Topic: Awards

The West Midlands Social Economy Awards 2025 will celebrate organisations and individuals delivering outstanding social value across our region.

The awards recognise charities, social enterprises, co-operatives, community businesses, and also public and private sector organisations that deliver real social value.

This year’s awards feature 12 categories, split into three groups:

Social Economy Group Categories

Open to any social economy organisation that trades for a social purpose rather than personal profit.

• Excellence in Community Impact – recognising a significant contribution to local communities and the economy.
• Excellence in Creative Impact – celebrating organisations using arts, culture, or creative practice to deliver positive change.
• Excellence in Tech Impact – for organisations harnessing technology and innovation to address social or environmental challenges.
• Excellence in Health Impact – recognising impact in delivering health or social care benefits in the WMCA area.
• Excellence in Green Impact – for organisations making a positive contribution to the environment and transition to Net Zero.
• Excellence in Youth Impact – celebrating organisations that have made a positive difference to the lives of young people (under 25).

Individual Social Economy Organisations

Categories for specific types of social economy organisations. Entrants can also be considered in Group 1 without submitting a separate application.

• Start-up Enterprise of the Year – for new organisations under 2 years old showing rapid growth in business and social impact.
• Co-operative of the Year – recognising co-operatives making a significant impact through growth, employment or community benefit.
• Community Business of the Year – celebrating community-owned or led businesses delivering positive social outcomes.
• Social Enterprise of the Year – recognising outstanding contribution in terms of revenue growth, employment or social impact.

Public and Private Organisations

Recognising corporate and public sector bodies supporting the social economy.

• Public Sector Organisation of the Year – for public bodies contributing to the growth and engagement of social economy organisations.
• Corporate Organisation of the Year – for private sector businesses supporting and engaging with the social economy.

Key Dates

• Nominations Open: Tuesday 21 July 2025
• Nominations Close: Friday 19 September 2025
• Shortlist Announced: Wednesday 1 October 2025
• Awards Dinner: Thursday 20 November 2025

Sandwell has a large network of social enterprises and community businesses. We encourage all eligible organisations to put themselves forward and gain recognition for the difference they are making.

Submit your nomination before Friday 19 September.

Business leaders from across the region came together this week to gain insight into what it takes to win one of the UK’s most coveted business accolades

The King’s Award for Enterprise Masterclass, hosted at Sandwell College on Tuesday 10 June, provided expert advice, inspiration and practical tips for businesses interested in applying for the King’s Award for Enterprise.

Celebrating excellence and sharing insight

The event opened with a welcome from Lisa Capper, CEO and Principal of The Sandwell Colleges, who highlighted the colleges’ commitment to supporting skills and enterprise across the region.

Attendees then heard from Derek Anderson CBE, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, who underlined the value and significance of the King’s Awards in recognising business excellence across categories including Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.

Tom Westley DL, Chair of the West Midlands Lieutenancy, delivered a presentation explaining the application process, offering insights into what makes a standout submission and encouraging more SMEs to get involved.

This was followed by a presentation from Leanne Jordan, COO of Nourish3d, who shared her business’ award-winning journey and spoke about the tangible benefits of winning, from PR and brand awareness to recruitment and credibility.

Local voices, national success

After a networking break, Sandwell Business Ambassador, Paul Hull, Managing Director of KMB Shipping Group, gave a powerful presentation on how the award helped grow his company’s international trade, driving a 1,000% increase in global enquiries and a 25% uplift in international turnover.

The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A panel featuring Paul Hull, Leanne Jordan, Tom Westley DL, and John Wood DL, where guests had the opportunity to pose questions directly to those with first-hand experience of the awards.

Several Sandwell Business Ambassadors were in attendance, offering guidance to businesses considering applying. Ambassadors Paul Hull and John Wood DL played key roles at the event, with Paul delivering his story and John participating in the Q&A panel. You can read more about their involvement in this news article.

Apply now for the 2026 awards

Applications for the 2026 King’s Award for Enterprise are now open and close on 9 September 2025.

Sandwell’s business community achieved huge success last night at the Express & Star Business Awards 2025, with two local companies securing top accolades and another earning recognition as a finalist.

The prestigious awards ceremony, held in Wolverhampton, celebrated outstanding achievements across the Black Country and beyond.

Doocey Group and A&M Pure Precision

Tipton-based Doocey Group, a family run civil engineering firm, won the Growth & Innovation Award, sponsored by Express & Star. The judges commended the company’s strategic expansion into high growth sectors such as electric vehicle charging and green energy. Doocey Group’s success stems from securing major contracts and its commitment to nurturing talent through their apprenticeship programmes, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of Sandwell’s economy.

Meanwhile, A&M Pure Precision, based in Smethwick, was crowned Manufacturing Champion of the Year, sponsored by Collins Aerospace. Renowned for crafting high value, bespoke components for industries like aerospace and Formula 1, the company impressed the judges with its investment in state-of-the-art machinery and staff development. Its impressive client portfolio, including industry giants like BAE and Rolls Royce, highlights their position as a leader in precision engineering.

Lord Combustion Services

Oldbury’s Lord Combustion Services also made its mark as a finalist for the Sustainability Award. The company has earned praise for its leadership in providing environmentally friendly commercial heating and hot water solutions. This recognition builds on their recent spotlight for sustainable practices, read more.

