Community Impact Award Sponsor Announced – Karen Heap, Socially Shared | Class Business Awards 2026

If there’s one thing class-based businesses understand, it’s this: community matters.

Not as a buzzword, but as something real.

The relationships you build, the spaces you create, and the impact you have on the people who walk through your doors each week.

That’s exactly why I’m so pleased to welcome Karen Heap, Founder of Socially Shared, as an official partner sponsor of the Community Impact Award at The Class Business Awards 2026.

Where it all began

Karen brings over twenty years of experience supporting solopreneurs and small business owners, and she has built something incredibly special through Socially Shared.

Over the past eleven years, she has grown an award-winning women in business network that has helped thousands of women connect, collaborate and grow.

She is known as a true connector, someone who doesn’t just bring people into a room, but creates the kind of environment where meaningful conversations happen and real opportunities follow.

Her work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: collaboration over competition.

And that belief runs through everything she does!

Why this partnership makes sense

When Karen shared why Socially Shared wanted to sponsor this category, it was clear how aligned this partnership is:

“Socially Shared is thrilled to sponsor the ‘Community Impact Award’ at the very first Class Business Awards! Community and collaboration have always been central to everything we do in our network, making this the ideal category for us to sponsor.”

“Class based businesses play an important role in society and make a valuable contribution to the national economy. It’s wonderful that the hard work and achievements within this sector are being acknowledged and celebrated! We have many class based businesses within our community and so when we heard about the awards, we just had to get involved!”

Class-based businesses play a vital role in their communities. They bring people together, build confidence, and often provide a sense of belonging that goes far beyond the session itself.

This award exists to recognise that impact properly.

A leader in community building

Karen’s work goes far beyond running a network.

She has led collaborative events, supported partnerships that have turned into real business growth, and created initiatives that continue to bring people together in meaningful ways.

Projects like the Great Women in Business Meetup and Get Social, delivered in collaboration with Coventry & Warwickshire CDA, show her commitment to creating spaces where connection leads to action – seriously, it’s a great superpower Karen has!

Her contribution has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Woman Who, reflecting both the scale of her impact and the way she supports others to succeed.

With a growing team of Area Hosts, she continues to expand Socially Shared while maintaining the same supportive and welcoming culture it was built on.

A shared mission

The Community Impact Award celebrates businesses that are making a genuine difference through the work they do.

These are the businesses creating inclusive spaces, building confidence in their communities, and helping people feel connected.

That is why Karen and Socially Shared are such a natural fit for this category.

As we continue to spotlight the businesses shaping this sector, it is partners like Karen who help strengthen and support that wider community.

You can follow The Class Business Awards journey and hear more from our sponsors and judges over on our YouTube channel.