The Social Enterprise Coalition is calling on social enterprises from across the UK to apply for the brand new Social Enterprise Awards, a nationwide competition that will find and reward Britain's best social enterprises. The application period begins today and will run until 28 September 2009.

Social enterprises are businesses run for social and environmental purposes - there are approximately 62,000 in the UK with a combined turnover of at least £27 billion, and they contribute £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy.

The Social Enterprise Awards are searching for Britain's most successful and inspiring social enterprises to win the following categories: Best Social Enterprise (turnover of £1 million plus); Best Social Enterprise (turnover of less than £1 million) and Best New Social Enteprise. Winners can receive up to £5,000 as well as business support packages and a national media platform to promote themselves.

The Social Enterprise Coalition is running the awards in partnership with the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition, the Social Economy Network in Northern Ireland and the Wales Co-operative Centre.

The Awards will be run in two stages in a format that aims to reach as many people as possible. The first stage begins today - applications are being accepted for national heats in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The national heats will award a winner in each of the categories for each country.

The second stage will kick off during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November, when the national winners are announced. At that point, online voting opens for one week - anyone can vote for the social enterprise they think deserves to be named the best for the whole of the UK in each category. The public vote will also name one winner the Social Enterprise of the Year.

An additional award committed to recognising some of the UK's most enterprising students will be run concurrently by the Social Enterprise Coalition: the Best Social Enterprise in Schools category will be open to all social enterprises operating in schools in England during the academic year 2008/09.

The awards are sponsored by The Office of the Third Sector; the Department for Children, Schools and Families; the Department of Communities and Local Government; Partnerships UK; Unity Trust Bank and the Wates Family Enterprise Trust. The media partner is The Daily Telegraph.

Jonathan Bland, chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition said: "We are delighted to be launching the inaugural year of the Social Enterprise Awards. We are working with incredible partners and sponsors across the UK to deliver these new national awards that we believe will have a far reach and a big impact in celebrating and promoting social enterprise.

"Social enterprises have been increasingly under the spotlight as the nation looks for new approachs to business as well as to social and environmental issues. We are very proud to be involved in rewarding the very best of social enterprise in the UK."

Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector said: "The best social enterprises are innovative and inspiring business models proving what can be achieved when social and environmental values are placed at the heart of business practices.

"There is a strong public appetite for socially responsible business, particular in the current economic climate, and social enterprises have a key role to play in creating a more responsible economy of the future. Across the UK, social enterprises are providing solutions to some of our communities' most pressing concerns. We are very pleased to be supporting the Social Enterprise Awards in rewarding and promoting Britain's best social enterprises."

More information about applications, rules and a complete timeline for all the awards can be found at: www.socialenterpriseawards.org.uk

• For further information or interviews please contact Caroline Borge, senior press officer at the Social Enterprise Coalition, at caroline.borge@socialenterprise.org.uk or call (w) 020 7793 2318 or (m) 0774 369 3040
  
  
• The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise. As the voice for the sector, the Coalition provides a platform for showcasing the benefits of social enterprise while supporting and representing the work of its varied members, influencing national policy and promoting best practice. www.socialenterprise.org.uk
  
  
• The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition is the national collective lobbying and campaigns voice for social enterprise in Scotland. It is a membership-led organisation representing the needs and interests of social enterprise to politicians, policy makers and opinion formers. www.ssec.org.uk
  
  
• The Social Economy Network is the regional umbrella organisation for Social Enterprises in Northern Ireland. Its roles is to represent the sector at all levels of government and to influence and shape policy. SEN draws its membership from social enterprises, support organisations and stakeholders throughout N.I. It is managed by a voluntary Board of Directors nominated from within the membership. www.socialeconomynetwork.org
  
  
• The Wales Co-operative Centre is a co-operative development agency which supports social, financial and digital inclusion. The Centre is responsible for delivering a European and Welsh Assembly Government funded social enterprise support programme and works closely with a wide range of social enterprises across Wales. www.walescoop.com
  

• Partnerships UK works across the UK public sector contributing to a strong public services industry. PUK supports Government, public and third sector bodies to improve public services so that they meet people's needs. PUK does this by helping to create a well-balanced market of public, third and private sector providers so that they can supply high-quality, cost-effective services. For more information please visit www.partnershipsuk.org.uk
  
  
• Unity Trust Bank is a specialist bank for social enterprises, charities and trade unions. Since their formation in 1984, their vision has been to deliver a range of banking services that sets them apart from mainstream banks. Today, that vision continues to become reality as we lead the way in development of new initiatives which are changing the face of banking for the better. www.unity.uk.com
  
  
• The family owners of the Wates Group invest significantly in local community projects via the Wates Giving programme which is funded by the Wates Family Enterprise Trust. Wates Giving specifically supports community projects proposed by Wates employees and to date has invested over £1.5m in schemes across the UK. Wates is one of the UK's largest family owned construction services and development companies. Established in 1897, it remains privately owned by the Wates family and employs more than 2,200 people. www.wates.co.uk