Collection: NatWest SE100
NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards 2025 finalists announced
This year’s NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards finalists feature brilliant pioneers making social and environmental impacts in imaginative ways.
Run by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, the awards celebrate the UK's most entrepreneurial, innovative and resilient social businesses during the past year.
The organisations represented on this year’s list come from across the UK, creating a diverse selection of social enterprises that are bringing unique solutions to issues such as homelessness and wastefulness.
Breadwinners, a finalist for Impact Management Pioneer – one of the seven award categories (see below) – supports young refugees and people seeking asylum by giving them work experience through selling bread.
They report that 91.91% of their programme participants said their wellbeing significantly improved because of Breadwinners and 75% have gone on to further employment or university.
ApparelXchange, a finalist for Climate Pioneer, reduces clothing waste by giving children’s clothing a second life, reselling and gifting the items to new families.
In ApparelXchange's application, founding director Izzie Eriksen said: “The production, consumption and discarding of clothing at the current rate is unsustainable and we aim to address this challenge with local solutions that can be scaled up and rolled out across the country and beyond.”
Indirock is working to make climbing accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience or socioeconomic status. (Credit: Indirock)
Indirock (pictured above), a finalist for Pioneering Newcomer, aims to make climbing accessible to everyone and creates work opportunities for vulnerable young people.
Only three years old, Indirock has already hosted over 100,000 climbs, 10,000 of which were free or discounted.
Beyond a Song, a finalist for Diversity Pioneer, tackles mental health and wellbeing through the power of song.
The organisation said their mission has “always been centred on empowering underrepresented groups, focusing on equality across multiple areas, including neurodivergence, race, mental health, faith, socio-economic background and disability.”
And HeyGirls (pictured below), a finalist for Social Business Pioneer, is addressing period poverty and gender inequality with environmentally-friendly period products through a buy-one-give-one system.
Since 2018, HeyGirls has distributed 42m sustainable period products across the UK, including to schools, food banks, colleges and other communities in need.
The Hey Girls team smiles in front of their logo. Hey Girls is bringing solutions to period poverty in sustainable ways. (Credit: Hey Girls)
And those are just five of the 38 finalists recognised across the seven award categories this year. In each category judges will name a winner and a highly commended place, which will be announced at the awards ceremony on the evening of 15 July, hosted in Manchester.
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. Supported by Buzzacott.
Finalists:
Young volunteers at Groundwork North Wales work together in a garden. (Credit: Groundwork North Wales)
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? Supported by Buzzacott.
Finalists:
Impact Management Pioneer
For enterprises that take considerable measures to manage, demonstrate and communicate the social and environmental impact and value of their business, using this to improve their performance and win new business. Supported by Impact Reporting.
Finalists:
Two employees at Breadwinners sell bread to customers at one of their pop-up stalls. Breadwinners helps refugees gain work experience through selling bread. (Credit: Breadwinners)
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. Supported by the Social Investment Business.
Finalists:
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.
Finalists:
Social Investment Pioneer
For groundbreaking or innovative deals, programmes or funds in social / impact investment. Supported by Good Finance.
Finalists:
Pioneering Leader
For social enterprise bosses demonstrating excellent leadership, effectiveness and inspiration in taking the team on a mission-driven journey to success. In partnership with the Good Leaders podcast.
Finalists:
Debbie Douglas, All Together Edinburgh
Charlotte Harrington, Belu
Cat Hyde, Seagulls Re-use
Paul Growney, Caring Connections
Dr Shantanu Kundu, Be Free Campaign
Rachel Mostyn & Camilla Rigby, Women's Work Lab
Joe Seddon, Zero Gravity
Edward Siegel, Charity Bank
You can read more about the NatWest SE100 in our SE100 Collection.
More questions? Read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ – or get in touch via SE100@pioneerspost.com
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The NatWest SE100 Index and Social Business Awards is an annual programme created and delivered by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital - and supported by Buzzacott, Hogan Lovells, Good Finance, Social Investment Business and Impact Reporting. The programme aims to list, celebrate and learn from the UK’s 100 most impressive social enterprises every year.
