Awards celebrate corporate responsibility & sustainability

Jaguar Land Rover has been crowned Business in the Community’s 2013 Responsible Business of the Year, taking over the mantle from British high street stalwart Marks & Spencer.

The luxury car manufacturer was praised for its investment in new technologies including engine efficiency, lightweight materials (that mean vehicles need less power) and hybrid vehicles, to reduce tailpipe emissions. It won recognition through its school and work-based activities that have enabled 2m young people to improve their skills and learn more about engineering and technical careers. More than 200,000 young people from 50 schools have participated in its Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers programme.

Building contractor Lakehouse, won the Santander Responsible Small Business of the Year award. Over the past year, it has invested more than £600,000 in new apprenticeships and trainee schemes, as well as £350,000 in community projects. The company’s work has helped to recruit and retain staff and win new business, including contracts with homelessness charity Thames Reach.

Milk producer Diary Crest won two awards on the night receiving both the Sustainable Supply Chain and the Marketplace Sustainability Leadership accolades.

The Education Award to Gentoo Group, which through its partnership with Academy 360, an independent academy for pupils aged four to 16 in Sunderland, the housing and social care group has invested £1m in a school which serves one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.

Other award winners on the night were: Marks & Spencer (Workwell Award); GI Group Recruitment (Workplace Talent & Skills) Star Pubs & Bars (part of the Heineken Company, Enterprise Growth Award); Wates Group (Work Inclusion Award); Jobsite UK (Inspiring Social Action in Young People Award); East of England Co-operative Society (Rural Action Award ); B&Q (Customer Engagement on Sustainability Award) and The Body Shop (International Award).

2degrees, the online network for sustainability professionals, also announced the winners of its inaugural Sustainability Champions Awards 2013 last month.

The awards selected and voted for by members of the 2degrees community, recognized the best examples of sustainability practice from across a range of sectors, with 34 shortlisted entries challenging for the top prize across 12 categories, from energy management, to buildings and property, to supporting players.

Telefonica O2 UK, SC Johnson and Unilever won in the Internal Engagement, Energy & Carbon Management (long term) and Supply Chain Management categories respectively. Molson Coors Brewing Company came top in Water Management for its water stewardship work, while the Pop-Up-Foundation waved the flag for small business enterprises in Solution of the Year, for their initiative to design and develop sustainable solutions for our urban world. In personal categories rewarding people’s exceptional work behind-the-scenes Daniella Vega from Sky was voted the Sustainability Champion of the Year and Lucy Findlay from Social Enterprise Mark Company recognized as the Supporting Player of the Year.

Martin Chilcott, founder and ceo of 2degrees said: “From projects being published on 2degrees, to a unique judging process entirely based on votes from peers, to the ceremony itself – the awards encouraged and realized a plethora of creative stakeholder engagement opportunities for nominees’ success stories. Overall, we were overwhelmed by the sheer quality and number of entries that came through.”