Nominations are open for the 2019 Social Business Wales Awards, which recognise Welsh businesses that make a positive contribution to society.
This year’s headline categories are Wales Social Enterprise of the Year and Wales One to Watch. Five sector categories cover Health and Social Care; Consumer Facing, Environmental; Education, Training and Employment; and Tech for Good.
Now in their tenth year, the awards recognise excellence in the social business sector in Wales, which includes social enterprises, co-operatives, mutuals and employee-owned businesses.
The awards are part of the Social Business Wales project, which is funded by the Welsh government and the European Regional Development Fund. The project provides business support to social businesses across Wales, which have plans for growth, and is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre as part of the Business Wales service.
Last year’s winners included digital technology co-operative ProMo Cymru, which provides expert advice and solutions for engaging with communities and creating positive change.
Related: Toasting success in the Social Business Wales Awards
Empower BeTheChange was another big winner in 2018 for its services to the Education, Training & Jobs sector. Founder Jo Clay said: “It really was an honour. The award has enabled us to showcase the positive and life changing difference our programmes make to our participants and as a result has increased our income, delivery and impact across North Wales.
“The awards are an invaluable way to highlight the huge amount of positive social change all social enterprises are making across Wales and I would encourage all organisations, no matter their size, to apply for the awards in 2019.”
The winners will be announced at a celebrity-hosted awards ceremony in September at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. They will then go forward to compete with their counterparts from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland at a UK Awards ceremony in London in November.
The main sponsor for the awards and Social Enterprise of the Year category is NatWest Cymru. The other categories have been sponsored by Legal & General, BIC Innovation, Acuity Legal, Cowshed and Doopoll, with additional support from Social Investment Cymru, part of the Wales Council for Voluntary Associations (WCVA).
