UMi gathered the UK Social Entrepreneur Index’s sponsors, supporters, ambassadors and nominees together this week at Scotland House in London, to celebrate the launch of the index and forge new connections.
The inaugural UK Social Entrepreneur Index launched online last month, showcasing 29 of the UK’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs and a further ten ‘Ones to Watch’.
The event, held on Wednesday 15 May, gave everyone the chance to create or strengthen relationships with peers in a relaxed and celebratory setting.
Attendees heard from Suzanne McCreedy, UMi operations director; Bryan Hoare, UMi commercial director and creator of the index; Jonathan Brown, UBS Global Wealth Management head of UK regions and national sponsor of the index; Kate Welch, Social Enterprise Acumen founder and one of eight ambassadors of the index; and Claudine Adeyemi, Career Ear founder and one of the index’s ‘Ten of the Best’ entrants.
Following the speeches, the attendees spent most of the evening networking, learning about the support they could access from their local UBS Wealth Management advisors, getting advice to support their growth from some of the index’s ambassadors and sharing stories and tips with each other.
Bryan Hoare said: “The individuals who have been recognised in the index demonstrate a level of social impact, creativity and innovation that provides a benchmark for others to aspire to and work towards.
“The world is changing rapidly, with a rising awareness of social responsibility. These individuals have chosen to adopt business models that put positive social impact at the heart of their activities. As any of the entrants will tell you, it’s not an easy route and we wanted to create a platform for these trailblazers to be celebrated and supported.”
The index also recognises ten ‘Ones to Watch’ - social entrepreneurs whose work is on the right trajectory to be included in the index in future years.
The event was the culmination of this year’s national campaign, which has showcased the work of social entrepreneurs in over 75 inspiring news stories and features, as well as featuring successful entrants in the index. It also included northern and southern dinner debates which gave attendees the opportunity to explore topics central to the work of social enterprises.
As national sponsors, UBS Global Wealth Management has played a key role in supporting the Social Entrepreneur Index, acting as lead partners to help deliver the campaign across the UK.
Jonathan Brown said: “We are delighted with the response to the inaugural UK Social Entrepreneur Index and we congratulate all of the entrants on their achievements to date. It was wonderful to celebrate this campaign’s success with everyone involved on Wednesday evening.
“Our advisors work with entrepreneurs across the UK, all of which are seeking to act in a responsible way, whether that is through investing sustainably or ensuring their businesses have a positive social impact. The index has provided us with a platform to engage with and learn from social entrepreneurs so we can make sure we understand how best to service their needs.”
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