NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards 2026: Criteria and FAQ

The NatWest SE100 Index was devised in 2010 by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest to recognise and reward the leading 100 social enterprises across the UK each year.

More than just a celebration of the best and brightest, it also serves to gather insight and market intelligence about the UK social enterprise movement, and to put some hard facts and figures behind the fantastic stories of change that characterise the sector. It aims to celebrate and forge a better understanding of social enterprise in all its guises – from community enterprises providing opportunities in their local neighbourhoods, to pioneering social businesses or charities delivering next-level solutions in public sector services. 

Read more about the 2026 edition here.

The SE100 is an annual awards programme, delivered by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital (the independent social investment charity funded by NatWest bank),  seeking entries for the SE100 Index (Social Enterprise Top 100) & Impact Pioneer Awards, several different categories. There are also a set of individual awards for pioneering leaders, and a Pioneers100 'impact leaders list'.

Submitting an application (via the online application form), gives pioneering impact organisations and individuals the chance to be counted among the UK's top 100.

After the closing date for entries, which for 2026 is 15 February, our team of experts will select and shortlist the nominees for the top 100 lists and awards, and then finalists and an award-winner in each category will also be selected. 

This will take place with the help of expert judges, and the decision of the jury will be final and binding. 

Your entry must be submitted via the online application form; however, if you want to view the entry form in full, you can also download the PDF here.

Before you begin the survey, you will find it helpful to gather some documents such as your annual accounts and any impact information you have, which will help you provide accurate answers. (You can update your answers until you complete the survey. You can also return to the survey to pick up where you left off and/or edit previous responses until you click the "Done/Submit" button at the end).

Every UK-based social enterprise can apply themselves, or they may be nominated by a third party (however, since detailed business information is required in most cases we expect business to apply themselves). 

All entrants MUST submit their latest set of full accounts (profit and loss, balance sheet), in order to be considered for an award. All submitted information will be kept in the strictest confidence.

All the awards use the same application form, which is also the form for the top 100 assessments.

The SE100 is open to UK-based, mission-driven businesses, as well as entrepreneurial charities with a trading arm, co-operatives and other legal forms that use innovation and entrepreneurship to deliver a social and/or environmental purpose. The jury will be looking for real pioneers who moved the social enterprise and impact investment sector forward in the past year.

In the application form, you will find a series of questions designed to find out more about your organisation and why you should be in this year's Top 100 lists. To be eligible for the SE100 Index, all applicants must fill in all the questions about their organisation, your financial information (treated confidentially) and how you manage your social impact. Your overall SE100 score is likely to be higher if you also answer additional sections — the more information you provide the more points can be awarded to you during the judging and due diligence process. If you want a chance to win one of the awards, you must complete the relevant section. Depending on which category you apply for, the jury will have the following criteria in mind:

	PUBLIC SECTOR PIONEER Recognising social enterprises or enterprising charities working with ‘bold commissioners’ to deliver innovative solutions and next level social impact in public services. Supported by Buzzacott and E3M.
	IMPACT STORYTELLER To recognise organisations using storytelling and communications most effectively to support their mission.
	SOCIAL BUSINESS PIONEER 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.
	PIONEERING NEWCOMER Are you a social business start-up (up to five years trading) with a clear mission and entrepreneurial flair, who can demonstrate positive growth and impact, as well as great promise for the future.
	CLIMATE PIONEER For pioneering organisations leading by example and inspiring others to work against climate change and towards a greener, more resilient future. Supported by Hogan Lovells.
	SOCIAL INVESTMENT PIONEER For groundbreaking or innovative deals, programmes or funds in social / impact investment. The award celebrates the most innovative, successful example of social investment over the past year. It is designed to recognise both innovative deals, as well as important or groundbreaking new programmes or funds. As always, although there should be a lead nominator we are interested in all stakeholders involved in the deal, and the roles that they have played. Supported by Good Finance.
	DIVERSITY PIONEER For social enterprises leading by example and inspiring others to embed equity, equality, diversity and inclusion into their organisations and their work in local communities.

