South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Environment Minister, Michael Meacher MP, will give the keynote address at the presentation of the SEEDA Sustainable Business Awards 2001 on 22nd November. 200 guests will attend the Awards Presentation Dinner at Epsom Racecourse.

These first SEEDA Sustainable Business Awards, planned to become an annual event, celebrate companies in the South East who show evidence of an outstanding approach to environmental management. By highlighting real achievement, the SEEDA Sustainable Business Awards aim to demonstrate to businesses in the region that making their operations more sustainable can produce real financial savings. Also, by using resources more efficiently, businesses can reduce their impact on the environment.

The SEEDA Sustainable Business Awards will also raise the profile of the region's six Business-Environment Forums (BEFs) which engage directly with companies, at a more local level, to promote 'best practice' in the area of environmental management. The 14 businesses nominated for the SEEDA Sustainable Business Awards 2001, have been put forward by the sub-regional BEFs. Each candidate has gained recognition at local level for its initiatives, many through winning an award elsewhere. Representatives of the Institute of Directors and the CBI are attending this year's Awards and will be fully involved in next year's Awards Competition.

The Awards will be presented by SEEDA's Chairman, Allan Willett, CMG DL. Each nominated company will receive a certificate and an individual 'Case Study', showcasing their specific approach to sustainable development, which can be used in company publicity. The winning company will receive the specially designed SEEDA Sustainable Business Award Trophy made from recycled glass and silver. All nominees will be entitled to use the SEEDA Sustainable Business Award logo on their letterhead as recognition of their pragmatic approach to these key priorities shared by SEEDA.