Judging social economy awards
Judging Social Economy Awards
Judging the Social Economy Awards 2025: Celebrating Depth, Breadth and the Power of Purpose
The awards are part of the Social Economy Drive – a regional movement that recognises and celebrates organisations across the West Midlands that deliver measurable social value and inclusive growth. Supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and iSE, the initiative shines a light on the people and organisations using business as a force for good.
This year’s judging process brought together experts, investors, and practitioners from across sectors to assess entries that reflected the true scale and strength of the region’s social economy -an ecosystem of over 9,000 organisations, employing nearly 103,000 people and generating around £14 billion in turnover.
Those aren’t just numbers. They represent lives changed, communities supported, and futures built.
The Social Economy Awards 2025 feature a diverse set of categories -from Excellence in Community Impact and Excellence in Creative, Digital and Green Impact, to Health and Youth Impact, Start-up Enterprise of the Year, Co-operative of the Year, Community Business of the Year, Social Enterprise of the Year, Public Sector Organisation of the Year, and Corporate Organisation of the Year.
Each category recognises a different facet of social value -from innovation and inclusion to sustainability and system-wide change.
Every entry was scored against clear, weighted criteria:
- Impact (40%) -measurable outcomes, scope and depth of change.
- Innovation (30%) -originality, adaptability, and problem-solving.
- Sustainability (30%) -long-term planning, ethics, and resource management.
What stood out most this year was the exceptional quality of the submissions.
From grassroots initiatives transforming neighbourhoods to national programmes embedding inclusive growth into public procurement, the breadth and diversity were remarkable.
Organisations presented clear evidence of:
- Tangible social impact, backed by data and case studies.
- Innovative models tackling issues such as homelessness, health inequalities, green transition, digital access, and community resilience.
- Sustainable business practices that balance financial viability with ethical leadership.
Some entries came from newly established enterprises already demonstrating national influence; others from long-standing anchor organisations that have been quietly driving social innovation for over a decade.
It was both humbling and energising to witness how far the sector has evolved -and how deeply it now integrates with mainstream business and policy.
Recognition through these awards is not just symbolic. It builds visibility, credibility, and momentum for the social economy -attracting investment, partnerships, and policy attention.
In 2024, the Social Economy Drive engaged over 18,000 people through its events and digital channels and spotlighted more than 70 enterprises. That momentum continues to grow, strengthening the region’s reputation as a national leader in social innovation.
Awards like these matter because they remind us that the social economy is not a fringe activity -it’s a core driver of inclusive, sustainable growth.
My own journey in supporting social enterprise goes back over 25 years supporting initiatives such as The Digbeth Trust, where I saw first-hand how small grants and community-led projects could unlock enormous local value.
A part of this judging process, it’s inspiring to see how those same principles -community empowerment, enterprise, and inclusion -have matured into a professional, data-driven, and impactful sector.
The Social Economy Awards 2025 are a celebration of that progress. They recognise organisations that don’t just talk about impact -they evidence it, sustain it, and scale it.
To every nominee, finalist, and winner: your work represents the very best of what the West Midlands stands for -creativity, collaboration, and compassion with commercial discipline.
Safaraz Ali
