Prize Categories
Responsible Finance Providers are invited to apply for the following awards:
Responsible finance providers are invited to nominate clients for the following microentrepreneur awards:
- Microentrepreneur Award for Growth
- Microentrepreneur Award for Environmental Sustainability
- Young Microentrepreneur Award
- Social Entrepreneur Award
Impact Award
This award recognises a successful responsible finance provider which has effectively demonstrated, communicated and improved its impact. It considers economic and/or social impact.
This award focuses on responsible finance providers that are having a positive impact on the people, communities and economies they serve.
We are seeking excellent examples of how economic or social impact measurement has been used to improve performance, promote activities and attract investment.
We are also interested in any measures you have taken to align impacts with The UN Sustainable Development Goals. Responsible Finance providers are directly contributing to tackling many of these goals, and indirectly contributing to the others through the clients they support.
This Award celebrates effective, robust, replicable and creative ways of proving and improving impact, and is not simply about having the biggest impact.
This Award also celebrates the performance of Responsible Finance providers against up to 10 of the The UN Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1, No poverty; Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being; Goal 4, Quality Education; Goal 5, Gender Equality; Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 9, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure; Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities; Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities; Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Goal 17, Partnerships.
Prize fund for winner: £20,000
Prize fund for one runner-up: £5,000
Resilience Award
This award recognises a successful responsible finance provider which has shown resilience and consistency in its delivery of access to finance, especially to groups that often struggle to access finance such as women and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
It celebrates organisations which have shown determination in overcoming difficulties, which have delivered on their targets in changing or challenging market conditions, or which have adapted to survive or grow but stayed focused on their mission.
This Award also celebrates the performance of Responsible Finance providers against up to 6 of the The UN Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1, No poverty; Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being; Goal 5, Gender Equality; Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities; Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Prize fund for winner: £20,000
Prize fund for one runner-up: £5,000
Responsible Finance Leader Award
This award champions the efforts of an individual to improve access to finance and support the Responsible Finance industry.
This award is an opportunity for anyone working in the sector to nominate an individual who has shown commitment, dedication, vision and energy to help a particular responsible finance provider or the broader responsible finance industry.
We are seeking leaders who have, for example:
- Founded or played a crucial role in the development of a responsible finance provider
- Championed the cause of responsible finance providers and those they serve locally, regionally, nationally or internationally
- Acted as an inspirational leader to their team
- Helped to raise the profile of responsible finance providers
- An understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and are considering or already aligning impact assessment against the goals or using the Goals in some other way.
Outstanding Loan Officer Award
This award champions the efforts of an outstanding individual who delivers loans to people, businesses or social enterprises. It celebrates the work of a team member who has provided invaluable help and support to clients.
This award is an opportunity to nominate an individual who has shown commitment, energy and gone above and beyond the call of duty to help their customers. This award celebrates the unsung heroes of responsible finance.
Microentrepreneur Award for Growth
This award recognises the success of an outstanding microentrepreneur who has benefited from the support of a responsible finance provider.
This category focuses on successful entrepreneurs who have created businesses demonstrating strong growth. It considers growth in turnover, jobs or market share. It recognises businesses that employ ten or more people.
It offers the opportunity to celebrate your, and your nominee’s, performance contributing to The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 9, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure.
The business should have started as a microenterprise which has experienced, or looks set to experience, significant growth.
Prize fund for winner: £7,500
Microentrepreneur Award for Environmental Sustainability
This award recognises the success of an outstanding microentrepreneur who has benefited from the support of a responsible finance provider.
This category focuses on entrepreneurs who have created successful small-scale and livelihood businesses with positive impacts on the environment.
It offers the opportunity to celebrate your, and your nominee’s, performance contributing to The UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; and/or Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production; and Goal 13, Climate Action.
We are looking for examples of inspiring entrepreneurs who have demonstrated a determination to succeed, who have a financially sustainable business that provides a living for themselves and their family, and that employs up to ten people.
Prize fund for winner: £7,500
Young Microentrepreneur Award
This award recognises the success of an outstanding young entrepreneur between the ages of 18 and 30 who has benefited from the support of a responsible finance provider.
It offers the opportunity to celebrate your, and your nominee’s, performance contributing to The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth and/or Goal 9, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure and/or Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities.
This category emphasizes youth, creativity and innovation; an individual with vision and passion.
Prize fund for winner: £7,500
Social Entrepreneur Award
This award recognises the success of an outstanding social entrepreneur with a clear social or environmental mission who has benefited from the support of a responsible finance provider.
This category focuses on successful and sustainable social enterprises that are tackling social or environmental challenges. It recognises individuals who have taken an entrepreneurial approach to creating social change, and who are making a positive impact.
It offers the opportunity to celebrate your, and your nominee’s, performance contributing to The UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 9, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure.
Prize fund for winner: £7,500