SignLab wins BCG’s Social Enterprise Award 2026
SignLab, a digital learning platform for sign language, has been named winner of the Social Enterprise Award, an initiative from Boston Consulting Group in partnership with Ashoka, Impact Hub, and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation.
Founded in 2024, the Social Enterprise Award is an initiative that spotlights high-impact social enterprises in the United Kingdom.
Following a competitive selection process, five finalists were invited to present their solution to a panel of business and social sector leaders: SignLab (learning platform for sign language), Connection Crew (events and production staffing to help those affected by homelessness), Fine Cell Work (prisoner rehabilitation through needlework), Living Wage Foundation (promoting the real UK living wage), and BorrowMyDoggy (dog-owner platform driving human community health).
“The standard of this year’s applicants was exceptional, making the panel’s decision incredibly difficult. SignLab stood out for its ambition, clarity of purpose and potential for impact,” said Christin Owings, Managing Partner of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the UK.
As part of the prize, SignLab will have access to the full breadth and depth of BCG’s resources for an 8-week engagement focused on growing their impact. “I’m excited to see our team work alongside SignLab to help accelerate their plans. This award is about more than recognition: it’s a hands-on partnership that combines BCG’s expertise with the vision of an outstanding social enterprise to create lasting change.”
Reflecting on what the award means for SignLab’s next stage of growth, Endre Elvestad, CEO of SignLab said: “Winning this award will allow our organisation to move faster and with greater certainty – and increase our impact in the UK and globally.”
“From families of deaf children to language enthusiasts and workplaces looking to improve accessibility, we make learning sign language intuitive and available to all. I’m excited because the strategic questions that our company is currently facing are something we don’t see often, but BCG sees regularly. Working with BCG consultants will enable us to solve our most pressing strategic questions.”
Social impact
The recognition sees SignLab follow in the footsteps of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, which won the inaugural award in 2024. The healthcare social enterprise has since benefited significantly from its collaboration with BCG. Following the consulting firm’s support in operationalising its growth strategy, the organisation has helped bring more than 9,000 patients closer to high-quality brain cancer research and care.
“The BCG team helped us unlock an entirely new revenue stream,” said Nicky Huskens, CEO of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.
For BCG, the award reflects its broader commitment to social impact. Since 2020, the management consulting firm has dedicated more than 3.5 million hours and invested $1.5 billion in social impact work. Earlier this year, it also announced a further $500 million commitment through 2030 to accelerate social impact globally through the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
