Manchester based entrepreneur, Rachel Roger has been shortlisted for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Award.
Rachel is one of five finalists who have been selected from the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Scale Up Programme, in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), and jointly funded by Big Lottery Fund, who are in with a chance of winning £10,000.
Rachel, aged 30, is the founder and director of Reform Radio, a social enterprise which delivers skills-development opportunities for 18-30 year olds through its industry standard online radio station. Opportunities include traineeships, creative outreach programmes, pastoral support and volunteering to support young people into employment.
On her award nomination, Rachel said, “Winning the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017 would be fantastic for Reform Radio. The money would enable us to employ a pastoral support worker, making sure that no young person leaves Reform Radio without the integral support that they need for a better future.
Being on the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs, has helped me to scale up the social impact of Reform Radio through a comprehensive learning programme, business mentor and grant”.
More than 200 social entrepreneurs applied for the programme, with only 40 gaining a place. Following a competitive application process and a Dragons’ Den-style panel, the judges then picked five finalists to run for Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 – based on the impact they create, the growth they have achieved and the potential of their plans. The finalists have each received a comprehensive learning programme with SSE, a grant of £15,000, and a Lloyds Banking Group business mentor to help develop their enterprise and increase its social impact.
In addition to the grand prize of £10,000, there is also a second prize of £6,000 and third prize of £4,000.
Paula Rogers, head of Social Enterprise at Lloyds Banking Group said: “The calibre of this year’s finalists for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017 is incredibly high and each entrepreneur is addressing very different needs in their local community. The shortlist demonstrates the quality and diversity of entrepreneurs on the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme. By supporting social entrepreneurs to solve issues within their local community, we are impacting the wider economy and stimulating regeneration across the UK, delivering on our commitment to help Britain prosper”.
Alastair Wilson, CEO of School for Social Entrepreneurs said: “Each of this year’s finalists really does deserve to win the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017. It has been fantastic to see their development over the past year through the support of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, in partnership with SSE and jointly funded by Big Lottery Fund. They are creating tangible social change within their communities through their continued hard work and I wish them the very best of luck.”
The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs, sits at the heart of Lloyds Banking Group’s commitment to help Britain prosper and will support 2,350 entrepreneurs to start and scale social businesses by 2020.
Last year’s winner was Sophie Unwin, founder of Remade in Edinburgh. At the time of winning, she said, “I am delighted to win the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The £10,000 prize will help us to share our business model with other communities across the UK and could create thousands of jobs”.
Voting is open to the public at www.the-sse.org/SEYA and closes on 31 October 2017 at 5pm. To vote via text message, text ‘SEYA17 [finalist’s first name]’ to 82228. Texts are free.
The winner of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award will be announced at a ceremony in London on the evening of 16th November 2017.
Lloyds Banking Group is also a pioneer partner of a ground-breaking new Match Trading™ funding model for social entrepreneurs, developed by SSE, to incentivise social entrepreneurs to grow their business through trading.
