Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2019 – winners announced!

The winners of Scotland’s annual awards for success in social enterprise have been announced at an awards ceremony in The Scottish Parliament.

The winner of Social Enterprise of the Year 2019 is Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) in Aberdeen, Environmental Social Enterprise was awarded to The Shieling Project in the Highlands and the One to Watch winner is Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, based in Renfrewshire.

Social Enterprise Scotland issued a call for applications earlier in the year, urging Scotland’s social enterprises to demonstrate how they’re improving our economy and society.

Chris Martin, CEO of Social Enterprise Scotland, said:

“A huge congratulations to the winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2019 – and thanks to everyone who applied for the awards this year. The high standard of applications reflects the great mix of social enterprises across Scotland who are building an inclusive society and economy.”

Social Enterprise Scotland is The Voice of Social Enterprise – uniting social enterprises and their supporters. 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. See: socialenterprise.scot

ENDS

Notes:

The full list of winners of Social Enterprise Awards Scotland 2019:

1 – Environmental Social Enterprise
Category Sponsor – Highlands and Islands Enterprise
This category is open to social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years in the green and environmental sectors.
Shortlist – Furniture Plus, Fyne Futures and The Shieling ProjectWinner – The Shieling Project
The Shieling Project is an off-grid learning centre based in Glen Strathfarrar, near Beauly in the Highlands of Scotland.  The project is all about outdoor living – from looking after our livestock to making real buildings, from weaving baskets to making burgers from the meat we have raised here. theshielingproject.org / @shielingproject

2 – Social Impact
Category Sponsor – BAM Nuttall
This category is designed for any social enterprise that can truly demonstrate and communicate their impact with their stakeholders. This award is not comparing the scale of different enterprises’ impact, but their measurement and reporting process.
Shortlist – Cre8te Opportunities, The Spark, Cyrenians Cook School

Winner – The Spark
The Spark is a leading provider of couples counselling, marriage counselling, individual counselling and family counselling in Scotland. We are now the foremost provider of in-school counselling and relationship education for children and young people in primary, secondary and post-school environments. thespark.org.uk / @SparkScotland

3 – Market Builder Award
Category Sponsor – Social Enterprise Academy
Any social enterprise, public sector body or private sector organisation that has demonstrably made efforts within its own organisation and remit to create more opportunities to buy from social enterprises. This could be a local authority implementing a council-wide Social Value Act strategy, a company changing its procurement processes, or a social enterprise seeking to support the movement through buying social.
Shortlist – Fife Council, Glasgow City Council, PwC, The Melting Pot

Winner – PwC
PwC is one of the UK’s leading professional services firms, which delivers client services across assurance, consulting, tax and deals. Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. This focus informs the services we provide and the decisions we make. We know that to be the leading professional services firm we need to be continually innovative, responsible and attract outstanding people. pwc.co.uk / @PwC_UK

4 – One to Watch
Category Sponsor – Social Value Lab
This category is for social enterprises that have been operating for less than 2 years that can clearly articulate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it, showing growth in their model.
Shortlist – Hey Girls CIC, Move On Wood Recycling, Passion4Social, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, The Mindful Enterprise

Winner – Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company
Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Co. is an exciting new social enterprise situated in the Erskine Veterans Village Estate in Bishopton. Our new commercially viable factory boasts state-of-the art technology and will provide jobs and support to those brave men and women adjusting to life outside the military. Some may be learning to live with an injury or disability, others may need support adapting to civilian life. scotlandsbravest.org.uk / @ScotsBravest

Highly Commended – Hey Girls CIC
Hey Girls CIC offer no leak, super comfy, chlorine and bleach free, environmentally friendly product that tackles period poverty in the UK. How? All the profits from their Buy One Give One products go directly to help girls and young women in need – no fat cat shareholders taking a payout. So that means for every box they sell, they give a box away. heygirls.co.uk / @HeyGirlsUK

5 – Social Enterprise Champion
Category Sponsor – Royal Bank of Scotland
This award recognises an individual working in the senior leadership team of a social enterprise who represents excellence in their field of work.
Shortlist – Aayush Goyal, Aimme Ritchie, Hazel Smith, Jonny Kinross, Linda Fay, Paul McColgan and Zakia Moulaoui

Winner – Paul McColgan
Paul McColgan is CEO and Founder of Community Renewal Trust. Under Paul’s leadership over twenty years, Community Renewal Trust has brought £44 million in additional income into 17 Scottish neighbourhoods, supporting 5000 people into work, 4000 people into health support and recorded local conversations with 40,000 people.

Highly Commended – Jonny Kinross
Jonny Kinross is CEO of the Grassmarket Community Project, home to six thriving social enterprises, and founder of My Adventure, the Capital’s leading adventure business and youth engagement social enterprise, now in its 8th year. Former social worker and plumber Jonny is passionate about social justice and seeks innovative, cross-sector solutions to change the lives of the most vulnerable and improve society cohesion. Jonny lives and breathes social enterprise.

6 – Social Enterprise of the Year
Category Sponsor – Keegan and Pennykid
This category is for social enterprises that have been operating for more than 2 years and have demonstrated and promoted social enterprise beyond the sector.
Shortlist – Brewgooder, Community Food Initiatives North East, Glasgow Credit Union, St Andrew’s First Aid, Street Soccer Scotland

Winner – Community Food Initiatives North East
CFINE improves health and well-being and the environment, tackles poverty and builds resilience through a range of support and services for and with disadvantaged, vulnerable, low income individuals, families and communities in NE Scotland. cfine.org / @CFINEAberdeen