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2 nominations from readers

• Amanda should win this award because her unique passion and commitment has been the driving force behind Eco-Actif's stellar success over the past two years. Her actions have enabled some of Eco-Actif's staff to become working Directors of the enterprise and to carry on working in the jobs they love, learning about running a business whilst continuing to serve their community. We share the decision making process, but Amanda is the ideas person - her passion for life is overwhelming and she believes that everyone has the right to opportunities. She has battled her own difficulties, having herself come from a deprived background that denied her educational opportunities, but her empathy, love of people and commercial grasp have contributed to her excellent reputation amongst colleagues, partners and funders and have contributed hugely to Eco-Actif's success. When Amanda first started Eco-Actif, she applied for an Unltd Level One award - however the UnLtd team were so impressed they offered her a Level 2, which she used to launch the new organisation, which was then three unpaid directors. She also persuaded Sutton Council to fund a launch ceremony at City Hall, thus placing Eco-Actif on the map from Day One! Amanda's reputation as a service provider was central to our gaining Jobcentre Plus preferred provider status and thus keeping and renewing our core contracts - since then we have gone on to gain funding from the LDA, the Home Office and variious other funding streams as Amanda has guided Eco-Actif to commercial and organisational success. Along the way, Amanda has also guided and nurtured emerging social enterprises, some run by people in our client groups.

  The last two years have been exciting and interesting, sometimes frightening for all of us, but Amanda has shouldered the responsibility of running the Company which now employes nine people. Winning this award would acknowledge and celebrate her hard work - we are already members of SEL, but Amanda would make very good use of the consultancy prize.

  Nominated by Anna Burke, 11 May 2008

• Eco-Actif Services CIC should win this award to acknowledge their hard work and total commitment over the past two years and their success in blending their drive to solve social problems with overcoming the challenges of forming a successful, ethical business.

  When Amanda and the team set out to make Eco-Actif into a social enterprise, they had a great deal of experience with the client group and in public sector project management, but very little commercial experience or knowledge. The past two years have been the steepest of learning curves, always fascinating and sometimes terrifying, as the team have learned about finance, company law, marketing, business regulations etc…. The team have taken advantage of every bit of free help that is out there (and there is a lot) to soak up the knowledge and expertise that has turned them from public sector workers to business people with a huge social conscience.

  Two years ago, Eco-Actif consisted of three unpaid staff running the two Jobcentre Plus contracts using their redundancy money to launch the business. The first year of trading saw the company becoming financially viable and applying for alternative funding streams to provide a healthy mix of services and lessen the dependency on Jobcentre Plus.

  Year Two has seen new contracts running successfully, a new branch in Southwark and the consolidation of Eco-Actif’s reputation for contract delivery. The challenge for the next three years is to continue with responsible expansion whilst continuing to live by Eco-Actif’s values and focusing steadily on our clientele and on improving life chances for some of the most marginalised people in our communities.

  This award would not only acknowledge Eco-Actif’s achievements but provide consultancy and support to enable them to continue to improve and develop.

  Nominated by Anna Burke, 11 May 2008