Win a chance to shadow the Managing Director of the Eden Project

20 November 2008 is Social Enterprise Day - a chance to celebrate and promote social enterprise. This year, we want to know how social enterprise is transforming lives – RISE has organized a photography competition that is looking for the best photographs that show how social enterprises are changing the world one community at a time - and we want to hear from the people who experience it every day. 

RISE is running a regional heat for a national competition. The regional winner for South West England will have the chance to shadow Gaynor Coley, Managing Director of the Eden Project and then be eligible to compete for the national first prize. 

The deadline for entries is 28 October. National and regional winners will be announced on Social Enterprise Day (20 November 2008).

Social enterprises are businesses set up to tackle a social or environmental need – they reinvest the bulk of their products in order to achieve their social or environmental goals.  Well known examples include The Eden Project, Bristol Community Transport, Devon Doctors, South Molton Recycle, Mid-Devon Community Recycling, Zebra Collective, Community Foster Care, Bosence Farm Community and The Big Issue, but social enterprises operate in many sectors across the whole of the UK.

The regional competition is supported by the South West RDA.  The overall winner will be chosen from across England by the Social Enterprise Ambassadors and the national competition is being coordinated by the Social Enterprise Coalition. To find out more, please visit www.rise-sw.co.uk/photocomp

Notes to Editors

According to Government figures, there are 55,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27 billion per year.  Social enterprises account for 5% of all businesses with employees and contribute £8.4 billion per year to the UK economy.

For further information from RISE please contact Anne Mountjoy e: annemountjoy@rise-sw.co.uk; t: 01392 456532; m: 07812 029 228

RISE is the voice for South West social enterprise. RISE is supported by the South West Regional Development Agency. www.rise-sw.co.uk

The competition is being supported by the South West Regional Development Agency, see www.southwestrda.org.uk for more information