UK social enterprise 'top 100' to champion climate action and Covid recovery

A new ‘Climate Champion’ award is to be announced as part of this year’s NatWest SE100 Awards – applications for which open today (Friday).

The award will recognise a social enterprise that is leading by example and inspiring others to work against climate change and towards a greener, more resilient future. It comes in the same year as the UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

Resilience will also be important for another key theme of this year’s awards – Covid resilience and recovery – as we explore how social enterprises across the UK have navigated through the global pandemic.

• Applications for the NatWest SE100 2021 opened today and will close at midnight on Sunday 25 April (Read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ)

Megan Virrels, CEO, NatWest Social & Community Capital, said: “From early on in the Covid-19 crisis, we saw how tough it was for charities and social enterprises on the frontline. The team at NatWest Social & Community Capital was busy providing a range of support, from repayment holidays to our £1m Coronavirus Response Fund. 

“When we announced the SE100 last year, none of us expected we would still be working through these challenges a year on. In 2021, we want to recognise the huge effort, resourcefulness and commitment that have shone through as social enterprises continue to bring both hope and essential support to communities across the UK.

Taking the necessary actions to address climate change has the potential to create jobs, transform communities and touch every family in the country

“We are particularly pleased that this year’s NatWest SE100 will also include an award for ‘Climate Champion’. Taking the necessary actions to address climate change has the potential to create jobs, transform communities and touch every family in the country. With the UK hosting COP26, the UN Climate Change conference, later this year we are keen to explore the important role that social enterprises are playing in taking action to address this critical global issue.”

The SE100 Awards were created more than a decade ago by Pioneers Post, in partnership with NatWest, in order to celebrate and share the experiences of individual social enterprises in delivering both ‘profit and purpose’, and to build greater intelligence about the growing social enterprise movement through the collection of both data and stories.

The annual honours include a list of the ‘top 100’ social enterprises in the UK, plus a series of winners in the following categories: Growth, Impact, Resilience, Investment, Climate and Leadership.

The experiences of social enterprises have varied enormously during this year of historic disruption... The leadership shown by many social enterprises has proven central to mitigating the most damaging impacts of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed in response

Due diligence and advice during the shortlisting process is provided by the charity and not for profit team at Buzzacott accountants and by experts at Social Value UK, who are joined by a cohort of external judges to decide on the winners.

Eddie Finch, partner at Buzzacott and a judge on the SE100, commented: “As we have seen across all sectors, the experiences of social enterprises have varied enormously during this year of historic disruption. Front line services have seen surging demand and had to deal with massive changes in the way they operate, while at the same time many businesses – especially those operating in leisure, hospitality and retail – will have barely traded in over a year.

“The leadership shown by many social enterprises has proven central to mitigating the most damaging impacts of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed in response. We are expecting heated debate around the judges' table as we try to identify the most resilient, impactful and innovative among social enterprises and their leaders.”

“Winning the Impact Award was a powerful signal to our partners and supporters that we take our impact measurement seriously, helping to secure on-going support as well as our wider credibility.” – Tom Ravenscroft, Founder & CEO Skills Builder Partnership, Impact Management Champion 2020

 

How to enter for the NatWest SE100 'top 100' list and awards

To enter, complete the application form by 25 April 2021. If you want to view the entry form in full, you can also download the PDF here, but your entry must be submitted via the online form.

We recommend you also read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ article. 

There is one application form for all entries, through which organisations can enter for a place in the top 100, as well as submissions for the six categories below:

Growth Champion: for social ventures that have experienced positive financial growth from one year to the next thanks to an entrepreneurial and sustainable business model 

Impact Management Champion: for enterprises that take considerable measures to manage, demonstrate and communicate the social and environmental impact and value of their business, using this to improve their performance and win new business

Resilience Award: for social ventures that continually deliver positive social or environmental change and repeatedly achieve impact goals, successfully tackling challenges and overcoming difficulties – whatever the weather!

Leader of the Year: for social enterprise bosses demonstrating excellent leadership, effectiveness and inspiration in taking the team on a mission-driven journey to success

Social Investment Award: for groundbreaking or innovative deals in social / impact investment

Climate Champion: for pioneering organisations leading by example and inspiring others to work against climate change and towards a greener, more resilient future

You can read more about the NatWest SE100 in our SE100 Collection.

More questions? Read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ – or get in touch via SE100@pioneerspost.com

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