Supporting sustainable performance

Peter Robb, Master of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, outlines the support it provides for environmental action within small and medium-sized enterprises

The Sustainable City Awards, which took place on 19^th March, were established by the City of London Corporation in 2000. Over the years the awards have become the UK’s foremost green business awards scheme; more recently acquiring the colloquial title of the ‘Green Oscars’.

The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners became involved in the awards from its inception as part of its mission to encourage and maintain high standards of practice and integrity. The Company is the Livery sponsor of the Environmental Management in Small Businesses category. This award category recognises and rewards innovative practices leading to significant improvements in environmental performance in SMEs across the UK.

WCEC is one of 23 organisations that partner the awards, which are given across 12 categories that between them represent the three pillars of sustainable development – the economy, society and the environment.

Entries to each of the categories are judged by independent judging panels established by the organisations which support a particular category. Each of the judging panels is responsible for selecting a winner, runner up and three shortlisted entries for their category. The winner and runner up of each category is passed onto the final judging panel, which is composed of a number of experts under the non-voting chairmanship of the City of London’s Head of Sustainable Development. This panel is responsible for choosing the winners of the Liveable City Trophy, and the London Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award.

Last year the Sustainable City Awards attracted over 230 applications from organisations ranging from a family owned fish and chip shop to a national supermarket.

The annual awards ceremony takes place at Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor, who attends if his schedule allows it. This year he was represented by Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE. A leading sustainability figure presents the awards on behalf of the City of London Corporation. This year’s awards were presented by ethical consumer champion, Livia Firth (wife of globally renowned actor and more lately producer, Colin Firth).

Information about the 2012-13 award winners can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/sustainability/sustainable-city-awards/

If you would like to find out more about the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners please contact the Clerk to the Company, Keith Lambert via email KeithL@wc-ec.com, telephone 0207 7041515 or visit www.wc-ec.com

Published in Cleaning & Maintenance – April 2013