Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL has been shortlisted for the Public Sector Pioneer Award at the Pioneers Post NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards 2026.
 
The national awards celebrate the best of the UK's social businesses - a movement that contributes £78bn to the national economy annually and employs 2.3m people.
 
GLL's entry was highlighted for its longstanding and impactful partnerships with local authorities which add value to public service delivery over leisure, community health and library services. A number of strong partnership outcomes were submitted including:
 
In Bromley, GLL operates the public library service in partnership with Bromley Council. 
 
Libraries have been 'reimagined' to provide services relevant to different users - from crafters and makers, to entrepreneurs, to homework and computing clubs to older people's coffee dates.
 
Bromley's libraries offer free newspaper and magazine subscriptions, cheap photocopying, recycling services and 3D Printing - all helping with the cost of living crisis.
 
Following investments in tech and the comfort of the libraries, the service has grown. GLL’s Bromley libraries issued 1,417,755 items in 2023/4 (Source: CIPFA) - the most of any library service in the capital.
 
An £11m capital investment has brought two brand new libraries with attractive, modern and bright facilities that customers are returning to in droves.  West Wickham Library has seen visits increase by 400%.
 
A shortly-to-open relocated Central Library directly on Bromley High Street affords better accessibility to shoppers and supports the Council's wider regeneration efforts.
 
In Greenwich, the Healthwise Physical Activity Referral scheme is bringing community health services into library settings - the co-location benefitting health and wellbeing more widely and supporting the Royal Borough of Greenwich's efforts to tackle health and social inequality by 'building a bridge' between health and leisure.
 
By 2025, over 3,000 participants annually are getting more active and improving health outcomes under expert supervision and reporting relief from chronic pain and support for their weight/diabetes/blood pressure management and cardiac rehabilitation.
 
Completers of the 12 week programme report feeling happier and healthier.
 
In Greenwich, the Council also supports GLL's Accelerator Programme (launched in 2025) for social enterprises and Business Start-Ups - with over 25 events hosted last year.
 
GLL's CEO Peter Bundey commented: "Being nominated for the  Public Sector Pioneer Award acknowledges the impact of GLL's socially purposed local authority partnerships which add value to public service delivery.
 
"Our pioneering partners work with us to change lives for the better while modernising and safeguarding the services communities rely upon."
 
"Our experience across both leisure and libraries extends how services are used, particularly in areas such as health, wellbeing and community support."
 
"Across the UK, in over 60 partnerships, we have over 66m visits each year to our 400 leisure, sport, library and community services. We are proud that these services also provide £2.2bn in social value each year."
 
GLL is also confirmed as one of the top 100 social enterprises in the country as part of the NatWestSE100 Awards process.
 
GLL scooped Social Business Pioneer award at the Pioneers Post NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards 2025.
 
To find out more, go to: New 'Impact Leaders List' and Public Sector Pioneer in SE100 Awards 2026 | The Social Enterprise Magazine - Pioneers Post