The Growth Company wins national award recognising it as a leading social enterprise

The Growth Company win the Education & Training Social Enterprise award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards

The Growth Company, a social enterprise based in Greater Manchester has won the Education & Training Social Enterprise award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards, held last night at the Guildhall in the City of London.

The national awards organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) shines a spotlight on the leading lights of the social enterprise community, recognising the outstanding achievements of businesses which trade for a social purpose.

There are approximately 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £60 billion to the economy each year and employing approximately two million people. They operate in nearly every sector from selling quality consumer goods to providing health and social care services.  

The Growth Company (GC) is a unique social enterprise that enables growth, creates jobs and improves the lives of the individuals and communities it works with. In the last year alone GC positively impacted the lives of over 100,000 people in the education, training and jobs sector.

It drives social value right across the organisation through its company values, HR and procurement practices, as well as the added value it brings to its approach to delivering its contracts, such as the 43 social value commitments made as part of the Work and Health Programme.

Jayne Worthington, MD GC Education & Skills said: “We live and breathe to deliver social value so we’re especially delighted to win this award which recognises our unwavering commitment to driving positive social impact. I’m especially proud of our dedicated staff and the partners and stakeholders we work with to deliver the scale and range of employment, education and skills services we do.”

The Awards were hosted by award-winning comedian Mark Watson and was also attended by SEUK patron, Chris Addison and acclaimed author and journalist, Caitlin Moran.

Commenting on this years’ ceremony, Peter Holbrook Chief Executive of SEUK said: “In the troubling, uncertain times we’re living in, social enterprises are a beacon of hope. They are showing that another way of doing business is possible, one rooted in the values of community, equality and fairness.

This year’s winners are testament to the strength and diversity of the social enterprise movement. It can no longer be seen as a fringe part of our economy but rather as a sector creating real impact both socially and economically.

Social enterprises are showing us what the future of business can look like.”

The Growth Company and the other winners were presented with bespoke trophies made by the social enterprise, Designs in Mind, which employs people with mental health issues. Social enterprises also supplied all the goods and services on the night, including the catering, rigging, drinks, flower displays and goody bags.

The Awards were sponsored by Big Society Capital, The British Council, The Co-op, Deloitte, Employers for Childcare, GLL, Landmarc, Linklaters, NatWest, Pinnacle, Power to Change, Prospective, PwC, Santander and Unity Trust Bank. The Big Issue, itself a social enterprise was the official media partner.