Shortlist revealed for UK's first global Social Investment Awards
Fifteen organisations, including ClearlySo and the World Economic Forum, have been shortlisted in the UK's first ever Social Investment Awards.
The Awards – supported by the Cabinet Office and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) – highlight the increasingly important role social investment has in solving social problems in the UK and around the globe. They aim to help show businesses and other potential investors that this is a growing market set to become a conventional way to invest.
Figures from the Cabinet Office state that the UK social investment market experienced a 25% growth between 2010 and 2012 – and it is predicted that the market will be worth £1bn by 2016.
The new Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson said: “These awards highlight some of the outstanding impact social entrepreneurs and organisations are having around the UK. The Government is committed to growing the market and that also means rewarding those who are leading the way. Congratulations to all of those shortlisted.”
The shortlisted organisations – which also include Big Venture Challenge and Oopmh!, Triodos Bank and the Omidyar Network – are varied and work in a number of sectors, from financing renewable energy projects to creating supporting families on low incomes.
RBS has supported social investment for 15 years. David Treacher, the bank's managing director of public sector, not for profit and charities said: "We were thrilled with the volume and quality of these nominations which showcase the hard work and energy entrepreneurs and investors put into making such a huge difference through social investment."
The Social Investment Awards will be held on 27 October at the RBS headquarters in London.
Playtime's over for social investment – it's time to get serious about boosting the sector and encouraging more people and businesses to get involved. The UK's annual social investment conference, Good Deals, will take place on the 24th and 25th of November in London.
Photo credit: Garry Knight
