Business in the Community Awards for Excellence are open for entries

Today, Business in the Community (BITC) Wales launched a call for Welsh entries for the 2011 Awards for Excellence.

Celebrating companies who are delivering successful responsible business programmes in Wales and at a national and international level, there are now two awards schemes that businesses in Wales are being encouraged to take part in.

The ‘Company of the Year’ award from BITC has further increased our reputation and means we can help more businesses reduce their environmental impact.”

Now in their seventh year, BITC’s ‘Big Ticks’ are open to businesses of all sizes across the UK, while the Wales Recognition Awards are specifically designed to reward and recognise businesses that are operating or based in Wales.

With 14 UK award categories, and five Welsh award categories spaning environmental, community, workplace and marketplace programmes, the search is now on to find inspiring examples of companies in Wales that are committed to responsible business practice and long-term sustainability.

Director for BITC Wales, Simon Harris, said: “Companies in Wales have always shown great creativity and innovation in the way they improve their impact on society and they deserve to be recognised. In 2010 nearly 30 businesses from Wales entered.  The winners tell us that they enter because it helps them reward their staff, helps them to secure contracts and sets them apart from some competitors.”

Launched in 2009, previous winners of the Wales Recognition Awards include Bluestone resort, utility and environmental consultancy UES, power station Magnox North, construction firms Costain and Wates Living Space, Principality Building Society and RCT Homes.  

Andrew Padmore, Managing Director of UES and BITC Wales’ current Company of the Year, said: “From inception we have believed in promoting best business practice, giving back to our communities and reducing environmental impact. To let the team buy in to our core values, we introduced something called the ‘The UES Way’.”

“Our corporate social responsibility commitment differentiates us from competitors and has contributed to a 90% client satisfaction rating.  The  ‘Company of the Year’ award from BITC has further increased our reputation and means we can help more businesses reduce their environmental impact.”

National award winners, or ‘Big Ticks’, were also awarded earlier this year to companies in Wales including GE Healthcare, Cadbury, Rhondda Housing Association and BHP Biliton.

Stephen Howard, chief executive, BITC, said: “BITC stands for responsible business. Each year we award the coveted Big Tick to organisations of all sizes all over the country for the programmes they run to improve their impact on people and the planet. From small businesses to the largest companies, there are hundreds of organisations doing this because it supports their company values and their desire to connect with people and places locally. We think they deserve to be recognised for what they recognise as being important to business success.” 

Sponsored in Wales by Wales & West Utilities, the winners of BITC’s awards all demonstrate what responsible business looks like in the workplace, marketplace, environment and community. The stories they unearth help BITC to share successes and inspire other businesses to start or increase their responsible business activity. Both of BITC’s award schemes are free to enter and are judged by business.

For more information about categories and to download an application pack please go to www.bitc.org.uk/wales or phone 029 2078 0050 for further information.

The closing date for entries is Friday 4 March 2011.

Notes to Editors:

The Wales Recognition Awards are open to companies operating or based in Wales:

• Wales Responsible Company of the Year Award - For the Welsh company, that through leadership and the integration of responsible business practice, is improving their business performance and their overall impact on society.
• Wales Employee Volunteering Award - For a business making a difference in the community through a sustained programme of volunteering and community engagement
• Wales Responsible Procurement Award - For a business that can demonstrate innovation and impact across their supply chain.
• Wales People Development Award - For a business making a difference by nurturing the talent and skills of its employees in the workplace and/or people in communities.
• Wales Environment Award - For a business demonstrating environmental leadership, successfully managing their environmental impact and internally managing their carbon footprint.