Last night saw a packed house at the iconic Leeds Civic Hall for the 6th annual West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Raising the Bar Awards.
Attendees from across the business community came out to applaud the excellent work of companies in Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire over the past twelve months.
The Awards themselves were hosted by BBC Radio Leeds’ Andrew Edwards and once again supported by longtime Raising the Bar Partners the Provident Financial Group and Environment award sponsors LeedsBID.
Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District), said:
“We are delighted to once again have been involved with West & North Yorkshire Raising the Bar Awards.”
Winners were announced across six categories (full list below). These included the critical areas of the community, education, economy and the environment, with a new category celebrating individual contribution within an organisation.
Winners
Economy – The Broadway Shopping Centre
Education – Gordons LLP
Environment – Hungate York Regeneration
Community (Under 150 Employees) – Garbutt+ Elliott
Community (Over 150 Employees) – Arena Group
Individual – Charlene Wortley of SCP
Raising the Bar Judges Said:
“What we felt most clearly encapsulated the hard work of this year’s applicants was the numbers we saw attached to submissions. Raising the Bar 2017 applicants raised a combined £320,000 along with a collective 20,000 hours of volunteered time given up to support their chosen causes.
We saw significant first-hand examples of what the region’s businesses do beyond their regular call of duty to make Bradford, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire better places to live and work in.”
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Sandy Needham said:
“I am thrilled that Raising the Bar, now in its sixth year continues to grow and develop. The commitment by the business community to act more responsibly is something the Chamber will continue to champion and support.
This year’s winners exemplified what corporate social responsibility means, from tireless environmental commitments by Hungate York to the incredible fundraising efforts of Arena Group it’s indeed been the most impressive year to date.”
