Reaping rewards for responsibility

01/07/2008

Recognition is pouring in for a very responsible North East company.

Northumbrian Water has recently scooped two prestigious awards at Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence 2008, placing the company as the number one multi-utility business in the UK for corporate responsibility.

The water company received platinum ranking in Business in the Community’s Companies that Count index, achieving a top-tier score for commitment to the environment and community, and was also awarded the Impact on Society award in Business in the Community’s Big Tick awards 2008, for its Just an hour scheme.

Just an hour encourages Northumbrian Water employees to spend at least 15 hours of paid, work time every year supporting initiatives from Berwick down to North Yorkshire and across to the Pennines. Since the scheme was launched in 2002, water workers have spent more than 20,000 hours improving local communities and the environment.

In addition to the Just an hour scheme, Northumbrian Water also provides support by way of partnerships, sponsorship activities, grant giving and donations.

John Cuthbert, Managing Director of Northumbrian Water, said: “Our main priority as a business is providing customers with essential water and wastewater services. Alongside this, we believe we have an important role, working with local communities and partners, to contribute to the areas we serve and to enhance the environment.

“I am extremely proud of the part our employees play in delivering this. Without their enthusiasm and commitment none of what we achieve with our corporate responsibility activities would be possible.”

Northumbrian Water uses a wheel model with five segments (customer, competitiveness, environment, reputation and people) to ensure corporate responsibility is at the heart of everything it does. This model can be viewed in a document titled ‘Corporate Responsibility Highlights’.

Education is an integral part of the company’s corporate responsibility programme and it is lead sponsor of Castle View Enterprise Academy, Sunderland, due to open in September 2009.

The academy is part of Sunderland City Council’s £120million Building Schools for the Future programme and will give students better access to further education and employment.

Northumbrian Water is also one of the principal partners of the Northern Kites project, which was formed to re-introduce and, ultimately, re-establish the red kite as a breeding bird in North East England. Northumbrian Water provides a safe and secure location for many of the red kites to be reared before release.

For further information please contact Leanne Clough on 0191 301 6733.

John Cuthbert, Managing Director,  from Northumbrian Water, collecting his ' Impact on Society Award' from Kate Welch OBE, Chief Executive of Acumen Development Trust and One North East Board Member, and Stephen Howard, Chief Executive Business in the Community.