Josh Turner of Stand for Socks from Stowmarket, took part in the Social Enterprise ‘Market Place’ at the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2016 ceremony held in London last week.

East Anglian Daily Times: Social entrepreneur Josh Turner, from Stowmarket was invited to showcase his business and products last week at the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, in LondonSocial entrepreneur Josh Turner, from Stowmarket was invited to showcase his business and products last week at the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, in London (Image: © Matthew Walder 2016)

Josh recently graduated from the ‘Start Up Ipswich 2015’ cohort of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme, at the Eastern Enterprise Hub at Ipswich Waterfront, and was invited to display his products at the Market Place.

Stand for Socks is a social enterprise which links everyday products, such as socks, with social causes and charity, giving ordinary purchases extraordinary purposes.

The ‘Market Place’ provided a platform for social enterprises to showcase their organisation and network with key figures involved with the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme. The event was hosted by entrepreneur and social innovator Oli Barrett MBE and a grand prize of £10,000 was awarded to social entrepreneur Sophie Unwin of Remade in Edinburgh after being named Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

As a graduate of the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme run in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs with support from the Big Lottery Fund, Josh has received financial support and comprehensive learning support including a business mentoring scheme to help them grow their social business.

Josh said: “It is fantastic to have the opportunity to present the work of Stand for Socks at the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award and have the chance to network with key figures in the sector and meet other like-minded social entrepreneurs. The support of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme in partnership with School for Social Entrepreneurs has helped me to develop Stand for Socks and grow its social outreach in the community and taking part in the Market Place is a fantastic platform to demonstrate our progression”.

Oli Barrett MBE, entrepreneur and social innovator said: “It has been so inspiring to meet so many driven social entrepreneurs here at the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Social Enterprise Market Place is a great way to showcase the array of innovative projects which the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme supports”.

Paula Rogers, Head of the Social Entrepreneurs Programme at Lloyds Banking Group said: “The Social Enterprise ‘Market Place’ shows just how many diverse social enterprises are benefiting from the support of the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme. The programme forms a key part of the Group’s commitment to help Britain prosper and it is fantastic to see first-hand the work of these emerging businesses which are having a positive impact on people and communities across the UK”.

Launched in 2012, the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme is designed to support social entrepreneurs in communities and, through them, help stimulate economic growth and regeneration across the UK. Recent research commissioned by the BIG Lottery Fund demonstrates the positive impact of the programme on people, businesses and communities and by 2017 the programme will have created over 7000 jobs and supported 1.1 million beneficiaries.