

As part of our commitment to strengthening the social enterprise movement, we’re working even more closely with our partners at SENI (Social Enterprise Northern Ireland), Cwmpas (Wales) and SEUK (Social Enterprise UK) to create stronger synergies across the four nations. This collaborative effort means more opportunities for networking, shared knowledge, and collective growth across the UK.

Looking Forward to a Bigger and Better Awards Ceremony

With all these changes, we’re confident that the 15th Anniversary of the Social Enterprise Awards will be our best yet. We’re back, bigger and better than ever, and we can’t wait to see the outstanding applications pouring in from across Scotland.

The awards are open to social enterprises of all sizes and sectors, so if your organisation has made a positive impact in your community, this is your chance to be recognised.

Apply Now

Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your social enterprise’s achievements. The 2025 Social Enterprise Awards will be a night to remember, and we’re excited to celebrate your success with you.

Applications are now open until Monday 7 July. Find out more and start your application.

Let’s celebrate 20 years of Social Enterprise Scotland and 15 years of the awards in style!