Forward Carers is proud to announce that we have once again been recognised as one of the UK’s leading social enterprises, having been named in the NatWest SE100 Index for the fifth time.
The SE100 Index, created by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, recognises 100 of the most impactful and pioneering social enterprises across the UK each year.
This year’s recognition was made even more special at the 2026 NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards, where Forward Carers:
- Won the Social Business Pioneer award
- Received Highly Commended recognition in Public Sector Pioneer
- Received Highly Commended recognition in Diversity Pioneer
- Received Highly Commended recognition in Pioneering Woman – recognising Chantell Marler, Programme Director
The awards ceremony in Manchester brought together social enterprises and impact leaders from across the UK to celebrate innovation, collaboration and social impact.
It was a privilege to spend the evening surrounded by so many inspiring organisations working to strengthen communities and create positive change.
You can read more about the recognition below:
- The Social Business Pioneer award recognised Forward Carers’ commitment to innovation, impact and systems change, including developing new approaches to supporting unpaid Carers, strengthening partnership working and embedding social value across our work.
- Our Highly Commended recognition in Diversity Pioneer reflects an important area of ongoing learning and development for the organisation. Over the past year, Forward Carers has worked closely with partners and unpaid Carers to better understand barriers and inequalities affecting different communities, including through equality-focused engagement and focus groups with Carers.
- Our Highly Commended recognition in Public Sector Pioneer reflects the strength of our partnership work with Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Children’s Trust to deliver support for unpaid Carers of all ages across Birmingham.
- We are especially proud to see Chantell recognised nationally through the Pioneering Woman category. Her leadership continues to shape Forward Carers’ culture, values and ambition, always keeping unpaid Carers and communities at the heart of our work. As a finalist, Chantell was also recognised in the first-ever SE100 list of Pioneering Impact Leaders in the UK.
Receiving national recognition in both the SE100 Index and the Impact Pioneer Awards reflects the collective effort of our staff team, Board, commissioners, partners and the Carers who continue to shape and strengthen our work.
We would particularly like to thank the commissioners who enable this work to happen, the partners who shape how we work, and the Carers who are at the heart of everything we do.
Commenting on the recognition, Simon Fenton, Forward Carers CEO, said:
“To be recognised in the SE100 Index for the fifth time, to win the Social Business Pioneer award and to receive recognition across multiple national categories is an incredible achievement for Forward Carers.
This recognition reflects the passion and commitment of our team, the strength of our partnerships and the voices of the Carers we work alongside every day.”
Forward Carers would like to congratulate all of this year’s finalists and winners,and thank Pioneers Post and NatWest Social & Community Capital for continuing to champion the social enterprise sector.
You can read more about the NatWest SE100 Impact Pioneer Awards here:
