Awards and Achievements

2023

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2023 – Winner

Owned and operated by Employers For Childcare, High Rise re-opened in July 2022, having been closed for over two years due to Covid-19. We are delighted to have won the Best Use of Social Media Award at the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2023 as well as being shortlisted in two other categories – Consumer Facing Social Enterprise and Best Start Up.

2021

Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise in Europe

On International Women’s Day in March, our Chief Executive, Marie Marin was named as one of the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise in Europe, in an initiative of the Euclid Network, supported by the European Commission.

2020

CO3 Leadership Awards 2020 – Inspiring Leader of the Year

Our Chief Executive, Marie Marin was named Inspiring Leader of the Year at the CO3 Awards, which were held virtually in December 2020.

Lisburn Castlereagh City Council Business Awards – Best Social Enterprise 2020

Employers For Childcare is delighted to have been recognised as the Best Social Enterprise at the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Business Awards. This award was collected by Chief Executive Marie Marin, after celebrating 20 years in business in 2019.

Lisburn Castlereagh City Council Business Awards – Best New Business 2020

Owned and operated by Employers For Childcare, High Rise opened in mid October 2019 as our newest social enterprise. We were delighted to be presented with the Best New Business award by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, celebrating the hard work and effort in opening our brand new social enterprise.

2019

Social Enterprise UK Awards – Woman of the Year 2019

Marie Marin, Chief Executive, picked up the Woman of the Year in Social Enterprise Award at the Social Enterprise UK Awards in London. Marie was also awarded a prestigious Honorary Fellowship on the night and was admitted to the Social Enterprise UK Hall of Fame, in recognition of her contribution to the development of the Social Enterprise sector.

Social Enterprise UK Awards – Social Enterprise of the Year

Employers For Childcare was delighted to be shortlisted for Social Enterprise of the Year at the Social Enterprise UK Awards, in recognition of the work of the organisation on behalf of parents, employers and childcare providers, right across the UK.

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2019 – Social Enterprise of the Year

Employers For Childcare was delighted to receive the award for ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ category at the Northern Ireland Social Enterprise Awards 2019, recognising the contribution the organisation has made over the past 20 years in business in addition to the recent £2.5 million investment in opening our brand new indoor adventure centre, High Rise.

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2019 – Lifetime Achievement Award

2018

Social Enterprise UK Awards Finalist – ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ 2018

As a result of our impact, our Chief Executive, Marie Marin, was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ category at the Social Enterprise UK Awards, 2018.

Marie is one of just 19 women who was nominated in both 2017 and 2018 for the NatWest WISE100 (Women in Social Enterprise 100) which recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business.

Chartered Institute of Marketing Awards – Winner – Not for Profit Campaign/Marketing 2018 

Employers For Childcare won ‘Not for Profit Campaign’ for its lobbying and campaigning work of the #SaveChildcareVouchers campaign.

2017

Social Enterprise UK Awards Finalist – ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ 2017

Employers For Childcare was shortlisted as a ‘finalist’ in the ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ category at the Social Enterprise UK Awards 2017.

Social Enterprise UK Awards Finalist – ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ 2017

Marie Marin, Chief Executive of Employers For Childcare was shortlisted as a ‘finalist’ in the ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ category at the Social Enterprise UK Awards 2017.

Marie Marin, Chief Executive of Employers For Childcare has also been placed on the first NatWest WISE 100 list, highlighting 100 of the most influential women in social enterprise from across the UK.

2015

CO3 Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year

Marie Marin of Employers For Childcare announced winner at the Chief Executives of the Third Sector Awards for ‘Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year’.

‘Business Person of the Year’ First Runner Up at Lisburn City Business Awards

Employers For Childcare Chief Executive, Marie Marin, was awarded First Runner Up ‘Business Person of the Year’ at the Lisburn City Business Awards 2015.

Business Eye Contribution to the Community Award Winner

Employers For Childcare won the Contribution to the Community Award at the Business Eye Small Business Awards. The special Contribution to the Community Award recognises the difference that organisations can make in the communities they serve through their corporate social responsibility activities.

Highly Commended at the DMS Awards 2015

We are delighted our HR team gained recognition for their hard work. The awards celebrated the achievements of individuals who had successfully completed their CIPD qualifications in the past year.

2014

NI Chamber Awards Small Business of the Year 2014

NI Chamber Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 2014

Employers For Childcare achieved two wins in 2014 – Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year 2014 and Chief Executive, Marie Marin crowned Entrepreneur of the Year 2014.

Ulster Bank Business Achiever ‘Top Social Enterprise’

Employers For Childcare was named top Social Enterprise at the 2014 Ulster Final of this year’s Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards.

IoD Award Winner for Third Sector Director of the Year 2014

Employers For Childcare Group CEO, Marie Marin, was awarded the prestigious ‘Third Sector Director of the Year’ award at the IoD First Trust Bank Director of the Year awards.

2013

Marie Marin honoured with an OBE

In 2013, Marie Marin, CEO and founder of Employers For Childcare, received an OBE for services to Social Enterprise having helped establish an All Party Group on Social Enterprise at the NI Assembly, encouraging recognition of the value of the sector and championing the power of social purchasing.

NI Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Personal Achievement Award

Marie Marin, founding CEO of Employers For Childcare has won the NI Chamber of Commerce Award for “Outstanding Personal Achievement”. Marie was delighted to accept the award on behalf of Employers For Childcare and to attend the National Finals in London.

Highly Commended at CIM Awards

Employers For Childcare Vouchers was highly commended in the “Best Brand Development Campaign” category at the CIM Ireland Marketing Excellence Awards. Other finalists in the category were Danske Bank, Eurospar and Irwin’s Bakery. We were also finalists in the “Social Economy” sector and the “Marketing Leadership” award.

National Chamber Awards Runner Up

Marie Marin, CEO of Employers For Childcare, was awarded Runner Up in the “Outstanding Personal Achievement” category at the National Chamber Awards in London.

Other finalists in the same category included James Caan from the Dragon’s Den. The overall winner was Peter O’Brien of O’Brien Contractors Ltd.