Social Enterprise Scotland Awards 2011
Posted: 25 February 2011, in Press Release
25 Feb 2011
The Social Enterprise Scotland Awards 2011 event last night was a great success. Many thanks to everyone who attended and congratulations to the winners and commended. Also thanks to our hosts and partners PwC and supporters Firstport, The Cooperative Bank, the Social Enterprise Academy and Johnston Carmichael.
Run by the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition the Social Enterprise Awards are given to outstanding businesses that exist for social and environmental purposes.
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, said:
“The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution social enterprises make to supporting economic recovery and their important role delivering key services to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people. That is why we are committed to doing all we can to enable the third sector to deliver its full potential, as underlined in our budget for 2011-12, which increases core third sector funding by 16 per cent to £24 million, and provides an additional £3 million for the Scottish Investment Fund. It is also why I am delighted to help recognise and reward the exceptional work being done by the winners of the Social Enterprise Awards – who are making a very real difference to individuals and whole communities across Scotland. They each have my full congratulations.” .
Marc Mazzucco, regional consulting leader, PwC in Scotland said: “The role of social enterprises has never been more important or more relevant. Over the years we have developed strong links with social enterprises across the UK and in Scotland, working alongside them as commercial partners or supporting projects through our Force for Good programme. We strongly believe in their potential to bring innovative solutions that not only help solve difficult issues but deliver benefits to the more vulnerable and disadvantaged within our communities.
Antonia Swinson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition commented: “At a time when social enterprise is being asked to deliver such big solutions in Scotland’s communities, here in these winning entries we see real innovation and entrepreneurship, a celebration of one of the most dynamic areas of Scottish business life.”
Dr Jim McFarlane, Managing Director Operations (Company Growth, Innovation, Infrastructure and Investment) of Scottish Enterprise, and Chair of the Scottish Social Enterprise Awards judging panel, said: “It’s great to see such richness across the Social Enterprise Awards, and the growth in numbers of entries. The judges were particularly impressed with the quality of the winners and the way that they are operating so sustainably in such difficult times.”
Winners of the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland will receive up to £5,000, business support advice and will go on to compete with winners from Wales, England and Northern Ireland in the UK grand final at Voice ‘11 on 30 March, at the O2 in London, giving them the opportunity to promote themselves on a national UK platform.
Social enterprises are businesses run for social and environmental purposes – there are approximately 62,000 of them in the UK with a combined turnover of at least £27 billion, and they contribute £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy. In Scotland, social enterprises are estimated to contribute around £2 billion to the Scottish economy every year.
The Scottish Awards are sponsored by PwC with additional support provided by Firstport, The Cooperative Bank, the Social Enterprise Academy and Johnston Carmichael.
ENDS
Winners and commended are:
Social Enterprise Start Up of the Year 2011
Winner – Hebridean Chocolates CIC
Commended – Kidzeco CIC
Commended – Soroba Training CIC
Social Enterprise Leader of the Year 2011
Winner – Susan Aktemel, Director, Impact Arts Projects Limited
Young People’s Social Enterprise of the Year 2011
Winner – Stonelaw High Fair Traders
Commended – Bushes Primary School
Commended – Our Lady of Peace Primary School ‘Ecoforms’
Recognition of achievement – Space Unlimited
Social Enterprise of the Year 2011
Winner – Golspie Recycling & Environmental Action Network (GREAN)
Commended – Aberdeen Day Project (The Breadmaker)
Commended – Impact Arts Projects Limited
Commended – Workshop and Artists’ Studios Provision Scotland (WASPS)
All awards photographs by Becky Duncan: www.beckyduncanphotography.co.uk