Today we are announcing that Mark Norbury will step down as Chief Executive of UnLtd next summer, after more than 11 years at the helm.

What has always stood out in Mark’s leadership is his energy, ambition and unwavering belief in the potential of social entrepreneurs. He’s made an enormous contribution to UnLtd and to the wider sector and should be immensely proud of what he has accomplished.

Over the course of his tenure, UnLtd has evolved significantly, becoming more ambitious in how it responds to the needs of social entrepreneurs and the communities they serve.

That evolution was particularly evident during the Covid pandemic, when UnLtd worked with partners across the sector to raise and deploy £50 million in grants and support to more than 1,000 social entrepreneurs, helping them continue to serve their communities through an extraordinary period of disruption.

UnLtd has also become increasingly ambitious about equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, not simply in who we back, but in how we work with social entrepreneurs and how our own organisation is governed, led and managed. Today, more than 70% of our awards and investment go to Black, Asian, minority ethnic and/or disabled founders.

Our offer to social entrepreneurs has evolved. Alongside our grant funding and support, we have developed an accelerator programme and social investment, laying the foundations for our Pathways to Growth strategy. This strategy sets out our ambition to provide equitable and inclusive funding and support across the early journey of a social entrepreneur, from idea through to sustainable growth.

And our ambition extends beyond the funding and support we provide directly. UnLtd has changed its approach to investing the Millennium Awards Trust endowment, bringing the way our capital is invested into closer alignment with our social mission. We are also developing significant new partnerships, including our flagship programme with The National Lottery Community Fund, backing social entrepreneurs to lead climate action in their communities and help build a fairer, greener future.

Together, these changes mean Mark will leave an organisation with strong foundations, a clear strategy and real ambition for what comes next.

I’m excited about UnLtd’s next chapter and the role we can continue to play in putting social entrepreneurs front and centre of positive change. Their lived experience, deep understanding of the communities they serve and determination to find new solutions means they have a vital role to play in tackling some of the most enduring challenges we face. UnLtd will continue to stand alongside them as they do.

Mark will remain with UnLtd until next summer, giving us time to manage the transition carefully. The search for our next Chief Executive has already begun, with a thorough handover planned once an appointment is made.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Mark for everything he has given to UnLtd and look forward to working with him over the coming months as we continue to move the organisation forward.