Several co-operatives have been shortlisted for this year’s Social Enterprise Awards, which recognise organisations for their business excellence and contribution to society, as well as the achievements of people working at the heart of the sector.
Organised by Social Enterprise UK, the awards have 13 different categories. The winners from certain categories from the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh Awards will be added to this list once announced.
Fairtrade chocolate company, Divine Chocolate, is 44% owned by cocoa farmers from Kuapa Kokoo, a cocoa farmers’ co-operative in Ghana. The enterprise was shortlisted in three different categories: International Impact; Prove it: Social Impact; and Consumer Facing Social Enterprise.
Zaytoun, a co-op set up as Community Interest Company to source and trade organic Fairtrade oil and other produce from Palestine, was shortlisted in the International Impact category.
The Shared Interest Investment Co-operative, which is committed to helping people trade their way out of poverty through fair finance and business support, is shortlisted in two categories: UK Social Enterprise of the Year and International Impact.
The Transformative Community Business category also features a co-op – Just Credit Union. The financial services provider has been shortlisted for the award recognises locally rooted social enterprises that trade for the benefit of their community and have a track record of delivering real benefits for the community they serve.
Cafédirect, an enterprise working with coffee growers from KNCU, Africa’s oldest co-operative, was shortlisted in two categories: Consumer Facing Social Enterprise and International Impact.
Stretford Public Hall, a community-led not-for-profit organisation, was selected for the Social Investment Deal of the Year category. Set up in 2013, the community benefit society is democratically run by members on the one-member, one-vote basis, which owns and runs Stretford Public Hall.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 23 November.
- The full shortlist can be found here.
- This article was amended on 8 September to include the Shared Interest Investment Co-operative
