Pathway Group Proud to Support the Social Economy Awards 2025
For Pathway Group, supporting the Social Economy Awards is more than a sponsorship-it’s an extension of a shared mission to create social impact through skills, employability, and enterprise.
Since the inception of the Awards, Pathway Group has been a proud partner and advocate, helping shine a light on organisations that are driving inclusive growth, innovation, and community transformation across the West Midlands and beyond.
The Awards, held as part of the Social Economy Drive, recognise the outstanding work of social enterprises, community businesses, co-operatives, public bodies and corporate organisations that deliver measurable social value and strengthen the regional economy.
A Growing Force for Good
The social economy in the West Midlands continues to thrive-with over 9,000 organisations, employing nearly 103,000 people and generating an estimated £14 billion in turnover.
These numbers represent more than statistics; they represent lives changed, futures built, and communities supported.
Each year, the Social Economy Awards celebrate those organisations that are not only solving problems but doing so with creativity, integrity, and commercial sustainability. Categories span everything from Excellence in Community, Creative, Digital, Green, Health and Youth Impact to Social Enterprise of the Year, Co-operative of the Year, and Corporate and Public Sector Organisation of the Year.
Judging with Purpose
This year, Safaraz Ali, Co-Founder and CEO of Pathway Group, served as one of the judges, assessing entries based on their impact (40%), innovation (30%), and sustainability (30%).
Reflecting on the experience, he said:
The quality, depth and breadth of submissions this year have been truly exceptional. From grassroots organisations transforming neighbourhoods to large-scale initiatives reshaping systems, the social economy is proving that enterprise can be both compassionate and commercially sound.
These awards showcase the creativity, courage and collaboration that define our region-and they remind us that the social economy isn’t a side project; it’s the backbone of inclusive growth.
Long-Term Partnership and Shared Vision
Pathway Group’s relationship with the Awards and with iSE (Initiative for Social Enterprise) goes back to their earliest days. The partnership reflects a deep alignment of purpose: promoting social mobility, diversity, and lifelong learning through work, skills, and enterprise.
From supporting local employability programmes to celebrating social innovation at scale, Pathway’s role has always been to help amplify the impact of others-ensuring that the social economy continues to grow stronger, more visible, and better connected.
Long-Term Partnership and Shared Vision
Founded on the belief that “a job, a better job and a career” can transform lives, Pathway Group has spent over two decades driving economic and social mobility across the UK.
Through its training, skills, and employability programmes, Pathway works with employers, funders, and community partners to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
The Group’s ongoing sponsorship of the Social Economy Awards forms part of its wider commitment to supporting the changemakers, social entrepreneurs and innovators who are shaping a fairer, more inclusive future for all.