Business in the Community Award Winner – Sustainable Products and Services

Aintree Racecourse played host to business leaders from across the North West last week (25 June) as the region celebrated the best examples of responsible business at the BITC (Business in the Community) Responsible Business Awards.

Out of the 413 entries there was a win for the Lakes Free Range Egg Company – the only North West business to be recognised in the Sustainable Products and Services Award category.

Eight North West organisations were recognised with a 2014 National Big Tick for their responsible business programmes. The Lakes Free Range Egg Company won their national Big Tick for their strong focus on creating a sustainable enterprise that is a benchmark in their industry. During her presentations host and BBC Presenter Louise Machin said “my favourite fact coming out of the evening is that the Lakes have zero waste to landfill and will become a carbon neutral egg packing factory later this year.”

The Lakes has also been shortlisted for national finals of the Sustainable Products and Services Award which will be announced at Business in the Community’s National Gala Dinner on 8 July in London.

Commenting on their win, David Brass, Chief Executive at the Lakes Free Range Egg Company said “It’s a real honour. These awards benchmark against many of the leading Blue Chip organisations that work with BITC. They are established businesses with integrity and a moral compass to be responsible in business and these are the UK’s most influential, independent, peer assessed corporate responsibility awards.

It’s very flattering to be chosen as a winner and as a national finalist in a category that focuses on sustainability. From day one we have maintained a responsible approach to business which has helped us create a sustainable supply chain and develop ethical, premium products that our retail customers and UK consumers are looking for.

We are proud to sit alongside other North West winners which include E H Booths & Co, Manchester Airport Group, New Charter Housing Trust Group and the University of Manchester who are also going forward to the national finals.”

Today BITC has more than 800 companies in membership, reaching around 18 million employees. It is one of The Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is president.

The Awards are the UK’s longest-running and most respected awards recognising businesses that are making a positive difference to society and to the environment.

Commenting on the event Raksha Pattni, Area Director for Business in the Community, said: “Throughout the year responsible businesses are contributing towards building more resilient communities, stimulating local economies, creating diverse, skilled and healthy workforces and addressing skills shortages – yet these activities rarely get attention. These Awards shine a much needed spotlight on the powerful impact of business. I congratulate and thank all of the companies we are recognising for everything they are doing.”

The evening was hosted by BBC presenter Louise Minchin. The choir from the city’s Academy of St Francis of Assisi opened the event with Liverpool’s two-time Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists dance company MD Productions getting the second half of the evening off to a lively start.

The headline sponsor of the event was Jaguar Land Rover, with Accenture, the associate sponsor, and the BBC’s Outreach & Corporate Responsibility Department also supporting the event.

To find out more on the impact and background to the 20