Award for firms who think of environment

Mar 31 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A NEW award has been launched to recognise Huddersfield town centre businesses with sound environmental credentials.

The Green Business Award has been developed from Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership’s existing Tidy Trader Award. The new award is a partnership between HTCP, Kirklees Council and the Green Business Network.

There are now two awards, the new Green Business Award and the annual Tidy Trader Award.

Julia Lilof, of HTCP, said: “The new award aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and help firms save money – for example by cutting energy and water use.

“The Green Business Network will support the scheme through its ‘environmental toolkits’ for businesses in the hospitality, retail, office and manufacturing sectors.

“The toolkits provide hints to help firms reduce their environmental impact and save money. They also include a list of the current environmental legislation relevant to each sector and a list of local recyclers for different kinds of waste.”

Ms Lilof said funding from Kirklees Council meant the Green Business Network was also be offering free environmental audits to businesses across the district.

Firms entering the Green and Tidy Business Awards will also be entered in a free prize draw, with a chance of winning environmental goodies. The firms judged to be the top three environmental businesses will get £250, £150 and £100 respectively to make further green improvements.

All entrants to the Tidy Trader competition will be awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates with the overall winner lifting the Huddersfield Civic Society silver trophy.

All businesses will also be able to claim a free environmental toolkit or a free audit.

Town centre businesses will receive entry forms for both awards in the post in the next few weeks. Completed forms should be returned to HTCP by Friday, May 2.

Contact Jim Porter at the Green Business Network on 01422 316661 or Julia Lilof at HTCP on 01484 487933.