Recognition from Pioneers Post and NatWest Social & Community Capital celebrates values-led enterprise and inclusive leadership.
We’re proud to share that Forward Carers has been recognised twice in the SE100 Index 2025 — named as one of the UK’s Top 100 Social Enterprises, and selected as a finalist in the SE100 Social Business Awards in the Diversity Pioneer category.
The SE100, created by Pioneers Post and NatWest Social & Community Capital, highlights outstanding UK-based social enterprises making a measurable difference in society while running resilient, values-led businesses. To be recognised in both the Top 100 list and as an award finalist is an honour.
Why SE100 Matters to Us
For Forward Carers, inclusion in the SE100 is more than an accolade. The application process has consistently served as a valuable tool for growth — challenging us to reflect honestly on how we capture and demonstrate our impact, and helping us strengthen governance, accountability and inclusion across the organisation.
Last year, we chose not to apply. We instead focused on internal development: expanding how we measure our impact, building our Carers Voice co-production group, and exploring our environmental ambitions. It felt like a risk to step back from the awards cycle, but in hindsight, it was the right decision — one that allowed us to deepen our commitment to quality, equity and lived experience.
This year, returning to the SE100 with renewed clarity and purpose, it means even more to see our progress recognised.
Championing Diversity as a Core Belief
We are especially proud to have been named a Finalist in the Diversity Pioneer category, which recognises social enterprises demonstrating real leadership in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.
At Forward Carers, diversity is not an add-on — it’s a core belief embedded in our 10-year strategy: “Listening to the voice of Carers ensures we meet the needs of and are accessible to all Carers.”
Over the past year, we’ve worked to embed this principle into our organisation — from how we design and deliver services, to how we shape workplace culture and build partnerships. We’ve done this through focused actions, including Equality Focus Groups, inclusive recruitment, staff training, and creating safe spaces for reflective dialogue.
We’re the first to say that we haven’t always got everything right. But by embracing discomfort, opening ourselves up to feedback, and inviting honest conversations, we’ve grown — and we’ll continue to grow. These moments of learning have helped us recognise gaps, shift perspectives and improve how we reach and support the full diversity of unpaid Carers.
Our Thanks
Anna Smith, Executive Manager at Forward Carers said, “We’d like to thank the unpaid Carers at the heart of Forward Carers — especially our Carers Voice participants, Carer Ambassadors and community partners — for their ongoing insight, honesty and challenge. Thanks also to our Delivery Partners and team members, whose passion, skill and care create the foundations for everything we do.”
From everyone at Forward Carers, congratulations to all the other inspiring organisations recognised in the SE100 this year. There is so much we can learn from one another as we collectively work toward fairer, more inclusive futures.
We’re proud of this recognition. But more than that, we’re proud of the shared values and vision that make social enterprise such a powerful force for good.
