New 'Impact Leaders List' and Public Sector Pioneer in SE100 Awards 2026

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A new award for innovation in delivering public sector services is being launched as part of the upcoming edition of the NatWest SE100 Awards.

The Public Sector Pioneer award will recognise social enterprises and ‘bold commissioners’ delivering innovative solutions and next level social impact in public services.

And alongside the annual SE100 Index – naming the UK's top 100 most impressive and inspiring social businesses – a new Pioneers100 List is being launched for 2026, naming the top 100 pioneering impact leaders in the UK.

Applications open today (Friday, 18 December) for the SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards 2026, and will close at midnight on Sunday, 15 February. The top 100 lists and the list of finalists will be announced during late April and early May, with winners announced at the awards event held once again in Manchester, on Wednesday 13 May. 

“These awards are amazing. But for me, it's just about doing the work... When I was younger, I would have loved something like what we're doing, and that's it. I try to create something for my younger self.” 

– JR Josephs, founder of Sirlute, 2025 SE100 winner

This year we're also combining the SE100 Awards with our annual WISE100 (Women in Social Enterprise) programme. In addition to awards for Pioneering Leader and Pioneer of the Future, we're introducing a new Pioneering Woman award to recognise leading women in social business and impact investing who are championing and/or mentoring women either in their team or elsewhere in the impact sector.

Also new for 2026, we're including an Impact Storyteller award – to recognise organisations using storytelling and communications most effectively to support their mission.

The NatWest SE100 was devised in 2010 by Pioneers Post and is delivered in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital – NatWest's independent social investment charity. 

At the 2025 SE100 awards ceremony, held at social enterprise music venue Band on the Wall in Manchester,  NatWest Social & Community Capital CEO Vicki Papworth (pictured above) told the audience: “Every social enterprise represented here is proof that business can be a powerful force for social good – driving change, creating opportunity, and strengthening communities. And we at NatWest Social & Community Capital are honoured to support another year of judging and supporting these awards.

And in her closing remarks, she urged: “We need to remain bold in redesigning the world that we live in and the world that we create.”

Tim West, founding editor at Pioneers Post, said: “We started the SE100 because we wanted to celebrate and share the work of purpose-driven innovators, entrepreneurs and investors across the UK. As a social enterprise ourselves, our own impact is focused around supporting the growth and development of purpose-led innovation and entrepreneurship. We do this not only through our independent, solutions-based journalism but through the programme of awards, training and networking events that we run through the year. 

“To enter the SE100, we don't put restrictions around what legal structure you have – CICs, charities, co-ops or for-profit companies are all welcome to apply. What we're most interested in are the solutions you have found, the impact you are making, the sustainability and ambition of your business model, and the transparency, values and governance that you put around this to protect your mission. The questions in the SE100 survey are designed to draw out these aspects, so our judges can get a really clear picture of what you do and how you make a difference.”

• Applications for the NatWest SE100 2026 opened today (19 December) and the deadline is midnight on Sunday 15 February (read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ)

The SE100 award has been a major talking point with investors, staff and the social enterprises we work with. It really makes us feel proud that our peers and industry have recognised what we’ve achieved...

Winning has also put an even greater spotlight on homelessness, and helped us raise awareness of the issue to a wider audience.”

– Resonance, previous SE100 winner

Winning the Impact Award was a powerful signal to our partners and supporters that we take our impact measurement seriously, helping to secure on-going support as well as our wider credibility.

– Skills Builder Partnership, former SE100 award winner

 

How to enter for the NatWest SE100 'top 100' lists and awards

To enter, complete the application form by midnight on 15 February 2026. If you want to view the entry form in full, you can also download the PDF here, but your entry must be submitted via the online form.

We recommend you also read the NatWest SE100 Criteria and FAQ article. 

There is one application form for all entries, through which organisations can enter for a place in the top 100 and individuals are also considered for the leaders list, as well as submissions for the categories below:

	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.

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, E3M, Hogan Lovells and Good Finance. The programme aims to list, celebrate and learn from the UK’s 100 most impressive social enterprises, and the top 100 pioneering leaders, every year.