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CREST 22 Business Awards Press Release

24th May 2022

Mum who helped feed thousands takes green award podium alongside McLaren Applied

Socially aware mum, Raj Kumari Byford, founder of One Thought Changes All, is Sustainability Hero 2022, winning one of the six coveted titles in Surrey’s only green business awards, CREST22, alongside global technology leaders McLaren Applied.

CREST22 Business Awards presentation at the headquarters of the WWF UK in Woking, Surrey, last night, was a calendar highlight for one of the UK’s most thriving economies as the winners were named from a shortlist of 17 businesses chosen by a panel of environment and sustainability experts.

McLaren Applied’s winning entry for Smarter Transport was for research and development work that includes a key component for delivering the next generation of electric vehicles, weight reduction technology for train carriages and a fuel analytics platform to reduce carbon emissions.

Until recently part of the larger supercar and motorsport business McLaren Group, McLaren Applied is now privately owned and able to focus fully on its technology products and solutions, while continuing to maintain close ties with the racing brand.

“As a Surrey-based employer, we’re proud to see our locally-developed solutions being recognised for the pioneering role they play in the transition to more efficient and lower carbon forms of transport” commented Samir Maha, Business Director, McLaren Applied.

Meanwhile, Raj, a mum from Weybridge set up her not-for-profit business on the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She felt morally obliged to help feed the thousands of vulnerable residents who were struggling to cope and within 100 days she was joined by two more socially aware mums, Goodie & Laura and between them, they fed thousands of families and set about to provide families with affordable, sustainable protective masks and snoods.

On receiving her award Raj said: “This award will enable 1TcA to now open more doors to help create more environmentally friendly projects to help ensure we have a sustainable future  for our citizens of the future.”

Currently, 1TcA is working with trusted partners in Ukraine, Polish borders and Slovakian borders to provide essentials and cash for each family to help them travel on to their destination. It is also preparing Welcome Bags of Hope for families arriving into the U.K.

One of the most hotly contested categories was Sustainability Impact which had such a large number of high-quality entries that the judges chose six finalists – three more than required. The winner was Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Burial Ground on the outskirts of Guildford.

Among the other winners were Efficiency Champion PlantPassion, where owner Claire Brown, whose farm in East Clandon in the Surrey Hills, grows seasonal sustainable flowers.

Nordic Wellness Drinks, which produces Kefir based fruit drinks aiming to educate and support local communities about natural, good health, took the Going Circular title.

Crumbs Brewing won this year’s Transforming Food award for its beer made from unsold loaves from their local bakery which they turn into beer. Each beer is brewed using a different loaf, reflecting the character of the bread.

Reigate couple Morgan and Elaine Arnell, who launched the brewery, had been driven by a desire to do something positive to fight the growing problem of food waste.

They claim to have rescued over 30,000 loaves from being wasted – roughly a slice in every pint!

The awards are run in association with the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability.

Professor Angela Druckman, Director of the CES and Professor of Sustainable Consumption and Production and her team have helped contribute to the creation of the awards and give each category award winner the chance to receive sustainable business consultancy advice and CDP training while the Hero winner gets the chance to attend one of the university’s masters level week-long modules.

Prof. Druckman said: “The Centre for Environment & Sustainability (CES) at the University of Surrey is delighted to support the CREST22 Awards. CES is keen to work with local businesses to help them become more sustainable.”

Surrey County Council Headline Sponsor and Smarter Transport Award Sponsor said: “Surrey County Council is delighted to be headline sponsor and recognise businesses who are working so hard to reduce carbon emissions in Surrey. As a council we are committed to becoming net zero ourselves by 2030 and as a county by 2050 but we need everyone to play their part as the businesses and individuals celebrated at the award ceremony are demonstrating so well. We’re here to support other small and medium businesses to go greener by providing LoCase grants of up to £10, 000.More information is available at www.locase.co.uk.”

For more information please visit https://crestawardssurrey.co.uk/ and follow CREST Business Awards on LinkedIn and Twitter at @CRESTBusiness .