‘Derby Impact Awards’ celebrating local Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship take place on Thursday 20th November 2025

Social impact, innovation and inspiration will be celebrated at a new awards event in November. Celebrating outstanding contributions from social enterprises, entrepreneurial charities and impact businesses operating in Derby and Derbyshire, The Derby Impact Awards 2025 will recognise the people and ventures balancing profit with purpose.

Organised by Derby Social Ventures, the awards event aims to raise the profile of impact-driven entrepreneurship and inspire more people to start those ventures, helping position Derby as a hotspot for social innovation. From start-ups to established leaders, the awards champion social enterprises, entrepreneurial charities, B Corps and purpose-driven businesses, showcasing how enterprise can deliver social and environmental impact.

A selection of high-profile speakers and award presenters for the event include:

Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson; High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Sir Richard Fitzherbert; Marketing Derby MD John Forkin MBE; Cosy Direct CEO, Peter Ellse; Disability Direct Group CEO, Louise Moss; Nimbus Disability Director, Martin Austin; Culture Derby Chief Executive, Alix Manning-Fuller and the Leader of Derby City Council & Deputy Mayor of EMCCA, Cllr. Nadine Peatfield.

There is still a chance to nominate an individual or organisation for an award until 3^rd November 2025. The awards are free to enter through a simple application: make your application here. and the ten categories are:

• Enterprising Charity recognising a charity that has successfully built enterprise into its model.
• New Start Social Venture for ventures launched in the past 18 months which are already making a difference.
• Young Social Entrepreneur celebrating an individual aged under 25 demonstrating leadership, initiative, and vision.
• Young Social Venture for ventures led by teams mainly aged under 25.
• Cultural/Creative Impact Venture recognising a creative or cultural organisation using arts or creativity to deliver meaningful social or environmental outcomes.
• Best Impact Business for a private business balancing profit with purpose.
• Social Venture Champion celebrating an individual who actively promotes, supports, and champions social enterprise in Derby and Derbyshire.
• B-Corp recognising a certified B-Corp that demonstrates outstanding impact in the Greater Derby area.
• Social Entrepreneur celebrating an individual with leadership, vision, sustainability, and measurable impact.
• Best Social Venture recognising an established venture with a strong, proven track record.

Derby Impact Awards take place on Thursday 20^th November at Derby Museum on The Wardwick, from 6:30pm to 9pm.Tickets are available to attend the event including networking, entertainment and refreshments on arrival, priced £20. To buy tickets and for more information about the awards event please see: https://www.derbyimpactawards2025.org/ 

The awards are supported by headline sponsor, Nimbus Disability and Culture Derby.

Keith Jeffrey of Derby Social Ventures commented:

“Increasingly, entrepreneurship is seen as a powerful way to address the unique challenges currently facing society and the planet. There is a growing global movement of impact-driven organisations that are responding to balance profitability with measurable social and environmental values. Although Derby has many such organisations, their work largely remains unrecognised; the awards aim to showcase local entrepreneurs responding to these challenges.”

Martin Austin, Managing Director of Nimbus Disability, commented

“Derby has such a history of innovation and reinvestment in its community. We are pleased to be supporting Social Ventures and the Impact Awards, aligning with our own mission and business model. To be help enable giving that recognition to others is a fabulous opportunity.”

Nimbus Disability is the organisation responsible for the development and provision of the Access Card, a widely recognised disability identification card throughout the UK and the World. The Access Card serves to translate an individual’s disability under the medical model into access requirements, facilitating discreet communication to participating venues and events regarding the specific adjustments such as accessible entrances, essential companion tickets, or assistance with visual or auditory information.