The Ethical Enterprise Award 2021 recognises the most inspirational micro, small and medium-size purpose-driven business and ethical enterprise in Australia – a business or organisation that has achieved the most positive social and economic impact in a local or overseas community through its innovative and ethical trade practices.

The Ethical Enterprise Award is going to be held as part of the Ethical Enterprise Conference, on Tuesday the 7th of December at the State Library of Victoria (328 Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000) at the Ethical Enterprise Award Dinner (Conference Dates 6th and 7th of December). Check out the conference page HERE

  • Are you an ethical enterprise that has been in operation for over 24 months?

  • Does your enterprise improve the social and economic conditions of an overseas or local community via your trading practices?

  • Are you a small, micro or medium size purpose-driven business?

If you ticked all of the above, we would like to hear from you!

Check out Ethical Enterprise Conference Premium Package HERE!

Check out Ethical Enterprise Conference HERE!

Why Apply

The aim of the Ethical Enterprise Award is to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions made to society and the environment of those enterprises that have over many years endeavoured to create positive change.

  • Gain recognition for your contribution to this growing sector.

  • Have access to fantastic networking opportunities.

  • Gain publicity and media exposure to promote your business or enterprise.

  • Be provided with development and promotional opportunities.

  • Gain a marketing edge and recognition through the use of the official EEA logo on all your marketing collateral.

  • All finalists will receive one Ethical Enterprise Conference Premium Package.

  • All Finalists will receive a massive discount on additional conference tickets.

  • Receive amazing prizes.

 Timeline of Events

  • Applications open on the 15th of August 2021

  • Applications close on the 22nd of October 2021 (Extention)

  • Shortlisted applicants will be notified between the 20th to the 29th of October 2021

  • Presentation Day: Tuesday 7th December 2021

  • EEA2021 Winner will be announced on December 7 in Melbourne

Format/Location

The EEA2021 will be held as a hybrid event.  The finalists will be asked to do short 5 minutes presentation at the Ethical Enterprise Award Dinner on the 7th December 2021 at State Library of Victoria (328 Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000) between 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm The judges and other delegates will be present during the presentation.  The winner will be announced at the Award dinner at the end of the finalist’s presentations.

Are you and established enterprise and think your for-purpose business deserves an award?

What Past Winners Had To Say

“The support that we have received as a result of our Ethical Enterprise Award has been widely felt across our whole organisation. We have maximised the benefits of skilled experts by distributing their in-kind advisory support across our team – elevating our marketing, business development, and communications to the next level. We used the $10,000 prize money to create a training budget for our staff with workshops to improve both our team functioning (e.g. developing our feedback skills) and our organisational literacy (e.g. cultural safety training and inclusion and access training for our whole staff). I would thoroughly encourage future entries for social enterprises looking for the support to amplify their positive social impact.

- Danielle Weber,  Head of Programs at Project Rockit, Winner of the Ethical Enterprise Award 2020

“Pollinate Group was proud to be the recipient of the Ethical Enterprise Award in 2019. For nine years Pollinate Group has been unrelentingly focused on our mission - to empower women to lead their communities out of poverty. Winning the award has helped to get our message out to a wider community, gave us confidence that our impact model is sound and served as a huge motivator for our teams located in Australia, India and Nepal. 

Shortly after receiving the Ethical Enterprise Award, the world was hit by COVID-19. One of our prizes from the award was 12 months of business advisory support from BlueRock.During arguably our most challenging year to date we were fortunate to be able to draw on one of Australia's most innovative boutique professional services firms for advice and mentorship. “

- Biheng Zhang, Director of Philanthropy Pollinate Group, Winner of the Ethical Enterprise Award 2019

"We were thrilled and honoured to have won the Social Enterprise of the Year award in 2018. At the time we were working in the Solomon Islands on the devastation caused to thousands of coconut palms by an invasion of the destructive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Although the project was later partly funded by DFAT, the award meant we were able to have a more immediate and direct impact on the lives and health of the local people. With the award money, the Niulife Foundation launched a campaign to encourage the locals to incorporate coconut meal (a nutritious by-product from pressing coconut oil) into their diets. Likewise, we were able to raise awareness of the benefits of using smoke-free charcoal rather than wood to cook with. (Respiratory illness caused by smoke inhalation is serious among the island)”

- Richard Etherington, Managing Director Kokonut Pacific | Niulife Women, Winner of the Social Enterprise of the Year Award in 2018