Awards for Excellence in the North East 2008

5 businesses in the North East were awarded a ‘Big Tick’ at Business in the Community’s North East Awards for Excellence 2008 celebration event at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on the 25th June for their outstanding achievement and commitment to responsible business practice.

Amongst the winners were power company nPower, for their work in setting up Learning Resource Centres across their North East sites to help improve the basic skills of their workforce, and Sunderland-based housing provider, Gentoo, for their ‘Pupils First’ programme, which aims to raise the aspirations of young people from some of the most disadvantaged parts of the City.   

Aycliffe-based manufacturer 3M also received recognition for its eco-efficiency programme which has reduced the average amount of waste going to landfill from 70 to 18 tonnes a month and achieved almost £3m worth of savings for the company.

Three of the companies, including Eshott Hall Estate in Northumberland, who have been recognised for their pioneering work in developing sustainable rural enterprise,  have also been shortlisted for national awards to be announced at a Gala Dinner at the Royal Albert Hall in  London on July 7.

Northumbrian Water scooped BITC’s top award for its performance in the 2008 Corporate Responsibility Index: the Durham-based FTSE-250 company received the 2008 North East Impact on Society Award in recognition of its platinum ranking in the ‘Companies that Count’ Index.

Karen Wilkinson-Bell, Regional Director of Business in the Community, said:
“It is fantastic to see so many strong examples of responsible business practice here in the North East. The Big Tick means a company has demonstrated ways in which they positively make a difference to the environment, their workplace, the community or in the marketplace in which they sell, advertise or trade.”

Outgoing Managing Director of John Lewis Newcastle, John Hayes, was awarded the prestigious Prince’s Ambassador Award, for individuals whose leadership and personal commitment to responsible business practice have created a positive impact both inside their company and on wider society. The award is nominated by the President of Business in the Community, HRH The Prince of Wales, who commented:  

 “During his time at the helm in Newcastle, John led the store to become one of the region’s leading advocates for responsible business, promoting involvement in a wide range of initiatives, from an award-winning vocational placement programme for young people to community volunteering and regeneration programmes.  I am delighted to be able to recognise his contribution in this way.”

Longstanding chief executive of the Tyne Wear & Northumberland Community Foundation, George Hepburn OBE, received the M&S Sieff Award, for his work in collaborating with business to benefit society.  Under George’s leadership, the Foundation has awarded 18000 grants to community groups in the region, totalling £65million.