BEF are pleased to announce that they have one of the 100 UK social enterprises to be included in the latest NatWest SE100 Index – an annual listing of the UK’s top 100 social enterprises – reveals growth in turnover, profit and impact.
Every year, Pioneers Post sets out on a quest to discover, celebrate and learn from the UK's most impressive social enterprises, with their partners at NatWest and a fantastic support network of experts from across the sector.
The NatWest SE100 Index, encompasses makers of underwear, tea, jewellery and upcycled furniture. It includes providers of diverse services – from dental care to music therapy to open-access academic publishing. And it features many organisations set up to help other social ventures, for example to access finance, find new clients or develop skills.
Selected by judges on a range of criteria including business sustainability, innovation and social impact – the NatWest SE100 Index tells one fairly convincing story of growth and optimism.
BEF are also one of five social enterprises shortlisted for the Social Business Champion award at this year's NatWest SE100 Awards to be held on 23 June.
This award is for established social ventures (trading for at least five years) that have experienced positive financial growth and delivered strong social impact over the past year, thanks to an entrepreneurial and sustainable business model. The award is supported by Buzzacott and UnLtd.
Steve Waud, CEO of BEF said: "We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award which reflects our ongoing mission. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, we deliver flexible finance that impacts businesses and the communities they serve. Over the last year, we've worked hard to help create and sustain over 3,000 jobs through the creative use of flexible finance. The majority of our lending was delivered to businesses within the most deprived communities in the country. This means we impact is felt by those who needed it the most."
See the full SE100 list and learn more about the SE100 Social Business Awards.
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