London—Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced SignLab, an AI-enabled digital learning platform for sign language, as the winner of the second annual BCG UK Social Enterprise Award, in partnership with Ashoka, Impact Hub, and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation. SignLab was selected following a live final in which five social enterprises presented to a panel of top business and social sector leaders, including Christin Owings (BCG UK’s Managing Partner).
As part of the prize, SignLab will have access to the full breadth and depth of BCG’s resources for an eight-week engagement focused on growing their impact in AI-enabled educational solutions. The award is designed to elevate social enterprises working in health, education, or social mobility, and provide them with a greater platform for future success.
Commenting on this year's award and the strength of the finalists, Christin Owings said: “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. I'm excited to see our BCG team work alongside them 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. 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 during the programme not only improved our pitch, but also refined the strategic questions we would like to solve.”
Building on a Broader Commitment to Social Impact
The award builds on BCG's broader commitment to social impact. Since 2020, the firm has dedicated 3.5 million hours and $1.5 billion to social impact work, and earlier this year announced a $500 million commitment through 2030 to accelerate social impact globally through AI. The award is built on the conviction that the most valuable thing BCG can offer is not mere recognition, but resources. All semi-finalists receive tailored coaching and feedback, and the winner wins embedded support from a dedicated BCG team.
The 2026 finalists
Following a competitive selection process and semi-final, five finalists were invited to present their solution to a panel of top business and social sector leaders.
Finalists
- SignLab | AI-enabled digital learning platform for sign language
- Connection Crew | Events & production staffing to help those affected by homelessness
- Fine Cell Work | Prisoner rehabilitation through needlework
- Living Wage Foundation | Promoting & accrediting the real UK living wage
- BorrowMyDoggy | Dog-owner platform driving human community health
Panellists
- John Browett (NHS Online, Chair; Tesco.com, ex-CEO)
- Sharon Doherty (Lloyds Banking Group, CPPO; National Lottery, NED)
- Jean-Jacques van Oosten (C4 Ventures, Operating Partner; Kingfisher, ex-CDTO)
- Nicole Helwig (Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Executive Director)
- Alex Milner (Impact Hub London, CEO)
- David Bonbright (Ashoka, Global Leader)
- Christin Owings (BCG Managing Director & Partner; UK Managing Partner)
Commenting on the value of the programme, Alex Milner, CEO of Impact Hub London, said: “Today’s pitches were fantastic […] I think the true value of this award is to have unprecedented and full-time support and focus from a BCG team. So many times, businesses know where they'd like to go, but to have the help to take them there, plan it, and to give that strategy is incredibly valuable.”
Reflecting on the support provided during the competition, Charlotte Scotland, finalist from Connection Crew said: “I cannot say enough how much impact the BCG coaching team has created for us already. Just by drilling down into the real heart of how we pitch, what we're pitching, how we're displaying what we're looking for. It's already changed so much, and benefitted us humongously. It’s something you need to do.”
Building on the Success of the Inaugural Award
Ahead of this year’s final, BCG looked back at the progress of the inaugural winner, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. Since working with BCG to operationalise its growth, the organisation has brought 9,000 patients closer to high-quality research and care.
Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission CEO Nicky Huskens said: “The BCG team helped us to tap into an entirely new revenue stream. We see growth, and I am really excited because that will keep growing over the years to come.”
BCG thanks and acknowledges the support of its 2026 award partners – Ashoka UK & Ireland, Impact Hub, and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation.
Notes to editors:
For more information about the BCG UK Social Enterprise Award, please visit the award website.
To learn more about the inaugural winner, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, about their work with BCG, please watch this short interview.
To find out more about BCG's commitment to Social Impact, here is a recent press release about BCG's $500m pledge.
To find out more about our 2026 award partners, please visit: