The Phone Co-op wins top honour.

The Phone Co-op has scooped the Best Social Enterprise Award for 2008, designed to find and reward the UK's most successful and innovative social enterprises; businesses that tackle a social or environmental need.

Our founder and CEO Vivian Woodell, said:

"We are truly honoured to receive this award. The Phone Co-op set out to prove that the co-operative model could be applied in an industry which is now a fundamental part of modern society.

Our success and continued growth demonstrate that consumers and businesses alike are increasingly interested in using suppliers with a fair and sustainable approach to business."

Jonathan Bland, chief executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition, organisers of the Enterprising Solutions Awards, added:

"For the Phone Co-op to thrive and continue to grow in such a competitive market demonstrates the power of a business model that operates on the core values of quality, community and sustainability."

Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector who presented the Awards, said:

"This year's winners of the Enterprising Solutions Awards provide yet more inspiring examples of the innovative, often unique ways in which someone can make our country better by combining social drive with real business acumen."

The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise. Acting as the voice for the sector, it supports and represents the work of its members, influences national policy and promotes best practice.

According to figures from the Government's Annual Small Business Survey 2005 and existing data for the social enterprise sector, there are at least 55,000 social enterprises in the UK with a combined turnover of £27billion per year.

Other Awards

Ethical Consumer Magazine 'Best Buy' for Fixed Line, Mobile and Line Rental services, 'highly recommended' for Broadband (2008)

Rated as a 'Best Buy' for: line rental fixed line telephone mobile services and 'recommended' for broadband

by Ethical Consumer Research Association

Runner-up in the Fixed Service Provider of the Year awards organised by the Federation of Communication Services (2007)

Rated 2nd best for customer satisfaction by WHICH? readers (2006).