Support Horizons - Best New Social Enterprise award!

Support Horizons was proud to receive the Best New Enterprise award at this year's Social Enterprise Berkshire awards.

Managing Director Tim Holland said: "We are thrilled to receive the award of best new social enterprise in the Berkshire Area. It is great to know that the hard work we've put in to launching the company and the impact it will have on the lives of people with learning disabilities in this area has been recognized."

Social Enterprises Celebrate Success

Social Enterprise Berkshire recently held its annual Social Enterprise Awards evening at the Newbury Hilton Hotel which honoured the achievements of local social enterprises over the last year.

Awards were presented to 'Support Horizons' for Best New Enterprise, 'Bradfield Southend Village Stores' for Best Existing Enterprise, 'Mind The Plants' for Best Enterprise In Formation, 'Networks 4 Recruitment' for Best Social Enterprise Innovation, Harby Janagol for Best Social Entrepreneur and Simone Pickrell for Outstanding Contribution to Social Enterprise in Berkshire. Awards were sponsored by Green Park Reading, Slough Borough Council, Reading Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Business Link Berkshire and Reading Enterprise Gateway.

In her presentation, SEB Executive Director Claire Morgan said to the social enterprises "you use business solutions for community issues, you use your imagination and build something out of nothing, you are ambitious, you are creative and you are not afraid of challenges".

She later added: "The awards recognise the drive and commitment shown by the many Berkshire people involved in setting up and managing local enterprises. The event is also an opportunity for the agency team to thank everyone we have worked within the last year."

Social Enterprise Berkshire provides business start up advice and support for local social enterprises. Social enterprises are similar to other businesses because they trade goods and services and strive to make a profit. However, profits generated through the enterprise are for public benefit and are therefore reinvested back into the business or local community, rather than being for 'private' gain.

The event also included presentation of certificates to people who have attended the agency's accredited Community Management Award, which is a programme of free management and business training for the Community and Voluntary sector throughout Berkshire.

Over 80 people from a wide variety of community, voluntary, public and private organisations across Berkshire attended the event. Award presenters commented on the energy within the room, the enthusiasm shown by those involved and their desire to see the social enterprise sector in Berkshire go from strength to strength.