Kingswinford based Evenbreak has been shortlisted for the Social Enterprise of the Year Award for the 2014 National Business Awards. Evenbreak is an online specialist job board with three social aims – to help inclusive employers attract more talented disabled candidates, to help disabled job seekers find work with employers who will value their skills and to promote the business benefits of employing disabled people.
Going up against nine other organisations such as Global Action Plan, Belu and Give as you Live, they will compete for the prestigious award, with the winner being revealed at the National Business Awards gala dinner held on 11 November at Park Lane’s Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Katy Jones, Director, Financial Advisory & Capital, ClearlySo who was a shortlist judge for the category said: “Evenbreak has achieved dramatic growth and a meaningful impact on the lives of many disabled people, with this young social enterprise more than holding its own against more established entrants in this category.”
Jane Hatton, Director at Evenbreak commented: “We are thrilled to be a Finalist of this prestigious award. We work hard to help both disabled jobseekers and inclusive employers, and it is great for this to be recognised. It also proves that a business staffed purely by disabled people can be successful!”
Britain’s leading businesses, business leaders and social enterprises have today been revealed as finalists for the 2014 National Business Awards. The finalists announced today represent categories including the Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year, Santander Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year and the Inflexion International Growth Business of the Year. The Leader of the Year finalists and Decade of Excellence winner will be announced over the coming months, with the Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year finalists announced last month following a judging event in Liverpool.
This year’s shortlisted businesses cover activities as diverse as retail, technology, men’s grooming products, telecoms, construction, advertising, entertainment, and publishing. Of the businesses shortlisted, 24% turnover under £5m, 26% turnover between £5m and £25m, 15% over a billion and 10% not for profit organisations. The smallest business recognised has a turnover of just £23k with the largest reaching £20 billion. With finalists collectively employing over 850,000 people, the smallest has just one member of staff while the largest employs around 165,000 people globally.
Alex Evans, Programme Director of the National Business Awards said: “The diversity and quality of this year’s finalists have firmly established the National Business Awards as the talent scout for UK plc, with market leading household names recognised alongside the best emerging business brands. With a variety of industries represented, these recovery-leading businesses have demonstrated the return on investment in people, innovation, customer service and leadership.”
Finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 17 award categories. They will now prepare for live presentations to expert juries who will decide the overall winners that will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 11 November.
Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists and to attend the event.
The National Business Awards supports The Prince’s Trust, a charity that offers practical and financial support to young people who need it.
