HRH The Prince of Wales' charity Business in the Community (BITC) is calling on companies in the building sector to showcase how they are taking practical action to address pressing issues, as the 2016 Responsible Business Awards opens for entries.
The awards champion responsible business in the UK and abroad. They identify and celebrate inspiring examples of businesses making a difference by creating stronger communities, building more inclusive workplaces and tackling societal and environmental challenges.
Now in its 19th year, the awards are open to companies of all sizes - from SMEs to multi-national companies - and across all sectors. It represents the breadth of the growing responsible business movement with categories appealing to a wide range of positive business activities such as:
• Investing in the wellbeing of employees.
• Helping young people develop skills for the future.
• Stimulating a local economy.
• Supporting rural communities to using natural resources more sustainably.
Duncan Tait, Head of EMEIA region for Fujitsu, winner of Business in the Community's prestigious Responsible Business of the Year 2015 said: "Projecting forward 20 years, world population growth, energy issues, air pollution, food and water shortages and an ageing population will impact every government and business. Solving these issues responsibly will be a fundamental driver of a business's ability to grow and become financially sustainable. The Responsible Business Awards shine a spotlight on those businesses creating innovative and sustainable solutions to our most pressing challenges and I implore all businesses, regardless of size or sector, to stand up and be counted for the work they are doing to make a lasting difference."
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said: "The Responsible Business Awards are so powerful because they provide tangible, practical examples of how businesses are making a difference every day to the pressing local and global challenges affecting us all. The awards reward those actions which both drive change in our communities, and deliver real benefit to business in the process. By lifting up those that genuinely inspire, we show that businesses are very much part of the solution to building a fairer and more sustainable future. We encourage firms in the building sector to get involved."
Member companies of BITC include ABB, water utilities such as Anglian, South West and Welsh Water, plus MHW and Siemens.
The closing date for entries is 12 February 2016. For further information visit www.bitc.org.uk/awards
