Thursday 20 November 2025 marked Social Enterprise Day, a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution social enterprises make to our communities and economy. 

We can think of no better way to mark the occasion than spending the evening celebrating at the Social Economy Awards 2025! Organised by iSE and WMCA as part of Social Economy Drive Week, it was a fantastic occasion to recognise the incredible contribution social enterprises make to our communities and economy. 

It was an evening full of energy, optimism and purpose. As a firm, we were honoured to be finalists for Corporate Organisation of the Year. While we didn’t take home the trophy (congratulations to this year’s winners, Lyreco and fellow finalists AtkinsRealis and HomeServe to name just a few), the event was uplifting and energising, reminding us why we do what we do. We spent the evening among friends and colleagues, old and new and left feeling inspired to continue championing social purpose in everything we do.

Why Social Enterprise Day matters

If you’re anything like us, you didn’t need a calendar reminder. Your inbox has probably been buzzing with invites to showcases, conferences and newsletters all week. But here’s the thing: Social Enterprise Day isn’t just a date in the diary – it’s a celebration of organisations that put people and purpose first.

Social enterprises combine entrepreneurial spirit with a clear social mission. They tackle some of society’s biggest challenges – reducing inequality, creating sustainable jobs and reinvesting profits for good. Their impact goes far beyond financial returns; they change lives.

We know all too well that social enterprises (and the people who work tirelessly within them) often face an uphill battle. There are competing priorities, constant demands and the feeling that, alongside the wider third sector, they are propping up public services and filling gaps that have been left behind. This can be disheartening and difficult to manage, especially when resources are stretched and expectations remain high.

At Anthony Collins, we understand the complexities and opportunities social enterprises face. Whether it’s governance, compliance, or strategic growth, we work alongside organisations to help them thrive and deliver lasting impact.

A boost for the sector: The Office for the Impact Economy

We know all too well that working in this sector can feel like running a marathon uphill… in the rain… while juggling flaming torches (in this case, the flaming torches are competing priorities, raising costs and stretched resources). Whether you’re running a community-led organisation, wrangling governance for a co-op, or just trying to keep the lights on (quite literally, if you’re in community energy), it can be tough. And at this time of year, when energy levels dip, it’s easy to feel like you’re running on fumes.

But this year, Social Enterprise Day came hot on the heels of a very interesting announcement: the Government has announced the creation of the Office for the Impact Economy. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but it’s also a recognition of what you’ve all been up to: bridging gaps, fulfilling unmet needs and generally making the world a bit less wonky. 

What’s the Office for the Impact Economy actually for?

It aims to:

• Champion impact-driven organisations – raising the profile of social enterprises and similar models within government and industry.
• Improve access to finance – unlocking investment opportunities and funding streams tailored to organisations that prioritise social and environmental outcomes (because, let’s face it, running on goodwill and recycled printer paper only gets you so far).
• Drive policy alignment – ensuring government initiatives and procurement frameworks recognise and reward social value.
• Build partnerships – connecting social enterprises with investors, policymakers and other stakeholders to accelerate growth and innovation.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re one of our clients - whether you’re a community-led housing group, a co-op, or an employee-owned business- this development could bring tangible benefits:

• Greater visibility and influence: More opportunities to shape policy and access government-backed programmes.
• Enhanced funding options: New financial products and grants designed for mission-driven organisations.
• Support for scaling and sustainability: Resources for capacity building, governance support and long-term resilience.
• Recognition of social value in procurement: Public sector contracts could increasingly prioritise organisations that deliver measurable social impact.

This is a positive signal that the Government sees social enterprises as key players in building a fairer, greener economy. At Anthony Collins, we’ll be monitoring developments closely to help our clients take advantage of these opportunities.

Looking ahead

A huge thank you to the organisers, iSE and WMCA and all the people who contributed to making this event (and the entire Social Economy Drive) a roaring success. Special shout-outs to Drew Currie, Charles Rapson, Kasim Choudhry and Shania Edwards – for creating such a memorable evening. 

We were delighted to share the experience (and the free wine!) with some of our amazing colleagues and clients:

• Sharon Bell, Services for Education
• Leanna McEwan, Unity Trust Bank
• Afzal Hussain, Witton Lodge
• John Lee, LEEP Consulting and campaigner for real social value

Social enterprises are at the heart of stronger communities and a better society. Together, we can make a difference – and if all else fails, at least we’ll have some great stories for next year’s blog!