UK Social Enterprise Awards 2012 winners announced

Over 300 business leaders and entrepreneurs gathered at the UK Social Enterprise Awards in London’s Marylebone.

12 November 2012

This year's winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges from a record number of entries.  Comedian and television presenter Sue Perkins presented the winners with bespoke trophies made by social enterprise Elvis & Kresse, which makes life-style accessories from materials otherwise destined in landfill.

The sector’s flagship awards, now in their 14th year, are organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), the national body for the sector.  Britain is home to 68,000 social enterprises and the sector is booming:  1 in 7 of all social enterprises is a start-up, more than three times the proportion of SME start-ups.  And social enterprises are outstripping SMEs for growth; 58 per cent of social enterprises grew last year compared with 28 per cent of SMEs*.  Social enterprises exist to tackle social problems.

The 2012 winners:

International Social Enterprise - Shenzhen CANYOU Group

CANYOU, which means “Friends of the Disabled,” is a Shenzhen-based software company that employs people with disabilities and helps them start businesses or find jobs.  The co-founder, Zheng Weining, started CANYOU with four friends back in 1997 and the organisation now employs 3,700+ staff.  Now the biggest social enterprise in China, CANYOU runs one foundation, eight organisations and 32 social enterprise branches.