A local business in Bristol has won the South West regional heat of a national photography competition for social enterprise.
The ‘Social Vision: business at its best’ competition set out to find images that show the unique and transformative work of social enterprise. Social enterprises are businesses trading for social and environmental purposes. Simply put, they use the power of business to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.
Now in its third year, the photography competition is for the first time being jointly run by Triodos Bank and the Social Enterprise Coalition in association with Social Enterprise Magazine and the regional social enterprise networks of England.

Bristol Wood Recycling Project is a social enterprise offering collections of wood waste, and sales of timber and timber products. Their environmental mission is to save resources from waste, to provide affordable timber and resources to the local community, and to enable social inclusion through volunteering and work placement opportunities. Bristol Wood Recycling also hold the Social Enterprise Mark. The Mark is the brand for social enterprises and is awarded to businesses who meet specific criteria that demonstrate they are working primarily for social and/or environmental goals.

Bristol Wood Recycling Project’s winning snap, taken by Lisa Bailey, shows a collection at Taylor Wimpey Bristol. These collections encourage building contractors to recycle.

Ben Moss of Bristol Wood Recycling Project said:
“We are delighted to have our photo as the regional winner in the 'Social Vision: business at its best' competition. It's great to have our work recognised for its environmental and social achievements; now this photo literally gets people to recognise us!

Social Enterprises deserve recognition for the pioneering perspectives they put on business and commerce. We here at BWRP are very proud to be both part of that growing community of businesses, and that this image will help in the step-change of recognition of Social Enterprises.”

Peter Holbrook, CEO of the Social Enterprise Coalition said:

“There were a fantastic number of entries to the competition this year so being selected as a regional winner is a huge achievement and I’d like to congratulate Bristol Wood Recycling Project on their success.

We asked for photos showing business at its best because this is what social enterprises across the UK are doing every day – running innovative profitable businesses which also benefit the local community and environment.”

This year’s prize for the regional winner (a one day introduction to film making course) is provided by Suited and Booted Studios CIC, a highly successful award-winning production company that marries the quality of commercial filmmaking with the people-centred ethos of social enterprise.

Sara Strickland from Suited and Booted said:

“We are delighted to offer a 1 day introduction to film making at our studios in Bath to the winner of the South West heat of the social enterprise photography competition. The South West is renowned for its creative and cultural economy and we will be proud to celebrate Social Enterprise Day with the regional winners. As holders of the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark, Social Enterprise Day is an important date in our diary and gives us more opportunities to show how we are different to other businesses.”

Vote online for favourite photograph

Bristol Wood Recycling Project will now go on to the represent the South West in the UK national final. The winner will be decided by an online vote to be hosted on the Social Enterprise Live website – www.socialenterpriselive.com/competition Voting opens on Friday 19 November and the public will have one week to vote for their favourite finalist. The result will be announced at an evening reception in London on Tuesday 30 November.
The regional winners have been announced today (18 November) to mark Social Enterprise Day, a national celebration of social enterprise. Today social enterprises across the country are opening their doors to local communities to show business at its best.