Announcing the award, judges told the 1,200 attendees: “Hertfordshire Community Meals provides valuable, and valued, support to its customers; creates opportunities for the 'hard to employ'; and embodies its social purpose in all aspects of its operations. Its diversification into other services is a fantastic example of how innovation is not always technology-led.”
HCM chief executive Sarah Wren told Cost Sector Catering: "I'm so surprised. Never in my wildest dreams did I think they'd actually award it to us.
"It's particularly exciting, because it's great to have a food business that's a charitable social enterprise recognised at a national event.
"I hope it highlights the importance of this service, particularly at a time when it is under such a threat from funding cuts."
Opening the awards, Prime Minister David Cameron said British entrepreneurs should be celebrated.
“You are the people who keep the wheels turning. You are the people who don’t just create wealth and work, but hope and opportunity. For that, I want to say thank you. And congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted.”
In total, there were more than 140 finalists in the National Business Awards across 17 categories.
Organisers said the Social Enterprise of the Year category ‘celebrates the organisations that exist to address a social or environmental need, reinvesting profit or surplus from trade to achieve its social mission, this award recognises those achieving the greatest impact while demonstrating excellence in all aspects of enterprise – from innovation, staff engagement and customer focus to growth, leadership and financial performance’.
The shortlist for this award was:
*Ashley Community & Housing Ltd
*Belu Water Ltd
*Bromford
*City Health Care Partnership CIC
*Evenbreak
*Give as you Live
*Global Action Plan
*Hertfordshire Community Meals
*PM Training
*SWFT Clinical Services Ltd
Of the businesses shortlisted across all award categories, 24% had a turnover of less than £5m, 26% reported a turnover between £5m and £25m, 15% more than £1bn and 10%were not-for-profit organisations.
The event was hosted by Sky News’ Dermot Murnaghan and Olympic sailing champion Sir Ben Ainslie was the keynote speaker. Entertainment came from impressionist Rory Bremner.
Dame Helen Alexander, chair of Judges, said: “Chairing the National Business Awards’ judging panel has once again demonstrated that British businesses are continually evolving, innovating and improving across all industries.
“I congratulate all of the worthy winners, as well as our Future Champions and all finalists, for demonstrating the attributes necessary to grow their businesses and thus the UK economy.”
Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards claims to be the UK’s most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business.
Now in its 13th year, the National Business Awards connects the nations’ professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events and is UBM plc’s flagship awards programme.