Member Article

Over 300 guests attend Responsible Business Awards

300 guests celebrated the success of companies making a difference to Yorkshire and Humber communities at the annual Responsible Business Awards.

The awards, which were held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford last night, are run by the charity, Business in the Community (BITC).

Among the winners was Paul Kelly, vice president corporate affairs, Asda Stores, who received the prestigious Prince’s Ambassadors’ Award. Paul is a member of BITC’s Yorkshire & Humber Regional Advisory Board and chair of the Asda Foundation.

Speaking via a video message at the dinner, HRH The Prince of Wales, who is president of BITC, said: “My ambassadors are those individuals who are recognised for driving the responsible business movement through the actions they take in their own workplace.

“I could not be more grateful to them for the work they do or have agreed to take on focused on the key priorities of tackling youth unemployment and building stable and sustainable local communities.”

The Employee Volunteer of the Year Award was won by Amanda Morris of International Personal Finance, based in Leeds. Amanda helped engage 38 of IPF’s employees as volunteers for the Stroke Association and raised £11,500 for the cause. Her voluntary work with Swallow Hill Community College was also recognised.

Leeds based TD Direct Investing picked up the Employee Volunteering Business Award for its Making a Difference together programme which involved staff mentoring pupils in local schools. Their work improved the reading age of pupils and provided them with an insight into the working world.

Asda scooped a second accolade with Helen Milford, vice president of people operations, customers services, awarded the annual Marks & Spencer Sieff Award, set up to recognise the importance of the next generation of business leaders.

The Sieff Award is awarded to individuals who are putting sustainability and responsible business values at the heart of their business to help transform the way we do business in the future.

Ten Yorkshire and Humber businesses received Big Tick Awards for their work within local communities and a further five businesses were re-accredited with Big Ticks.

Liz Needleman, area director England East, Business in the Community said: “The annual Responsible Business Awards celebrate not only achievements within the workplace but the difference businesses can have in communities. It’s fantastic to see the efforts put into the schemes recognised tonight, with businesses donating thousands of volunteer hours and time.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .