Businesses and organisations from across Bristol were rewarded for their efforts in driving environmental sustainability in the workplace at the inaugural Go Green Awards last night. 
Go Green was launched in February last year and is a collaboration between business leadership organisations Business West and Low Carbon South West. The initiative was put in place to signpost organisations to resources that can help them be greener and recognise the efforts made to create a greener environment at work.
The ceremony was held at The Bristol hotel and featured 13 awards across the five themes of Go Green which include Energy & Efficiency; Travel & Transport; Planning & Resilience, to prepare for future changes; Sustainable Sourcing; and Happy & Healthy to encourage community spirit.
Results as follows:
- Best Newcomer Sustainable Sourcing, sponsored by Natracare
Highly Commended: Destination Bristol
Winner: Sift
- Most Improved Sustainable Sourcing
Winner: Computershare
- Best Newcomer Travel & Transport, sponsored by Ashfords LLP
Winner: Arkbound
- Most Improved Travel & Transport, sponsored by Nissan GB and Wessex Garages
Highly Commended: Knowle West Media Centre
Winner: Alder King
- Best Newcomer Energy & Efficiency, sponsored by Energy & Technical Services
Highly Commended: The Bristol
Winner: Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology
- Most Improved Energy & Efficiency, sponsored by Global Design Solutions
Highly Commended: Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner: University of the West of England
- Best Newcomer Happy & Healthy, sponsored by Fresh-range
Highly Commended: United Communities
Winner: The Bristol
- Most Improved Happy & Healthy
Highly Commended: Sift Ltd
Winner: Stride Treglown
- Best Newcomer Planning & Resilience, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner: Harmsen Tilney Shane
- Most Improved Planning & Resilience, sponsored by University of the West of England
Winner: Royal Bank of Scotland
- Driving Force Award, sponsored by Almeda
Highly Commended: Jade Carter, Ashfords LLP
Highly Commended: UWE Green Capital Team
Winner: Laura Miller, Stripe OLT
- Bristol’s Best Green Small Business
Winner: Alec French Architects
- Bristol’s Best Green Small Business FSB Member
Winner: Roll for the Soul
Both ‘Bristol’s Best Green Small Business’ awards included cash prizes provided by the FSB to help with the cost of implementing future green initiatives.
James Durie, chief executive of Bristol Chamber of Commerce & West of England Initiative at Business West said: “Go Green has been a very successful program during the European Green Capital year to encourage businesses across the city to make their own businesses more sustainable. We are proud that over 1000 businesses have got involved and have been impressed by the way our members, both new to the agenda as well as long term advocates, have come together to use the Go Green tools and events to share their experiences and make improvements.
“With thousands of businesses and employers taking steps towards more sustainable ways of working, the awards highlight just how far we have come. There has been some real changes in thinking and behaviour in our business community. This initiative is far from over, and we encourage many more organisations to get involved this year.”
Low Carbon South West executive director Alan Bailey, added: “The awards were a fantastic celebration of what can be achieved in a single year when an easy to use framework like the Go Green Tool takes the strain for you. Go Green has been brilliant for matching up the demand and supply side of the green marketplace in the region and we look forward to supporting this rapidly expanding sector in 2016.”
The ceremony was also generously sponsored by Bristol Airport and Brunel Professional Risks.
Go Green is a tool open to every business, charity and public sector organisation who want to make a difference to their local environment. For more information or to sign up to the scheme visit http://gogreenbusiness.co.uk/
