Businesses supporting charities in London, boosting employment for disadvantaged and minority groups, and promoting financial literacy around the UK are among the 22 companies and individuals competing in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards.

The scheme is held annually by the City of London Corporation to recognise and reward London-based companies for their commitment to responsible business and social impact.

And for the first time since the awards began in 1987, there is an individual prize – in the new ‘Social Impact Leadership’ category - to pay tribute to one employee who has gone the extra mile for the benefit of society.

Other categories include ‘The Lord Mayor’s Special Award for Leadership in Financial Literacy’, the ‘Community Partners Award’ and for businesses who have begun to have a social impact in Greater London within the last three years, the ‘Heart of the City Award’.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Lord Mayor’s official residence, The Mansion House, on Tuesday 10 October, hosted by compẻre and judge, Tim Campbell, who recently joined Lord Alan Sugar as his aide on the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice.’

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nicholas Lyons, said:

“These 22 companies and individuals are doing sterling work to benefit communities in Greater London and across the UK and in being shortlisted, they have already proved to be a credit to themselves and their firms.

“However, only six of them will be leaving The Mansion House with one of our distinctive trophies, in recognition of how they are making a tangible difference to people’s lives.

“I look forward to welcoming the shortlisted candidates to the awards ceremony in October for this unique celebration of their commitment to responsible business.”

IN FULL – AWARD CATEGORIES, SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES, AND PROJECTS:

Social Impact Award

The Social Impact Award is for firms who are using their resources, expertise and influence to support a number of small businesses, social enterprises or charities in Greater London to start up, grow or become more sustainable and impactful.

·      Ardmore – Social Impact Award

·      Formation Architects – Formation Community

·      Mace Construct Ltd – The Paper Garden at Canada Water

·      Sapphire Systems – Sapphire London Responsible Business Programme

·      St. George Plc – Transforming Tomorrow: Community Plans

·      Wates Group and Impact Hub London – ASSETS – Assisting Social Enterprises to Succeed

The Lord Mayor’s Special Award for Leadership in Financial Literacy  

This award draws on one of Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons’s priorities – Financial Inclusion for All – which focuses on promoting financial education in order to help people improve their mastery of money and, in turn, improve their social mobility

·       Dot Dot Fire – Money Wise Lesson

·       HSBC Young Enterprise – Money Heroes

·       KPMG UK – National Numeracy Day

Social Impact Leadership – NEW CATEGORY

This special award is for an individual within a company who has made an outstanding contribution to delivering social impact.

·       BE Offices – Julie Tucker

·       PEW Electrical Distributors Ltd – Jason Clark

·       The Creative Floor Group – Shaheed Peera

Inclusive Employment Award

This award celebrates businesses that remove barriers to employment and progression for disadvantaged, under-represented or minority groups, creating a more diverse and inclusive London workforce.

·       Simian Risk – Simian Risk Management

·       Standard Chartered Bank - Futuremakers RISE Employability programme

Community Partners Award

This award celebrates community organisations working in partnership with businesses to achieve excellence in social impact. It recognises good practice and innovation in building and maintaining effective cross-sector partnerships that benefit Greater London.

·       ELBA, East London Business Alliance with Linklaters, Société Générale, Société Générale UK Foundation, UBS – Evolve – Corporate Community Partnership Strengthening VCS in East London

·       Inspiration for All and KPMG – Inspiring Partnerships programme

·       Local Village Network and Deutsche Bank – Local Village Network’s Amplify Me, in partnership with Deutsche Bank

·       Mediorite and PwC – Mediorite & Social Impact Partnership

·       Speak Street and Mishcon de Reya – Speak Street Art Talks, supported by Mishcon de Reya   

·       Tempo Haringey Council, City Bridge Trust, L&Q Placemakers fund, CGL and City of London Corporation, More Yoga, Uber Boats, Keats House, Go Ape, Moo Canoes, The British Museum - Tempo Time Credits London

Heart of the City Award

This award celebrates businesses that have begun to have a social impact in Greater London within the last three years. They will have demonstrated a strategic commitment to tackling a social issue(s) and put the foundations in place to deliver sustainable impact into the future. This award is especially small business (SME)-friendly, but open to businesses of all sizes.

·      10x Banking – Future of Tech

·      ADP Architecture - New impact strategy (including B Corp, SBE Toolkit, Impact Lead)

The Dragon Awards are organised by Heart of the City, the City of London Corporation-funded charity which supports hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises with their responsible business programme.

Further information about the Dragon Awards can be found at www.dragonawards.org.uk

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For media enquiries, please contact:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Arts, Culture, and Heritage), City of London Corporation / 07795 333060 / andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the Dragon Awards:

Since they were founded in 1987, the Awards have attracted high quality applications from a variety of companies and community organisations throughout Greater London and the UK. Dragon Award winners are recognised for their achievements in social impact. All finalists are invited to an annual awards ceremony hosted by the Lord Mayor at The Mansion House. This prestigious event presents a chance for applicants to share experiences and innovative practices in Responsible Business. It is an opportunity to find out more about ways in which London-based businesses are actively helping to fight social exclusion and build stronger communities. www.dragonawards.org.uk