The Social Enterprise Award Scheme 2017 is open for applications from today (July 10) to August 11. Local social enterprises (SEs) are invited to take part in the scheme.
 
     The Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and the Social Enterprise Advisory Committee (SEAC) launched the Award Scheme in 2011 to give recognition to outstanding SEs operating in Hong Kong with the aims of sharing the best practices in the SE sector and promoting SEs' caring culture of "Business for Good" in the community.
 
     This year, there will be two main award categories under the scheme. Outstanding SE Awards will commend local SEs with outstanding performance or high popularity, while the Friends of SE Awards will recognise the efforts of individuals or organisations in supporting SEs so as to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration for promoting the development of SEs.
 
Outstanding Social Enterprise Awards
 
     There are 10 Outstanding Social Enterprise Awards, namely the Outstanding SE Awards (champion, first runner-up, second runner-up and three meritorious awards), the Outstanding Social Impact Award, the Outstanding Marketing Award, the Outstanding Innovation Award and the Most Popular SE Award. The winner of the Most Popular SE Award will be selected by the public through online voting to be held between September and October, while the other awards will be chosen by a selection panel which comprising representatives from different sectors.
 
Friends of Social Enterprise Awards
 
     Local SEs can nominate individuals or organisations that have provided actual support (e.g. funding, consultancy services or publicity assistance) to them as Friends of Social Enterprise. Individuals or organisations that pass the assessment bar will be presented with a Friends of SE Award. Outstanding candidates will be further considered for an Outstanding Mentor of Social Enterprise Award or an Outstanding Partner of Social Enterprise Award. The number of these two outstanding awards will be no more than 10.
 
     The award presentation ceremony of the Social Enterprise Award Scheme 2017 will be held on November 8 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Please visit the website of the Social Enterprise Award Scheme (www.se-award.hk) or the Facebook page to learn more about the scheme and application methods. 
 
     The HAB has always promoted the development of SEs. In addition to providing funding support for SEs, the HAB also facilitates the operation of SEs through a range of supporting measures, which include providing support for SE capacity building, assisting collaboration between SEs and other sectors, and strengthening publicity efforts, with the aim of promoting SEs in the community. 
 

Ends/Monday, July 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00

NNNN