The Women’s Organisation named a finalist in the prestigious UK Social Enterprise Awards, which recognise businesses that are transforming communities and tackling climate change.
The Women’s Organisation has been shortlisted for the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the UK’s most effective social enterprises.
We are finalists in four categories – UK Social Enterprise of the Year; Social Impact; Education, Training, and Jobs; and Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice.
The Women’s Organisation is dedicated to supporting women’s economic development through the provision of enterprise and employment services that are gender-focused. From personal development to starting and growing a sustainable business, over the last 25 years we have supported more than 70,000 women in the Northwest to assess their skills, test the viability of an idea, grow in confidence and become economically empowered.
We also deliver training for employers internationally, in China, Iceland, and The Middle East, and earlier this month we were given the highest accolade at the EntreComp Awards, having been actively involved in the programme since 2016.
Social enterprises are businesses that trade for social or environmental purposes. There are an estimated 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing around £60bn annually to the UK economy and are set up to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society.
The UK Social Enterprise Awards are awarded by Social Enterprise UK, the UK’s leading membership body for social enterprises, and recognise excellence and innovation in UK social enterprises. The Women’s Organisation will be joining other shortlisted organisations and guests at a prestigious awards ceremony held at London’s iconic Roundhouse on Thursday 8 December.
Previous winners have included a legal firm representing vulnerable people, a crowdfunding platform helping homeless people to work, and a network of zero-waste supermarkets – demonstrating the diversity of the social enterprise in the UK.
Commenting on being shortlisted, the chief executive at The Women’s Organisation, Maggie O’Carrroll, said:
“To be acknowledged in just one category would have been recognition enough for the tremendous efforts of the team here at The Women’s Organisation, but to be shortlisted in four categories really is truly humbling.
“The hard work and dedication demonstrated by our entire team over the past year or two really cannot be understated, particularly as the whole country faced unprecedented challenges and changing societal dynamics. The pandemic was hugely, adversely, and disproportionately impactful for women, and we felt more obligated than ever to make our services accessible for all women, everywhere.
“We’re incredibly proud of the work our international team has been doing too. Our esteemed colleagues, international consultants Lisa McMullan and Alison Price, offer a wealth of experience in innovative practices in enterprise education and it’s fantastic to see their hard work, knowledge, and expertise recognised.”
Commenting on the Awards, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said:
“The UK Social Enterprise Awards are the ultimate showcase of the impact and excellence of social enterprises. These are trailblazers and standard setters for how to do business better, in ways that put people and the planet first. They empower and uplift communities. They show us all how we can do business in a way that helps the environment. And they do all this while facing the same challenges as other businesses.
“In these turbulent times, they are a beacon of innovation, optimism, and resilience. Those who have made the shortlist of these awards have proven their business’ ability to weather the storm of the pandemic, keeping their business and their mission on track.
“The challenges we face as a society demand new approaches and a shift in the way that businesses big and small act. The entries for this year’s award continue to inspire, innovate and show us all how businesses can help us meet many of these challenges head-on.”