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CREST22 Business Awards brings value to being green

17th February 2022

CREST22 Business Awards – Surrey’s only green business awards – are showing commercial teeth in one of the UK’s wealthiest economies.

The awards launched on 31 January, will be held on 19 May in the UK head offices of the WWF, which has given CREST Awards its support from the outset, despite the challenges that COVID lockdowns created forcing the inaugural event to be held as a hybrid in May last year.

While opening its doors to stakeholders of all sizes that work within Surrey’s boundaries, CREST Business Awards showcases the work of companies and organisations in the county that are taking action on climate change, which in the wake of COP26 has become an imperative.

Returning sponsor Mayer Brown Ltd has opted to back the Going Circular Award category for the second year. Andrea Hughes, Mayer Brown Ltd Technical Director says: “We have returned as a sponsor because of the positive experience of being involved previously. We also wish to be involved in pushing the sustainability agenda and to do this within our community and finally, due to the calibre and credibility of the other organisations involved.”

Following the UN conference in Glasgow last November, most big UK firms and financial institutions are expected to show how they intend to hit climate change targets, under proposed Treasury rules. Although the government has contentiously not made these commitments mandatory, it is setting up a task force of experts to set the standards the plans need to meet.

Surrey’s economy is the largest in the South East, with the highest GDP per capita of any county in England, and the awards are showing how organisations are working towards government targets, seen as an important initiative in this respect by its Headline Sponsor Surrey County Council.

Cllr Marisa Heath, Surrey Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, says: “We’re delighted to be headline sponsor for the CREST awards again next year. It’s a great initiative to shine a light on the fantastic work Surrey businesses are doing to reduce their carbon footprint. Supporting the green economy in Surrey is an essential part of helping us achieve our aim of being a net zero carbon county by 2050.”

In addition to Surrey Council, sponsors include, Mayer Brown, Holdsway, Surrey Chamber of Commerce, Surrey BNI, WWF UK and Surrey Business Magazine with support from Bauer Media.

On the flip side of the value coin, CREST21 Business Transforming Food Award winner Danielle Bekker says: “The value of the CES consultation through CREST Business Awards has been in helping me to think differently about what we stand for and to better integrate that sustainability message into who we are as a business.”

Free to enter, the awards work in association with the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability and the Woking News & Mail. Entrants can enter any of the five award categories: Transforming Food, Going Circular, Efficiency Champion, Sustainability Impact and Smarter Transport. A further sixth accolade will be given the 2022 Sustainability Hero, judges’ choice for the business or individual who has shown outstanding performance in all aspects of sustainability.

The Sustainability Hero will receive the opportunity of a complimentary place on a week-long master level modules run by the CES. Category winners will receive a complimentary sustainability consultation session with one of the Centre’s leading academics.

For more information about how to enter CREST22 Business Awards, visit https://crestawardssurrey.co.uk/crest22-applications/.