LOCAL LEADER WINS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
Gareth Simpson, Development Manager, RCMA (Riverside Community Market Association) Cardiff has been recognised for showcasing great leadership by winning the Social Enterprise category award, sponsored by Social Firms Wales at this year’s Leading Wales Awards, in association with the Institute of Leadership & Management.
Gareth said he was: 'Surprised and very proud to be announced as the winner of the Social Enterprise category. Whilst these are awards for Leaders, I definitely see it as one for the team and our supporters who make it all possible.”
Finalists in the Leadership in Social Enterprise category included:
Sharon Jones, Creating Enterprise CIC (Business and Partnership Director)
Paul Nagle, SHEDNET (Manager)
Gareth Simpson, RCMA Social Enterprise Ltd (Development Manager)
Social Firms Wales would like to congratulate all of the finalists who reached this stage of the Awards.
San Leonard, CEO, Social Firms Wales says, “We are convinced that without leaders in our communities we would not see the development of Social Firms and social enterprises. We have supported the Leading Wales Awards since 2010 and are immensely proud to be associated with an awards ceremony of great significance and social value. It is our role to champion the importance of leadership, what can be achieved and the positive impact strong leadership has within our communities across Wales.”
Phil James, CEO of the Institute of Leadership & Management, which represents leaders and managers in Wales said: “Many leaders we have seen this year provide tangible, inspirational leadership in their organisation. We believe that this is the key to personal fulfilment, social wellbeing and economic prosperity both for Wales and the UK. That is why we support the Leading Wales Awards in its quest to identify and celebrate real leaders in Wales.”
Barbara Chidgey, chair of the Leading Wales Awards Consortium added: “In the very many years the awards have been running, I have noticed in the entries increased evidence of a focus on transactional leadership approaches, where the leadership outlined is very much about targets that are set, met and delivered upon.
“In Wales and probably in the UK, we mostly “do” transactional leadership almost to the exclusion of any other approaches. I believe we also need to “be” much more transformative in our leadership and inspire and engage hearts and souls of those we work with so that, collectively, we willingly deliver on those set targets.
“Our finalists and winners demonstrate this more rounded approach to leadership – the ability to deliver on targets as well to engage and inspire those they work with and for. This is the kind of leadership that will indeed help build the “Wales we want”.
For more information please visit www.leadingwalesawards.co.uk