Category Overview
An expert judging panel will score the nominations submitted and the highest overall score per category will be the winner.
Winners will be announced on the big night!
Click each category for full guidelines:
Start-up Social Enterprise of the Year
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Large Social Enterprise of the Year
Work or Training Social Enterprise of the Year
Employee of the Year
Striving for Equality
Environmental Champion of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Lancashire’s Social Enterprise Champion 2022
Lancashire’s Social Enterprise of the Year 2022
No additional nominations are required for this category.
1. Start-Up Social Enterprise of the Year
For social enterprises that have formed since 1st January 2020. The judges will consider your social mission, why you started up and what you have achieved.
What the judges will look for:
- Clear articulation of the vision of the business
- Excellence in impact, design or growth since inception – what has been achieved in this short space of time?
- A creative approach to problem solving
- Potential for future success, in the judges’ view – how does this organisation stand out above the rest?
2. Small Social Enterprise of the Year
For social enterprises under 10 staff (but no limit on volunteers). The beating heart of Lancashire’s social enterprise sector may be small but achieve great results. So, don’t be shy, really impress the judges with details of your ethos, your team’s skills and experience and how you support society.
What the judges will look for:
- What has been achieved in the last 12-18 months
- Clear accountability, leadership and management of the organisation
- Explain how you invest in staff development
- Show sustainability in terms of profit/surplus and growth
- How the business benefits Lancashire communities
- How do you know you are making a difference?
3. Large Social Enterprise of the Year
For social enterprises with 11 or more staff. The powerhouses of social enterprises. Show the judges how you bring about big changes to people and the planet.
What the judges will look for:
- What has been achieved in the last 12-18 months
- Clear accountability, leadership and management of the organisation
- Explain how you invest in staff development
- Show sustainability in terms of profit/surplus and growth
- How the business benefits Lancashire communities
- How do you know you are making a difference?
4. Work or Training Social Enterprise of the Year
Given the amazing success of Building Better Opportunities and other support programmes in Lancashire, Selnet is blown away by the efforts that organisations go to in helping the most vulnerable in society move closer to the workplace. Within your application, give the judges a couple of real-life case studies to demonstrate how you have changed lives.
What the judges will look for:
- Where the support given has had a dramatic impact and improved lives
- Worked in partnership with other organisations/services to achieve the best outcome for an individual
- Helped to remove barriers to progression
- Skills development has turned an individual’s life around
5. Employee of the Year
Tell the judges about your employee or your colleague who goes way beyond their job description. Give some examples of real differences they have made.
What the judges will look for:
- An exceptional member of staff who goes the extra mile to ensure successful operation of the business
- Someone using personal experience of overcoming barriers to support others to address social need.
- Someone whose work enables the business to do more good work
6. Striving for Equality
When equality, diversity and inclusion are present Social Enterprises reap the rewards. We are looking to highlight a Social Enterprise who have fantastic Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and are able to demonstrate their impact when working on behalf of others to tackle inequalities.
Tell the judges about how you are advancing equality for your target groups e.g. race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, social mobility, disability, health including mental health or age.
7. Environmental Champion of the Year
In Lancashire, our people and our enterprises are making huge strides to improve the environment. Some towns have declared a Climate Emergency, some businesses are reducing their environmental impacts, addressing the global issue.
The judges will be looking at practical measures being taken by our sector to improve Lancashire and how it fits into a wider strategy.
What the judges will look for:
- Evidenced environmental impact
- How do you know you are making a difference?
- Clear accountability, leadership and management of the organisation
- Show sustainability in terms of profit/surplus and growth
8. Volunteer of the Year
We love this category! Tell the judges why your people volunteer, what they do, about their approach to helping others and highlighting the impacts they have achieved.
What the judges will look for:
- A person who freely gives up their time, motivated by helping others
- Someone using personal experience of overcoming barriers to help support others
- Someone whose work enables the business the volunteer for to do more good work
9. Social Enterprise Champion 2022
This is always a tough category, but the judges will consider individuals who are shining examples of social enterprise in action in Lancashire. Past winners have been exceptional leaders in their field who turned an idea into a social enterprise, enabled positive change and who carry the Social Enterprise banner with them in everything they do.
What the judges will look for:
- Contribution and leadership in relation to the promoting the social enterprise sector as a whole (locally, regionally and/or nationally)
- Someone who represents excellence in their field of work, inspiring and empowering others
- Exhibiting an enterprising spirit and drive, commitment to businesses development and passion for the overarching social mission
- Demonstrates a commitment to diversity
- Displayed moral courage and vision in making and delivering tough choices
Lancashire’s Social Enterprise of the Year
From all the nominations received, the judges will also choose Lancashire’s Social Enterprise of the Year
No additional nominations are required for this category
This award is selected from all nominations received, not just category winners. Big or small, new or established, we will celebrate one Social Enterprise that can demonstrate an outstanding contribution to Lancashire.
The Social Enterprise of the Year category will be awarded from all nominations received from the following categories:
- Start-up Social Enterprise of the Year
- Small Social Enterprise of the Year
- Large Social Enterprise of the Year
- Work or Training Social Enterprise of the Year
- Striving for Equality
- Environmental Champion of the Year
