Social Enterprise Awards UK

Overview

Each year, the UK Social Enterprise Awards shine a powerful spotlight on the pioneering organisations transforming lives and communities across the country.  It’s more than just a celebration, it’s a moment to bring together this inspiring movement of businesses putting people and planet before profit and look back at all social enterprises have achieved in the last year.  

The Awards are the most anticipated evening in the social enterprise calendar – a night where stories of impact, innovation and resilience take centre stage. 

This year, the ceremony moves to a new home – the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London’s Southbank Centre, one of the country’s premier arts destinations and an engine of creativity, dedicated to growing the skills and creative careers of emerging talent. 

2025 Award Categories

There are 15 categories in total, capturing the breadth, diversity and impact of the social enterprise community. These are:

• Category 1 - UK Social Enterprise of the Year
• Category 2 - One to Watch Award
• Category 3 - Prove It: Social Impact Award
• Category 4 - 'Buy Social'  Market Builder Award
• Category 5 - Social Investment Deal of the Year
• Category 6 - Public services Social Enterprise of the Year
• Category 7 - Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year
• Category 8 - Education, Training, and Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year
• Category 9 - Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year
• Category 10 - Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, & Justice Award
• Category 11 - Social Enterprise Women's Champion of the Year
• Category 12 - International Impact Award
• Category 13 - Community-based Social Enterprise Award
• Category 14 - Social Enterprise Innovation of the Year
• Category 15 - Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise of the Year

Eligibility and Criteria

All Award categories are open to organisations from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Organisations can apply for a maximum of three categories.

If you have won a category in the past two years (at either the 2023 or 2024 UK Awards) you will not be shortlisted so, please do not apply for a category you have recently won.

If you wish to make an Award application for any category other than:

• Category 4 'Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
• Category 5 Social Investment Deal of the Year
• Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year

Your organisation must be a UK-based business that defines itself as a social enterprise using the criteria detailed below. You will be asked to confirm that this is the case before proceeding with your application. Please do not enter any category other than 4, 5 or 11 if you do not meet these criteria.

• The business has a clear social or environmental mission that is set out in its governing documents.
• It is an independent business and earns more than half of its income through trading.
• It is controlled or owned in the interests of the social mission.
• It invests or gives away at least half its profits or surpluses towards your social purpose.
• It is transparent about how it operates and the impact it has.

Non-social enterprises (for example, investors, corporates, public sector bodies and charities) may put applications forward in the following categories:

• Category 4 ‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award
• Category 5 Social Investment Deal of the Year
• Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year

Social enterprises may also enter category 4 or 5.

Category 11 Social Enterprise Women’s Champion of the Year recognises a woman working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise or organisation that supports social enterprises.