Social Innovation Challenge 2026: Meet the finalists
Herd Dynamics CIC, Rhyze, and Code Division have been selected as this year’s Social Innovation Challenge finalists.
Three pioneering social enterprises are one step closer to winning Firstport’s Social Innovation Challenge (SIC) 2026, with innovative solutions tackling some of Scotland’s most pressing challenges, from climate resilience and digital inclusion to creating new opportunities for young people.
Following a highly competitive process that attracted 77 Expressions of Interest and 38 full applications, Herd Dynamics CIC, Rhyze, and Code Division have been selected as this year’s finalists. Each organisation will now progress to the final stage of the competition, where they will pitch for funding to help bring their ideas to the next level.
Meet the 2026 finalists
Building leadership through horses- Herd Dynamics CIC
Herd Dynamics CIC uses equine-assisted learning to help businesses develop stronger leaders while creating opportunities for young people facing significant barriers.
The judging panel praised the organisation’s innovative approach, which draws on experience from equine therapy to create a service that delivers value for both businesses and beneficiaries.
Danielle McKinnon, Founder of Herd Dynamics and Eat Sleep Ride, said:
Being shortlisted for the Social Innovation Challenge means so much. Herd Dynamics grew from what I’ve learned at Eat Sleep Ride: horses don’t care about your job title; they respond to who you really are. That makes them brilliant teachers of leadership.
My aspiration is to bring that learning to businesses and leaders across Scotland, helping them build trust, teamwork and shared leadership, while creating income that supports the young people and communities at the heart of Eat Sleep Ride.
Restoring Scotland’s soils- Rhyze
Rhyze is tackling soil degradation by working with community growers to develop and test bespoke soil improvements made from nutrient-rich vermicompost (worm castings). Poor soil health can increase flooding, reduce food production and contribute to carbon loss. Through research and collaboration, Rhyze aims to provide an affordable and practical solution that helps restore soil health and strengthen environmental resilience across Scotland.
The judges were impressed by the strength of the research behind the proposal and the expertise of the team leading it.
Roxy Minter, Director of Vermicompost and Rhyze, said:
Rhyze is thrilled to be shortlisted for the Firstport Social Innovation Challenge. With Firstport’s support, we will partner with specialist Scottish seed growers to develop and test crop-specific soil amendments made from worm castings.
Developing bespoke amendments tailored to individual crops is an innovative, first-of-its-kind approach, and we are excited to have the opportunity and resources to research its potential. Building on our position as Scotland’s largest worm farm, we aim to establish Rhyze as a centre of excellence for farm-led soil research in Scotland.
Opening digital careers through language- Code Division
Code Division aims to reduce barriers to employment in the digital economy for heritage-language, refugee and diaspora communities by providing accredited digital skills training in learners’ native languages.
The panel recognised the project as an innovative response to Scotland’s digital skills gap, with the potential to widen access to employment while reducing digital exclusion.
Frank Duffy, Founder of Code Division, said:
We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the Social Innovation Challenge, and it feels all the more special because it is a shared achievement. Together, Code Division, NomadAlba Collective, and Legesher bring accredited learning, human skills and pioneering native-language technology, alongside a shared commitment to the communities we serve.
Our aspiration for Code Division is that the language you grew up speaking should open doors, not close them. We want to realise that here in Scotland, then share it with communities around the world.
About the Social Innovation Challenge
The Social Innovation Challenge helps kick-start innovative social enterprise solutions that address complex social, environmental and economic challenges in creative, sustainable and effective ways.
This year’s Challenge invited applications aligned with four themes:
- Eradicating child poverty
- Growing the economy
- Tackling the climate emergency
- Ensuring high-quality, sustainable public services
As last year, three awards are available:
- £30,000 for the overall winner
- Up to £10,000 for each of the two runners-up to further develop their ideas
What happens next?
The finalists are now receiving tailored support to refine their ideas and prepare for the final pitch event on 26 October.
They will present their solutions to an expert judging panel comprising leaders from social enterprise, innovation and government, including Steven Cullum, Head of Social Enterprise Policy at the Scottish Government; Tracey Hogarth from Scottish EDGE; Julia Muir Watt from previous SIC winner Building Futures Galloway; and Kirstie Penman, Head of Programmes at Firstport.
The winning organisation will be announced at the Social Enterprise Scotland awards on 28 October. It will receive £30,000 to help bring its solution to life, while the two runners-up can each secure up to £15,000 to further develop their ideas.
Learn more about past winners and how the Challenge works on our Social Innovation Challenge page.