Winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2016 announced
Posted: 11 November 2016, in Press Release
The winners of Scotland’s annual awards for innovation and success in social enterprise were announced at an event in The Scottish Parliament last night.
The winner of Social Enterprise of the Year is Homes for Good CIC, Social Enterprise Champion was awarded to Claire Carpenter of The Melting Pot and the One to Watch winner was Freedom Bakery CIC.
Social Enterprise Scotland issued a call for applications at the end of May, urging Scotland’s innovative social enterprises to demonstrate how they’re improving our economy and society.
Fraser Kelly, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Scotland, said:
“Social enterprise is about creating a fairer, more sustainable economy and a society that benefits everyone. The Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2016 provide a unique opportunity for social enterprises to gain the public recognition they so rightly deserve. We’re always impressed by the very high standard and variety of applications. Congratulations to our winners and a big thank you to everyone who entered or was shortlisted.”
Susan Aktemel, Director of Homes for Good CIC, Winners of Social Enterprise of the Year 2016, said:
“We’re totally thrilled to win the accolade of Social Enterprise of the Year 2016. It’s a great recognition of our work in the private rented sector and how far we’ve come in three years. Thank you.”
The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance MSP, said:
“It has been an important year for Social Enterprise and Social Innovation in Scotland. Last year we learned about the strength and breadth of the sector, from the first Social Enterprise Census, which reported that more than 200 new social enterprises start-up each year, joining more than 5,000 already operating across the length and breadth of Scotland, contributing £1.68bn to the economy and delivering on our shared ambition of tackling inequalities.
“The Scottish Government has already published the Internationalising Social Enterprise Strategy in September, and will soon launch the ten year Scotland’s Social Enterprise Strategy. We stand ready to invest in implementing both of these strategies, building on our strong foundations, and further developing our powerful support system to enable more creative and innovative social enterprises to start and flourish in Scotland.
“In this Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, I am proud of what all social enterprises have achieved in our joint task of reducing inequalities and demonstrating what inclusive growth looks like on the ground, and would like to add my congratulations to the well-deserved winners of the Social Enterprise Awards and Social Innovation Competition who showcase the very best of social enterprise in Scotland.”
Ingrid Webb of COPE Ltd, Winners of Social Enterprise of the Year 2015 and one of the judges for 2016, said:
“We were delighted to have been awarded the accolade of Scottish Social Enterprise of the Year in 2015. Since then we have enjoyed making new connections and hosting visits from other social enterprises from all over Scotland. The Award has raised our profile, brought our team closer together and given us the confidence and ambition to do more. Congratulations to all the winners in 2016.”
The awards event also included the announcement of the winners of the Social Innovation Competition, part of the Year of Innovation Architecture & Design, seeking to uncover the best business ideas that address social and environmental issues.
To request a social enterprise feature of any length for print or to arrange an interview about the awards, please contact: Duncan Thorp 0131 243 2650 / 07501 221 581 / duncan.thorp@socialenterprisescotland.org.uk
Social Enterprise Scotland is The Voice of Social Enterprise – uniting social enterprises and their supporters into a strong campaigning force. We’re your gateway to Scotland’s social enterprise community. We’re an independent, Scottish, membership-led organisation, built and controlled by social enterprises. We’re the first point of contact for the media and public and promote a positive vision for social enterprise.
ENDS
Notes:
1 The full list of winners of the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2016:
Social Enterprise of the Year – Homes for Good CIC
Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agency offering landlords a first class property management service and providing tenants with quality housing options through an approachable and ethical service. www.homesforgood.org.uk / @HomesForGood
One to Watch – Freedom Bakery CIC
The Freedom Bakery is a social enterprise based at HMP Low Moss, near Glasgow, training people in prison in artisan baking with the intention of finding an industry-related career post-release. www.freedombakery.org / @freedom_bakery
Social Impact Award – Social Enterprise Academy
The Social Enterprise Academy provides local learning opportunities in leadership, enterprise and personal development to help the people and organisations making a difference to have even more impact in their communities.
www.socialenterprise.academy / @SocEntAcademy
‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award – Social Investment Scotland
SIS is Scotland’s biggest provider of financial capital to third sector organisations including charities, social enterprises and community groups. Their mission is to ‘connect capital with communities’. www.socialinvestmentscotland.com / @socinvestscot
Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award – Edinburgh Student Arts Festival
ESAF is a social enterprise that aims to increase public access to the arts and support emerging artists by running an annual festival, a year-round programme of pop-up events, mentorship schemes and advocacy for its members.
www.edinburghstudentartsfestival.com / @E_S_A_F
Social Enterprise Champion – Claire Carpenter of The Melting Pot
Claire founded ‘TMP’ back in 2005 to address issues faced by social innovators and the organisations they develop in their route to make social change. The Melting Pot is Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation, offering central, affordable and accessible office space and venue hire in Edinburgh.
www.themeltingpotedinburgh.org.uk / @TheMeltingPotEd
2 The shortlist for the awards:
Social Enterprise of the Year Scotland
Clydesdale Community Initiatives
Grassmarket Community Project
Lanarkshire Credit Union
Homes for Good (Scotland) CIC
One to Watch Scotland
Beer For Good CIC
Freedom Bakery CIC
Run It
Shazam Theatre Company
Transform Creative
Social Impact Award
Homes for Good (Scotland) CIC
Social Enterprise Academy
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
Social Investment Scotland
Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award
Edinburgh Student Arts Festival
YES Works Limited
Shazam Theatre Company
Social Enterprise Champion
Chris Thewlis (GTS Solutions CIC)
Claire Carpenter (The Melting Pot)
Derek Marshall (The Factory Skatepark)
Jim Bennett (SKS Scotland)
Jim Duffy (Entrepreneurial Spark)
Maggie Fyffe (Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust)
Pedro Santos (Brag Enterprises
Sandra Ewen (Social Enterprise Academy)
Tracey Muirhead (School For Social Entrepreneurs Scotland)
3 What is Social Enterprise? Social enterprise is a dynamic and inspiring way of doing business. Social enterprises are innovative, independent businesses that exist specifically for social and/or environmental purposes. Read more here.
4 What examples are there? Diverse examples include: The Big Issue, The Wise Group, Divine Chocolate, Kibble Education and Care Centre, Glasgow Housing Association, Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, Link Group Ltd, the Eden Project in Cornwall, Capital Credit Union, The Grameen Foundation, Mondragon Corporation in the Basque Country and the Homeless World Cup.
5 Where can I see social enterprise in action? There’s probably a social enterprise running a shop, art gallery, sports centre or cafe in your local area – take a look at the Directory of Social Enterprise here or contact us. The media and others can contact us to arrange visits.
6 What types of social enterprise exist? Social enterprise is a diverse community and the more-than-profit approach is used by a huge range of organisations, of every size, operating in every corner of Scotland and in most sectors of the economy. A social enterprise can simply be a Company Limited by Guarantee with an appropriate “asset lock” and social mission etc, it could also be a registered charity. These are some of the common types and a social enterprise is often one or more of these: Co-operatives and Mutuals, Social Firms, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Development Trusts, Credit Unions and Housing Associations (aka Registered Social Landlords or RSLs).