A Lowestoft-based social enterprise has been shortlisted for another two national awards.
East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) – which provides NHS and public health services across Norfolk and Waveney – is a finalist in the UK Employee Ownership Awards.
The latest nominations come after it was announced last month that ECCH has been nominated as finalists in the UK Social Enterprise Awards in the categories of Health and Social Care Social Enterprise and also Employee Engagement.
With the latest two national awards nominations – which recognise its status as a staff owned organisation – in the categories of public service mutual of the year and also for the employee ownership culture award, the organisation was 'absolutely thrilled' to have been voted as finalists.
The Employee Ownership Awards, which are sponsored by management consultants Baxendale, will be presented in Birmingham on November 19 with the UK Social Enterprise Awards later that month.
ECCH chief executive Jonathan Williams said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to have been voted as finalists for these two EOA awards, particularly after receiving the SEUK shortlistings only a few weeks ago.
'It's testament to the dedication of our staff who work so hard every day to provide the highest quality of services possible.
'I'm very proud of everyone at ECCH who pulls together to make this organisation the best it can be.'
More than 80 per cent of ECCH employees have opted to become shareholders in the organisation which gives them a say in key decisions. However, they do not receive dividends because, as a Community Interest Company, ECCH's surplus resources are reinvested to benefit the local community or used to support good causes.
ECCH, which has its headquarters in Lowestoft, this year picked up the financial shortfall to keep a number of services running such as the family nurse partnership, which supports teenage mothers in the Waveney area. ECCH also ran a training course for young unemployed people in partnership with The Prince's Trust, offered free safeguarding training and baby life-saving classes in Lowestoft and Beccles and set up breastfeeding cafés to support parents in Waveney, despite cuts to its funding for breastfeeding support.
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