Two Bournemouth schools have given their ringing endorsement to six green-minded businesses.
Avonbourne and Harewood colleges held their Earth Charter Awards where students judge and award businesses that go above and beyond in instilling green and people values.
This year’s winners were: Hunny Bears Bee Products of Charlton Marshall; LV=, which has its national headquarters in Bournemouth; local bus company Yellow Buses; Bournemouth’s The Littledown Centre; Ringwood’s Eco Food Recycling; and financial services firm, J.P. Morgan.
The businesses picked up their awards, which were sponsored by Castlepoint Shopping Park, at a special ceremony hosted by the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth.
Executive headteacher of Avonbourne and Harewood colleges, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “The wonderful thing about these awards is that they were judged by students alone.
“Our young people care very much about the planet they live in. They really wanted to say thank you to local businesses that are playing an important role in looking after their environment and employees.
“These awards are a ringing endorsement from the future generation.”
Hunny Bears Bees Products scooped the award for engagement in sustainability. The students judged the company as being the best organisation that tackles sustainable issues and makes a substantial difference to its community.
The award for respecting and valuing employees went to LV= for going beyond the standard benefits for its workforce.
LV= was recognised for creating a place of work where the individual is respected and health and happiness is valued.
Yellow Buses, the brighter bus company, won the best community footprint award.
This recognises the company’s efforts to take into full account its responsibility to every community it comes into contact with.
The business judged to have the most environmentally friendly ethos was Bournemouth leisure centre, The Littledown Centre.
This award recognises The Littledown Centre’s commitment to respect both human and environmental rights across its supply chain.
Ringwood-based Eco Food Recycling won the considerate management of waste and recycling award.
Eco Food Recycling was given this award by the students for taking the lead in the way it recycles its products.
And financial services firm J.P. Morgan, which employs 4,000 people at its Technology & Operations centre in Bournemouth, was recognised for enabling equal opportunities.
Aaron Manners, J.P. Morgan, commented: “We are thrilled to receive this award in recognition of our focus on Diversity & Inclusion and to have participated in this great event with Avonbourne and Harewood Colleges”.
Gareth Edwards, Customer Services Manager at Yellow Buses, said: “We were delighted to receive the award.
“Our Carbon Stoppers initiative continues to raise awareness in the community and it’s fantastic to see these students involved in such a great project.”
