Recognition for female social entrepreneurs

A number of top female social entrepreneurs are highlighted in The Future 500, a definitive list of the UK's successful achievers.

Published in association with The Observer, the list features 500 individuals who demonstrate the motivation and passion to shape the future in 10 wide-ranging categories. These include everything from art and design to business, media to travel and leisure.

Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Social Enterprise London, was highlighted in the public life category. She told ethicalcareers.org that all aspiring entrepreneurs - particularly young women - can be inspired by the kind of recognition being given to women in social enterprise now.

She said: "For me the most exciting thing the Future 500 shows us is how well women are doing as the innovators and successful business women of the social enterprise movement. Looking at the Future 500, women social entrepreneurs really are on top.”

The overall winner of the public life category was Sital Punja, founder of Sari UK Ltd, a social enterprise that recycles old saris into accessories and clothes, giving 10% of sales to children's charities.  Pubja told The Observer that the more immersed she got in ethical fashion, the more passionate she became about it.

“Honesty and integrity are key to success,” she has said. “People need to believe you and in you. Set yourself targets. Make some easily achievable and other aspirations and then work out how you are going to achieve them. Then go for it.”

Others highlighted in the public life category include Penny Newman, chief executive of Caf