The Social Enterprise Awards, a national social enterprise industry event, created and produced by Social Traders, makes a return this year, providing recognition for the multicolored coat that is Australia’s social enterprise scene.
With an estimated 20,000 social enterprises operating across Australia, the Social Enterprise Awards provide a unique insight into the diversity, breadth and innovation of Australian social enterprise.
In partnership with New Zealand’s social enterprise development organisation, The Ākina Foundation the eight category winners of this year’s Social Enterprise Awards will have the opportunity to attend and participate at the Social Enterprise World Forum hosted in Christchurch, New Zealand in September 2017.
What are the categories?
The eight categories for the 2016 Social Enterprise Awards are:
- Social Enterprise of the Year (Small)
- Social Enterprise of the Year (Large)
- One to Watch Award
- Social Enterprise Innovation Award
- Capital for Impact
- Buy Social Award
- Social Enterprise Champion
- Women’s Impact Award – a new category to recognise significant contribution and impact to disadvantaged women in society.
An expert Advisory Panel has been established to assist Social Traders in the design, promotion and conduct of this year’s awards involving representatives from the School of Social Entrepreneurs, Social Ventures Australia, The Difference Incubator and Thankyou Group.
Also involved in the panel are representatives from Community Business Bureau Inc, Generosity Magazine, Queensland Council for Social Enterprise and Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA).
A nod to the awesome work
“By recognising excellence and best practice, the Social Enterprise Awards provides a platform to raise the visibility of the growing Australian social enterprise sector, “stated David Brookes, Managing Director at Social Traders.
“Through this recognition, we are able to acknowledge the innovative business approaches social enterprise can provide to create sustained economic and social impact.”
“The Awards celebrate the positive social impact made by social enterprise, while also acknowledging business innovation and the contribution this makes to a diverse Australian economy,” he concluded.
In its fourth consecutive year, The Social Enterprise Awards 2016 will be held in Melbourne in late November and applications close at 5pm on Friday September 2nd You can check out last year’s winners here.
