Wales Co-operative Centre
Canolfan Cwdweithredol Cymru

Nominet announced as sponsor for Social Enterprise Awards Wales 2012

The Wales Co-operative Centre is delighted to announce that  Nominet, the not-for-profit organisation applying for two new top level domains for Wales, has become a sponsor of the Social Enterprise Awards Wales 2012.

The internet registry has been confirmed as sponsor of the awards’ Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year category, in what is the competition’s third year. The awards in Wales are once again being managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre and the Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition.

Nominet has a successful track record of managing the the .uk registry and recently submitted applications for the .cymru and .wales top level domains.

Lesley Cowley OBE, Chief Executive of Nominet said: “Many businesses and organisations, while not social enterprises themselves, make a significant and often crucial contribution to society at large by supporting social enterprises. This award will shine a spotlight on the best examples of this across Wales."

Derek Walker, Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre, said: “The Wales Co-operative Centre is extremely happy to be working with Nominet. Encouraging public and private sector organisations to work with social enterprises is critical to the success of the sector. Having a high profile sponsor for this Award will help shine a spotlight on the organisations which are creating successful and innovative partnerships with social enterprises.”

This year, there are four categories open to entrants of the Social Enterprise Awards Wales:

• Social Enterprise Start Up of the Year Wales: for social enterprises running less than 24 months
• Social Enterprise Leader of the Year Wales: for individuals working for a social enterprise in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year Wales: for organisations that are not social enterprises themselves, but whose work has clearly benefited the work of a social enterprise or the sector as a whole
• Social Enterprise of the Year Wales

To be eligible to enter the awards (except the ‘Supporter’ category), organisations must be trading for social and/or environmental purposes; generating at least 50% of their income from trading; committing at least 50% of their profits towards meeting their social purpose; and owned and managed by the communities they serve. The winner of each category of the Social Enterprise Awards Wales will receive a £1,000 cash prize and automatic entry into the Social Enterprise Awards UK to compete alongside organisations from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The closing date for entries to the Social Enterprise Awards Wales is Friday 24 August. The winners will be announced at a specially-arranged event on 19 October in Prestatyn.

More information on the Social Enterprise Awards Wales, including registration and entry details, can be found online at http://www.walescooperative.org/se-awards-wales-2012