Support for awards really is the business
sponsoring the social enterprise award was an obvious choice for the BIC,” Mr McEldon added.
More start-up businesses are choosing the social enterprise approach and the BIC aims to ‘inspire and support entrepreneurs to not only set up this type of business but to continue to seek new opportunities and scale-up.
“Social enterprises have an increasingly important role in economic growth and they have the enthusiasm and determination to make the world a better place.
“Insponsoringtheawards, we’re encouraging businesses to showcase their success and the great impact they are making in creating positive change in our community.”
He highlighted one company – North Star Counselling CIC – as ‘a fantastic example of a Sunderland-based social enterprise that continues to make a difference.
“The counselling service was established to help plug a gap, reaching children who are struggling with mental health issues and to normalise the topic and reduce the risk of crisis.”
Yet again, we have fantastic backers on board to help make the Portfolio Awards a success.
Sunderland City Council is again our headline sponsor, and will sponsor our overall Business of the Year Award, as well as a Lifetime Achieve- ment award, which is in the sponsor’s gift.
It is also backing the contribution social enterprises make to the city in the Social Enterprise Award.
Other sponsors are Gen- too, BIC, Station Taxis, North- ern Rail, Stagecoach, The Bid, Station Taxis, SAFC, Utility Alliance, Northern, Brad- ley Hall, Sunderland College and the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. We thank them all for their invaluable support.