Working on community-based initiatives such as skills bootcamps and a young people’s support project has earned Bath Spa University two nominations in a prestigious national social enterprise awards scheme.
The university beat more than 400 entries to make the shortlists in the UK Social Enterprise of the Year and Community-Based Social Enterprise categories of the UK Social Enterprise Awards.
Staged by Social Enterprise UK, the awards champion mission-led organisations that reinvest or donate most of their profits for a social or environmental purpose.
Bath Spa, one of 100,000-plus social enterprises across the UK, has been shortlisted in the two categories for a number of projects and initiatives, including its free skills bootcamps, its partnership with Youth Connect South West, pictured below, launching the Bath Social Impact Network, the area’s first networking group for businesses with a social conscious and organisations that support them, and supporting the city’s award-winning, free-to-attend contemporary arts event, Forest of Imagination.
Just over a year ago Bath Spa become the first university in the South West – and only the fifth in the whole of the UK - to have its work as a social enterprise recognised through a prestigious international Social Enterprise Gold Mark accreditation scheme.
Bath Spa business development manager Hannah Whiting said: “We are thrilled to be finalists for not one but two categories at the Social Enterprise Awards 2023.
“To be recognised alongside the other wonderful social enterprises that have been shortlisted really shows the value of our work.
“As a university we strive to support not just our students but our community locally, nationally and internationally. Working to make the world a better place.”
Social Enterprise UK chief executive Peter Holbrook CBE added: “The challenges we face as a society demand new approaches and a shift in how businesses – big and small – act.
“Social enterprises celebrated at our awards are the brightest stars in a brilliant sector, giving us all inspiration and motivation to do business better.”
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on 30 November.