SE100 INDEX Every organisation applying in the above categories has a chance to be listed in our top 100 index of social enterprises.

This year we are giving three individual awards recognising pioneering impact leaders:

	PIONEERING LEADER For social enterprise bosses demonstrating excellent leadership, effectiveness and inspiration in taking the team on a mission-driven journey to success. Supported by the Good Leaders Podcast.
	PIONEERING WOMAN (WISE) For leading women in social business and impact investing who are not only impressive leaders themselves, but who are also championing and/or mentoring women either in their team or elsewhere in the impact sector.
	PIONEER OF THE FUTURE For newer founders or leaders whose trajectory marks them out as the impact leading stars of the future. They are already proving themselves as highly effective leaders, inspiring their teams and stakeholders, and creating both revenue and impact in their organisation. Supported by the Good Leaders Podcast.

PIONEERS100 LIST All applicants for one of the three leadership awards (Pioneering Leader, Pioneering Woman, Pioneer of the Future) will automatically be considered for inclusion among our list of the top 100 pioneering impact leaders in the UK – the Pioneers100 List.

Please note: it is always tempting to tell a great story, but remember that we need clear examples of outcomes, facts and figures to back up your claims!

• Applications for 2025 close at midnight on Sunday 15 February but please enter as soon as possible, as we will not be able to accommodate technical glitches encountered at the last minute.
• Shortlisting and due diligence will be done between February and April.
• The judges will select the finalists in April and announce the winners in May. Their judgement is binding.
• The full top 100 lists, the names of the finalists and the winners will be published on the Pioneers Post website and shared in our newsletters and social media – keep an eye on our special SE100 Collection for the announcements.

Those listed on the SE100 will benefit from:

• Recognition as one of the UK's top social enterprises or impact leaders – joining a prestigious cohort of the country's most pioneering social businesses from the past 12 years
• An invitation to the free awards event in Manchester on 13 May (keep an eye out for registration bookings, which will open soon)
• A listing on a high-profile news story (one of the most-visited pages on pioneerspost.com)
• A digital badge that can be used on your website to display your achievement 
• Opportunities for further media coverage on Pioneers Post throughout the year
• A membership to Pioneers Post – giving you unlimited online access to thousands of features, interviews and expert advice

Yes, the SE100 recognises the top 100 in a given year, so you are more than welcome to apply again.

Nothing! We don't want fees to be a potential barrier to recognising the best of the best, so there's no entry fee. 

Want to support us? Check out our memberships subcription options. As a social enterprise ourselves, we rely on memberships and partnerships to keep our news and storytelling platform (and programmes like these) running.

The Top 100 demonstrate best business practice in the following categories:

• Pioneering Newcomer
• Social Business Pioneer
• Public Sector Pioneer
• Impact Storyteller
• Social Investment Pioneer
• Climate Pioneer
• Diversity Pioneer

For the Pioneers100 list, we have three categories for impact leaders:

• Pioneering Leader
• Pioneering Woman
• Pioneer of the Future

Each category corresponds to an award. 

There is one application form for all entries, through which organisations and inviduals can enter for a place in the top 100 lists, as well as submissions for the different categories.

Yes, you can enter for multiple categories if you wish, or apply for the top 100 lists only. Each category will require you to submit certain information, so as long as your entry is complete for multiple categories the judges will consider your submission. 

Your confidential information will be stored on a secure database and will not be shared publicly. It will be only shared by our team of co-ordinators and judges for due diligence purposes. Key facts about winners and shortlisted candidates will be shared as part of the publicity for the awards. Pioneers Post and its SE100 partner NatWest Social & Community Capital may from time to time use the information provided when you sign up to our events to contact your organisation for editorial, membership subscription, newsletter, research or feedback purposes, or to make you aware of events or services from which we think you may benefit. By signing up for this webinar, you agree that your email address will also be added to our database to receive Pioneers Post newsletters, from which you will be entitled to unsubscribe at any time. View our privacy policy.

Please send all enquiries to: se100@pioneerspost.com. 

Also:

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Read more stories from previous SE100 winners in our NatWest SE100 Collection.