A showcase of Sandwell’s economic strength

The Express & Star Business Awards 2025 highlighted the diversity of the region’s business landscape. Sandwell’s winners and finalists exemplify the borough’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and enterprise.

For the full list of winners and judges’ insights, read this article by the Express and Star.

Oldbury-based commercial heating specialists Lord Combustion Services was recognised as a finalist for the Sustainability Award last night at the 2025 Express & Star Business Awards. While the company didn’t take home the trophy, being shortlisted highlights the positive impact their making on the region’s journey to net zero.

Lord supports over 1,000 customers across the West Midlands. The business is known for helping clients reduce emissions and improve efficiency, particularly through retrofitting older buildings with energy-efficient heating and hot water systems.

In recognition of their success, Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, recently visited Lord’s headquarters in Oldbury to learn more about the firm’s contribution to the region’s sustainability efforts. During the visit, she met with Lord Combustion Services Director Emma Tibbetts and was given a tour of the facility, including insight into the company’s progress with heat pump installations, hybrid systems and renewable energy technologies.

A sustainability driven approach

Lord Combustion Services has made significant strides in reducing its environmental footprint. The company signed the West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge in 2022 and has since implemented a wide range of initiatives, including transitioning its fleet to hybrid vehicles, refurbishing and recycling equipment and supporting clients with low-carbon heating upgrades.

Lord Combustion Services Director Emma Tibbetts said:

“We were able to talk about the progress on sustainable heating and hot water solutions including heat pumps as well as our work enabling our customers to reduce their energy usage, manage budgets and run their operations more efficiently.

We were really pleased that as our local MP Sarah Coombes was able to visit Lord Combustion Services.”

Parliamentary recognition

Speaking after her visit, Sarah Coombes MP said:

“It was fantastic to see the impact that Lord Combustion Services is making by introducing energy-efficient heating and hot water solutions to businesses and organisations across the West Midlands.

With increasing focus on net zero initiatives, their work in leading the way on new technology such as heat pumps is playing a vital role in supporting the economic success of local businesses.”

Serving the region

With a workforce of nearly 50 and clients including NHS sites, over 300 schools, public sector organisations and local landmarks like Edgbaston Stadium, Lord continues to play a key role in maintaining and upgrading essential infrastructure. Their commitment to sustainability sets a strong example for businesses navigating net zero.

Lord Combustion Services wasn’t the only Sandwell success at the Express & Star Business Awards 2025. Two other local businesses won top awards, showcasing our borough’s strength and innovation. Read more about Sandwell’s big wins.

The information for this article came from Lord Combustion Services read it here.

The Express & Star Business Awards are back for 2025, once again shining a spotlight on the businesses that help drive economic growth, innovation and community impact across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

Recognising success across a wide range of industries, these prestigious awards celebrate the resilience, talent and achievements of businesses large and small.

With 13 categories available, including two new additions for 2025, the awards provide an incredible opportunity for local businesses to gain recognition. Categories include Young Business of the Year, Growth and Innovation, Manufacturing Champion, Sustainability Award, and Business of the Year, ensuring that organisations from all sectors have a chance to showcase their accomplishments.

Why enter?

Being shortlisted or winning an Express & Star Business Award not only celebrates hard work and dedication but also raises a company’s profile, enhances its reputation and boosts team morale. Past winners have benefited from increased visibility, new opportunities and valuable networking connections.

The awards are free to enter, making them accessible to all eligible businesses within the Express & Star circulation area, which includes the Black Country, South Staffordshire and North Worcestershire. The closing date for entries is March 28, 2025.

The awards evening

Finalists will be invited to an exclusive black-tie awards ceremony on Thursday 5 June 2025, at The Halls, Wolverhampton. This highly anticipated event will bring together business leaders, industry experts, and civic representatives for an evening of networking and recognition. Hosted by Des Coleman, the night will celebrate the region’s most successful and innovative businesses.

The Express & Star Business Awards are a great chance to highlight your success and share your story.

To enter or learn more about the awards here.

Don’t miss your chance to submit an entry for the Black Country Chamber Business Awards – celebrating resilience, innovation and impact in our region.

The annual Black Country Chamber Business Awards will this year announce winners in fourteen different categories. The awards are free to enter and the deadline for submissions is Monday 16 September. For 2024, the awards will take place on Thursday 21 November at the University of Wolverhampton.

Why attend the Black Country Chamber Business Awards?

Attending the Black Country Chamber Business Awards is more than just a chance to win an accolade. It’s a networking opportunity, where you can connect with some of the most influential business leaders in our region. The event also offers the chance to celebrate the achievements of your peers, gain inspiration from their successes and reflect on your own company’s contributions to the local economy.

Being part of this prestigious event can elevate your business profile, open doors to new collaborations, and offer a platform to showcase your commitment to excellence.

Previous winners

Dudley-based MET Recruitment won the Excellence in Professional Services Award in 2022. The company’s commercial director Nella Share said: “Our experience has been so valuable. It has opened doors to new relationships and allowed us to demonstrate the high standards we offer on a regional stage.”

Lisa Cowley, CEO of the Beacon Centre (the 2021 winner of Large Business of the Year), echoed Nella’s words. Lisa said: “Both the event and the award have led to opening doors to new local connections and supporters, as well as providing a fantastic news story for us to share across all of our channels and giving a boost to employee morale. If you are considering entering your organisation, I would really recommend doing so.”