Liverpool’s FRC Group, which includes Bulky Bob’s, has won the Social Enterprise of the Year at the UK Social Enterprise Awards, held at the Guildhall in central London on the evening of 4 December.
The national Awards, organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) recognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises, businesses set up to for a social or environmental purpose. From tackling the climate emergency to reducing homelessness, social enterprises are taking on some of the biggest challenges we face, using their profits to change lives and protect the planet.
There are 100,000 of these businesses in the UK contributing £60 billion to the economy and employing two million people.
Shaun Doran, CEO of FRC Group, said: “It is a great honour to be named UK Social Enterprise of the Year!
“Winning does matter to us because it’s an opportunity for all of our employees, trainees, volunteers, and customers to remember that working for us, or with us, means they are part of an organisation that does a great job and makes a real difference.
“We were shortlisted in five categories, highly commended in two, and then won the big award of the night so it is a huge achievement for us and we are proud of everyone at FRC Group and grateful for the part they have played in our success.”
FRC Group, a collection of social enterprises and registered charities, has over 30 years of experience in ending furniture poverty through innovation, creativity and hard work.
Furniture Resource Centre sells new furniture to social landlords; Bulky Bob’s collects and redistributes preloved furniture to people in need; and Bulky Bob’s Office & Commercial Waste offers waste collection services – all 100% not-for-profit.
Their End Furniture Poverty campaign raises awareness and proposes solutions, while our salaried training programme Driving Change provides logistics training and support into employment.
FRC Group were highly commended in the Environmental Social Enterprise and Training, Jobs & Employment categories. They were also shortlisted in the Prove It-Social Impact and Social Investment Deal of the Year along with CAF Venturesome – Charities Aid Foundation.
The annual celebration of British social enterprises was hosted by musician, journalist and Church of England priest, Reverend Richard Coles.
Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said: “The winners of this year’s UK Social Enterprise Awards show just how inspiring and vital the social enterprise movement is.
From tackling furniture and period poverty to taking ownership of their high streets and creating community owned renewable energy schemes– they show just how business can take on the biggest challenges we face and be a real force for good in this world.
The times we live in demand that we must change how we do business. Social enterprises are already taking on the triple threat of the climate emergency, rising social inequalities and an economy that is failing too many people. They are showing us what the future of business can, and must, look like.”
The Awards were sponsored by Big Society Capital, British Council, Cafédirect, The Co-op, Deloitte, GLL, Johnson & Johnson, Landmarc, Linklaters, PwC, Power to Change, Santander and SAP
