Winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2017 announced
Posted: 08 November 2017, in Press Release
The winners of Scotland’s annual awards for innovation and success in social enterprise have been announced at an event in The Scottish Parliament.
The winner of Social Enterprise of the Year is the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, Social Enterprise Champion was awarded to Chris Martin of Callander Youth Project and the One to Watch winner is Projekt 42.
Social Enterprise Scotland issued a call for applications earlier in the year, urging Scotland’s innovative social enterprises to demonstrate how they’re improving our economy and society.
Fraser Kelly, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Scotland, said:
“We’re delighted to announce the winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2017. Social enterprises in every corner of Scotland are building a better economy and a fairer society. The Social Enterprise Awards Scotland is a unique opportunity for social enterprises to gain serious recognition for their achievements and raise their public profile. A huge congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took the time and effort to enter this year.”
Jonny Kinross, Chief Executive of the Grassmarket Community Project, Winners of Social Enterprise of the Year 2017, said:
“We are so delighted to win Social Enterprise of the Year 2017. I’m so proud of our team, our volunteers, our staff but above all the members of our project who inspire and motivate us. We’d like to congratulate all the winners and finalists tonight – together we have created a sector to be proud of and proven time and time again how business can change the lives of our most vulnerable, creating a fairer, more inclusive world.”
The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance MSP, said:
“I would like to offer my congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Social Enterprise Scotland Awards. Having recently launched a ten-year strategy to grow social enterprise in Scotland, it’s vital we continue to recognise and celebrate the talent of Scotland’s social entrepreneurs. Throughout Scotland, these individuals work tirelessly to improve their communities through the power of social enterprise, reinvesting all profits into social or environmental missions.
“I am pleased that this year’s social enterprise census shows there are now 5,600 social enterprises in Scotland – one social enterprise for every 1,000 people. There are now more start-ups and more social enterprises trading directly with the public than ever before. Our nation is now recognised as a world leader in social enterprise, and is confirmed as host of next year’s Social Enterprise World Forum. This is another excellent opportunity to put Scotland’s social enterprise sector on the world stage, welcoming friends and neighbours from around the globe and celebrating all we have achieved.”
The awards event also included the announcement of the winners of the Social Innovation Competition from Firstport, that celebrates individuals and start up companies using their creativity to solve pressing social 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@socialenterprise.scot
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 2017:
Social Enterprise of the Year
Grassmarket Community Project – The Grassmarket Community Project supports socially isolated vulnerable adults and provides them with a range of support services as well as the opportunity to train, volunteer or work in anyone of their 5 social enterprises which include: an events space, a café, a staff canteen, a recycled wood workshop and textiles enterprise. grassmarket.org / @GCP_Edinburgh
One to Watch Award
PROJEKT 42 – Projekt 42 works hard to strengthen the connection between physical fitness and mental health through carefully crafted fitness classes, life coaching and counselling. projekt42.co.uk / @Projekt42Edi
Social Impact Award
INCH Architecture & Design Ltd / Sir Robert McAlpine – INCH Architecture & Design is a social enterprise architecture & research practice, committed in company style and ethos to improving the built environment and the communities in which we build. Great design should be for benefit of all. inch-architecture.co.uk / @INCH_arch
‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS Reuse Consortium) – The CRNS Reuse Consortium aims to provide a more sustainable and affordable choice to customers and local authorities alike, by offering the option of purchasing reuse furniture instead of new. crns.org.uk / @crnscotland
Tech for Good: Technology in Social Enterprise
Instant Neighbour – Instant Neighbour support those on low incomes to set up home, by selling low cost, good quality 2nd hand furniture. instantneighbour.co.uk / @Instneighbour
Social Enterprise Champion
Chris Martin (Callander Youth Project Trust) – Chris has been Managing Director at CYPT for 6 years and has shown exceptional strategic leadership taking the project from a small room in McLaren Learning Centre to establishing a successful suite of social enterprises consisting of a 5* hostel, café and events venue in the newly refurbished Callander Hostel.
Social Enterprise Champion – Highly Commended
Andrew Bailie (Freshsight) – Andrew Bailie is the director of FreshSight, a student run social enterprise which provides consultancy services for socially driven organisations. Last year, he doubled the number of social enterprise projects, in order to position the students closer to the social innovation scene and maximise FreshSight’s impact. freshsight.com