The Long Table is a finalist in the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the country’s most innovative and impactful businesses.
Social enterprises are mission-led businesses that reinvest or donate most of their profits for a social or environmental purpose. The Long Table is a business that exists to answer the question of ‘what if everyone in our community had access to great food and people to eat it with’? through providing hyper local restaurant quality meals always Pay As You Can to tens of thousands of people every year.
The Long Table beat stiff competition to make the shortlist for the UK Social Enterprise Awards this year, which attracted more than 400 entries from all over the country. Awards recognise sector-leading excellence and innovation across a diverse range of criteria, and The Long Table is a finalist in the ‘Consumer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year’ category.
Will North, General Manager at The Long Table, said: ‘to be recognised for this award is beyond our wildest dreams. We are looking to show how hospitality can be done differently and to be recognised in this category makes us know we are doing something right!
The Long Table will join other finalists and VIP guests at a prestigious awards ceremony in London’s iconic Roundhouse on Thursday 30 November, when the winners will be revealed.
The Awards are run by Social Enterprise UK, the leading membership body for social enterprises. There are more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, employing around two million people and contributing £60bn to the national economy each year – while also tackling some of the biggest challenges facing people and planet.
Peter Holbrook CBE, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, commented: “Our Awards are the ultimate showcase of the impact and excellence of social enterprises. Those who made the shortlist are a beacon of innovation, optimism and resilience in turbulent times.
“These are trailblazers and standard-setters for better business, making profit but not putting it before people and planet – and they do all this under the same immense pressures as other businesses, with the long-term impacts of Covid and a national cost of living crisis.
“The challenges we face as a society demand new approaches and a shift in how businesses – big and small – act. Social enterprises celebrated at our Awards are the brightest stars in a brilliant sector, giving us all inspiration and motivation to do business better.”
