Goal 17 Wins the Prestigious John Caudwell Award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards

 We are thrilled to announce that Goal 17 has been awarded the John Caudwell Award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, held last night at London’s Grosvenor House. This incredible honour recognises our work championing social mobility and creating life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged young people through mentoring.

The award, created by entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell in partnership with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, celebrates businesses that combine entrepreneurship with a meaningful social impact. In his words:

“Fran has identified a social need and a business need, then combined the two to establish a truly impressive purpose-led enterprise. Goal 17 provides an effective model for how the intersection of private, public and third sector can work successfully.”

These kind words from John Caudwell perfectly capture the heart of what we do at Goal 17. This award isn’t just about recognition—it’s a celebration of the incredible community of people and organisations who have come together to make this impact possible.

What This Award Means to Us

At Goal 17, we believe in the power of mentoring to transform lives—not just for the young people we support but also for the mentors who step forward to guide them. Over the past year, we’ve seen exponential growth, with a tenfold increase in turnover and hundreds of volunteers joining our mission. Together, we’re breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and inspiring hope in communities across the UK.

This award is a testament to:

• Our volunteer mentors, whose dedication and compassion are the foundation of our work.
• Our small but mighty internal team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver mentoring programmes with passion and precision.
• Our corporate sponsors and partners, who help us extend our reach by sharing volunteering opportunities with their teams and funding our initiatives.
• Our local authority collaborators, who trust us to deliver real results for young people in their communities.

A Purpose-Driven Business Model

Goal 17 is named after the 17th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, which focuses on partnerships to achieve meaningful change. Our work is a living example of that vision, bringing together the private, public, and third sectors to create scalable, sustainable social impact.

John Caudwell highlighted this unique approach, saying:

“Through both Caudwell Youth and Caudwell Children, we strive to work with businesses that recognise the potential in young people who may otherwise not get noticed. It’s great to see Fran doing the same and building a great business while doing it.”

These words inspire us to continue innovating and collaborating, proving that businesses can achieve both profit and purpose.

Looking Ahead: Join Us in Making an Impact

While this award is a moment of celebration, it’s also a call to action. We’re actively looking for new mentors to join our latest project with the National Citizen Service. Just a few hours of your time each month can make a life-changing difference for a young person—and often for the mentor as well.

If you’re inspired by our mission or want to learn how your organisation can partner with us, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can create a ripple effect of transformation and build brighter futures for generations to come.

Thank You

This recognition belongs to every person who has supported us on this journey. Thank you to the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, John Caudwell, and our entire community of mentors, partners, and supporters. Let’s keep working together to make an even greater impact.