Award categories

The 2009 Upstarts Awards will recognise excellence in all aspects of social enterprise. This year's awards seek to showcase individuals and businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems on a community level.

The judges particularly looked for evidence of sustainability, community impact, and skills development.

Upstarts Achievement Award

The judges are looking for an individual, other than an elected official, who has contributed to a regeneration and renewal scheme on behalf of a community or neighbourhood and has overcome the inevitable setbacks, challenges and objections along the way.

Best Community Renewal Project

In this category the judges will be looking for the community-based project that has renewed or invigorated a community spirit for those that live and work in the relevant area.

Best Local Authority for Regeneration

Judges will award the prize to the local authority that has set the highest standards in its regeneration projects and so leads the way in renewing a community or a neighbourhood for the benefit of those that live and work in the area.

Best Social Enterprise Serving a Community

The winner of this award will be the organisation that clearly represents the qualities and attributes of a successful social enterprise and that serves the needs of a neighbourhood community with either goods or services and thereby contributes to social renewal.

Best Developer in Regeneration

With this award the judges are looking for a champion within the construction and development sector. The winner will have demonstrated excellence at every stage of the regeneration scheme from conception through consultation to completion and will have shown a commitment to working with all stakeholders.

Best Elected Advocate for Regeneration

Judges will look for evidence that the elected representative has brought together stakeholders, encouraged partnerships and brokered solutions to the challenges that beset these schemes.


Useful links

More information on the category criteria
What are the rules?
Click here for useful tips
Who won last year?

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Make a nomination

Making a nomination is quick and easy with our simple online form. You can make a nomination now. Or read the nomination tips. Or check out the entries so far.