The first Social Business Excellence Awards 2014 (SBEAs) were given on November 10 to individuals and organisations for their contribution to society or for introducing innovative programmes in Greece, following an initiative of the British Council in Greece, development consortium Prosvasis and other organisations.

The awards ceremony was part of the the 2nd Conference for Social Entrepreneurship "Doing Business the Other Way."

The Awards are under the auspices of the Development and Competitiveness Ministry and are supported by the European Commission (EC) and European Parliament offices in Greece. Its aim is "to promote the concept of social entrepreneurship to the public by showcasing examples of companies, which have demonstrated impressive results," according to Panos Carvounis, Head of the EC Representation office in Greece

Some of the businesses include Myrtillo Café, recipient of the Social Enterprise of the Year Award, which employs staff from vulnerable social groups. The recipient of the Community Impact Award is "Schedia" ("life raft") the newest and 122nd member of the Glasgow-based International Network of Street Papers, a family of publications distributed by people from struggling social groups in 40 countries around the world. It is issued by the nonprofit "Diogenis," which since 2010 has provided support to people from the homeless, the unemployed and other disadvantaged people. The Green Social Enterprise Award goes to SCE Gi Thessalis, founded in the central Greek city in central Greece, by 46 farmers, to produce fruit and vegetables and herbs through environmentally-friendly processes that follow an Integrated Management System of cultivation established by Agrocert.

More information: Green Social Enterprise 2014 Press Release (in Greek)