Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards 2019/20

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:

Impact Award

The Impact Award recognises a successful responsible finance provider which has effectively demonstrated, communicated and improved its impact. It considers economic, environmental and 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, environmental or social impact measurement has been used to improve performance, promote activities and attract investment.

We are also interested in 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.

A prize fund of £20,000 will be presented to the winning Responsible Finance provider, and a prize of £5,000 will be presented to one runner up.

Resilience Award

The Resilience 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, 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.

A prize fund of £20,000 will be presented to the winning Responsible Finance Provider and a prize of £5,000 will be presented to one runner up.

Responsible Finance Rising Star Award

The Responsible Finance Rising Star Award champions the efforts of an individual to improve access to finance and support the Responsible Finance industry.

It is a brand new Award for 2019. There is no prize money, but the winner will receive extensive profile raising and recognition.

This award is an opportunity for anyone working in the sector to nominate an individual (at any level within a Responsible Finance provider) who has already shown dedication and commitment to their organisation, their customers, or the broader responsible finance industry.

We are seeking to recognise an individual who could, for example, have:

• Shown their passion for progressing in their role by seeking out opportunities for learning and professional development
• Advocated for affordable credit and financial inclusion
• Championed the responsible finance sector (whether through through local grass-routes community action, blogging, innovative ideas, media and social media engagement - we want to hear about it)
• Demonstrated the potential to become an inspirational future leader within the responsible finance sector

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

The Microentrepreneur Award for Growth 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 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.

It considers growth in turnover, jobs or market share. It recognises businesses that employ ten or more people.

The business should have started as a microenterprise which has experienced, or looks set to experience, significant growth.

A prize fund of £7,500 will be presented to the winner.

Microentrepreneur Award for Environmental Sustainability

The Microentrepreneur Award for Environmental Sustainability 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.

A prize fund of £7,500 will be presented to the winner.

Young Microentrepreneur Award

The Young Microentrepreneur 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.

A prize fund of £7,500 will be presented to the winner.

The Social Entrepreneur 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.

A prize fund of £7,500 will be presented to the winner.