Selnet Vice Chair Alistair Clarke has been awarded an MBE for his work with social enterprises across Lancashire. A former radio news editor, Alistair is a chartered business advisor and professional marketer as Director of Tick The Publicity Box CIC – a community interest company established in 2008 to aid social enterprises and charitable groups to raise awareness through marketing, PR and events.

Selnet members will recognise Alistair as one of our specialist Business Advisors, and as the host of our annual Enterprise in Society Awards, most recently held in November 2019 at the Villa in Wrea Green. He is also the Chair of Social Enterprise Solutions CIC in Blackpool.

Alistair said: “I’m delighted and honoured that my work with social enterprises in Lancashire has been recognised. I’m passionate about supporting people and social businesses that want to help others in their community.

“If you’ve ever bought a copy of the Big Issue, been shopping at the Coop, seen a show at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre, or you’re one of the volunteers at Integrate Preston, then you’re already helping social enterprises. It’s about selling goods and services and then using the profits to help others in the community.

“I work with so many people across Lancashire that do amazing work often with vulnerable people, in difficult circumstances and with limited funds and I want to see all of them considered for a national honour in the future.”

Selnet CEO Liz Tapner said “Huge congratulations to Alistair on this fantastic achievement! Alistair is an advocate for the sector in Blackpool and as part of the Selnet Business support team has supported many individuals and organisations across Lancashire to realise both their business and social ambitions. Alistair’s enthusiasm for our sector is huge and this is well deserved recognition”.

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Selnet have again drawn the UK’s social enterprise spotlight on Lancashire, with two members of the team receiving national Top 100 recognition in the UK’s Women in Social Enterprise WISE100 Awards.

The annual NatWest WISE100 recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business. Produced annually by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, the WISE100 – Women in Social Enterprise 100 – recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business.

Selnet CEO Liz was named in the Top 100 having been nominated in the ‘Social Business Leader of the Year’ category, which recognises a CEO or senior manager with more than three years of career experience building revenue and social impact success. This recognition reflects overall qualities as well as successes during the past year. This follows a string of high profile awards including the UK’s most influential Woman in Social Enterprise at the Social Enterprise UK Awards a year ago, and recognition as a Northern Power Woman in February.

Partnership Manager Donna Sadler was also named in the WISE100 as Selnet’s own Anchor-woman, recognising her as a woman who keeps things moving and gets things done, often behind the scenes, and may not necessarily be defined as a leader in social enterprise.

Earlier this year Selnet was recognised as one of the UK’s top Social Enterprises at the SE100 Awards.

‘Wonder Women of UK social enterprise’

Names were selected this year from almost 300 nominations submitted by the public, with the final 100 revealed at a special celebration event at NatWest’s conference centre in Bishopsgate, central London. 

The awards event followed our very first WISEUP event – a day of learning and networking for women in the WISE100 network, delving into real-life business challenges and debating the role of women in social enterprise. Speakers on the day included Mursal Hedayat, co-founder and CEO of social enterprise Chatterbox and Sam Smethers, CEO of the gender equality campaigning organisation Fawcett Society. The evening celebration is to be opened by the campaigner against modern slavery and member of the House of Lords, Baroness Lola Young.

The WISE100 judges for this third annual celebration of female leadership were: Mary Rose Gunn, CEO at The Fore; Celia Hodson, founder and CEO at Hey Girls; Niamh Goggin, director at Small Change; Bayo Adelaja, ‘chief do-er’ at Do it Now Now; Parveen Bird, director at The Big Issue; and Jo Hand, founder of Giki. They were supported by a judging panel with representatives from both Pioneers Post and NatWest, including CEO of Social & Community Capital, Megan Peat.

Read more on who made the list in each of the six categories – and for more insight and inspiration from leading women in social enterprise, have a look at the WISE100 Collection. 

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