Independent Awards 2022

Business for Good Award

This award was won by Cook School who received a cash prize of £10,000, and the Runner-Up was A Curious Society who received £5,000.

As a reminder, the Business for Good Award is to celebrate those truly purpose-led businesses with positivity at their core. It’s for the really good eggs — those who act in a positive way for our people, communities or planet, and encourage others to do the same.

This award was proudly sponsored by Royal Mail, who believe in behaving sustainably. In fact, with their unique ‘feet on the street’ network of over 90,000 postmen and women, they have the lowest reported carbon emissions per parcel of any major UK delivery company.

The Winner

Cook School

Cook School is a not-for-profit organisation teaching children and students nationwide about food and how to cook meat-free meals. Founded by mum and author Amanda, the school aims to give its students the skills and confidence to repeat-cook, promoting a healthy lifestyle and planet.

The Runner-Up

A Curious Society

With their 12-year-old chief designer at the helm, A Curious Society creates thought-provoking screenprinted clothing with a focus on conservation, the planet and world issues. Every item is sourced sustainably, ethically and printed to order with water based inks to ensure zero waste.

Meet the Nominees

Each of these independent businesses was selected for being outstanding in this category.

HappySelf Journal

HappySelf is on a mission to create happier futures. Founder Francesca aims to give children and teenagers the habits they need to impact their own happiness and mental wellbeing, through a simple daily journaling practice.

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Shortlisted stamp

Tap Social Movement

With a firm belief that everyone benefits when no one is excluded from the job market, Tap Social Movement is a social enterprise brewery, bakery and hospitality organisation that provides training and employment to ex-offenders.

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Shortlisted stamp

The Long Table Stroud

The Long Table Stroud CIC is a ‘pay as you can’ community canteen, serving ingredient-led meals cooked with love. Every day, their long tables are filled with people looking to feed change, one bite at a time, funding cafes and ‘freezers of love’ filled with food for local communities.

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Shortlisted stamp

Bon Voyage

Bon Voyage rejected the retail norm by going circular — putting values and the planet over fast-paced profit. They work towards three goals: to reduce textile waste, to make sustainable fashion economically inclusive and to promote that preloved is as cool as first hand.

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Collingwood-Norris

With a focus on the planet, founder Flora of Collingwood-Norris, aims to reduce textile waste by reviving fabric techniques to make clothes last, and inspiring more people to repair their own knits. As well as taking commissions to mend, she shares skills through tutorials, repair kits and her book.

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Dashel Cycle Helmets

Dashel’s founder Catherine designs safe but stylish bicycle helmets that are manufactured sustainably in the UK. Their latest range incorporates ocean plastic and helps to fund the clean up of our oceans.

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Ethos Magazine

Through their magazine about businesses changing the world, Ethos connects sustainable concepts, people and places, with stories about work, ideas and life. They highlight progressive business leaders, their teams, their views and their ethos to highlight how business can be done differently.

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Hannah Nunn

Lighting and wallpaper designer Hannah Nunn raised over £11,000 to help displaced Ukrainians by creating a simple and joyful paper sunflower that could be hung in solidarity. Hundreds are now hanging in windows around the world.

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Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

Monsters from all over the world stock up on Snot, Earwax and Mortal Terror at Hoxton Street Monster Supplies; a store for the Living, Dead & Undead. Due to a terrible curse, 100% of profits fund their children’s charity, Ministry of Stories.

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Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates

Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates is a small business making a real difference to the lives of cocoa farmers, whilst providing award-winning, bean-to-bar products made with excellence of craftmanship, quality and ethics at the forefront.

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mind the cork

mind the cork creates thoughtfully crafted cork objects for the home that are planet and people-friendly. As well as focusing on inclusivity and accessiblity, consideration for the natural environment is at the heart of all they produce.

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Radical Giving

Radical Giving is a gift shop, with a twist — all of their innovative lifestyle gifts give back. Each and every item they sell is sourced from social enterprises, charities and independent makers from the UK, supporting their mission to inspire positive shopping.

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Ran By Nature

Pledging 10% of their profits to charities that make sports accessible to underrepresented groups, Ran By Nature is a sustainable and adaptable activewear brand that believes in leaving nobody on the bench. Founder Bryna’s mission is to make fitness and fashion accessible for all.

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Ruby & Bo

Using locally-sourced seeds and waste cotton, Ruby & Bo create plantable paper goods using post-consumer waste. Based in Sussex, they operate a sustainable business and reinvest their profits in environmental schemes.

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Sarora Knots

Founded in 2016 by Sara, Sarora Knots design eco-conscious, small batch collections of accessories that showcase your houseplants. Using traditional techniques and sustainable textiles, their products prioritise style while protecting your greenery.

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The Kindness Co-op

The Kindness Co-op is an independent online and physical store selling organic hand screen printed apparel, accessories and lifestyle products — all with a kindness message. Every purchase generates a donation to mental health charity, YoungMinds.

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The Recycled Candle Company

The Recycled Candle Company makes luxury, hand poured candles using 100% recycled wax collected from eco-minded hospitality businesses, places of worship and community groups. They stop 40 tonnes of old wax from heading to landfill each year.

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Woodism

Woodism is an artistic collaboration between a young autistic boy Woody, and his father — who turns his son’s profound quotes and unique view of the world into linocut prints. The pieces shine a light on the autistic mind and help raise money for children with autism.

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WITH THANKS TO ROYAL MAIL

The Independent Awards would not be possible without incredible small business supporters, like Royal Mail, who truly believe in the power of small.