Marks & Spencer has been recognised as the top company in the UK for responsible business, being named Company of the Year 2006, at Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence.
The Awards for Excellence, announced by the His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to an audience of 1500 business leaders, recognise some of the biggest names in business, whose responsible business activities have a positive impact on society and the environment.
Over 200 companies were involved in the judging for the Awards for Excellence making them the most prestigious and largest peer judged awards on responsible business practice.
At this year’s event a special presentation was made by members of the UK Youth Parliament and Oxfam’s International Youth Parliament, calling on business leaders to listen to the concerns of youth and to take action to address issues such as climate change. The Prince of Wales also challenged business and the need to prioritise actions to minimise the impact of climate change.
Presenting Marks & Spencer Chief Executive, Stuart Rose with the Company of the Year Award, His Royal Highness paid tribute to the company’s ongoing commitment to its values and improving its impact on the community.
“M&S had a hugely successful year on the high street and has not only almost reinvented itself but in doing so has never sacrificed its commitment to responsible business practice – indeed it has continued to lead the way,” The Prince continued.
“For instance, this year it has become the first major retailer to introduce a range of Fairtrade cotton clothing. It has made a unique pledge to Britain’s diary farmers, guaranteeing them a fixed price for their milk. And, it has converted all its sandwich packaging to cardboard sourced from sustainable forests.”
This is the second time M&S has been named Company of the Year (the first in 2004), with strong competition from finalists including highly commended, Boots Group. M&S also secured two other Awards; Employability Award, for Marks & Start, their programme which has helped 2500 unemployed people get back to work and the BT Cause Related Business Award for their partnership with Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Business in the Community Chief Executive, Julia Cleverdon said M&S continued to take leadership on issues where many companies would turn a ‘blind-eye’ including animal welfare, non-GM foods, labour standards, fish sourcing and pesticides.
“M&S’s ongoing commitment to responsible business broke new ground this year, with their Look Behind the Label campaign – the first time a major retailer has launched a significant marketing campaign focusing on telling its customers about the way products are sourced and made,” she said.
The Prince also appointed two UK business leaders as his Ambassadors for the year; Allan Leighton, chairman of Royal Mail Group for his leadership on race diversity in the workplace and Sir Stuart Hampson, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership for championing community regeneration.
Cooperative Financial Services won the Environment Award for taking the lead on climate change and Waitrose won the HBOS Supply Chain Award for their responsible supply chain across 60 countries. SABMiller’s Zambian Breweries (Citigroup International Award) was also recognised for their work helping to combat poverty in Zambia.
Fonebak, the world’s first mobile recycling scheme was recognised with the Vodafone Innovation Award, while Parcelforce Worldwide won the UnumProvident Healthy Workplaces Award for their programme to create a safer and healthier workforce.
David Constantine, a pioneering businessman and founder of the charity Motivation, was recognised on the evening with the national Marks & Spencer Sieff Award for his 15 year commitment to empowering people with mobility disabilities.
For more information:
Business in the Community: Olivia Wirth 07810768686
The Prince of Wales's Press Office: Hannah Howard 020 7024 5729
Background on M&S
Over the past 12 months, M&S has introduced more responsible innovations than any year, with achievements including:
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first major retailer in the UK to introduce a range of Fairtrade cotton clothing to stores and convert all tea and coffee to Fairtrade
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met salt reduction targets agreed between the retail sector and Food Standards Agency (FSA) four years ahead of schedule, removed additives such as hydrogenated fats from over 700 prepared products, and launched a range of prepared food that is totally additive-free
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assessed over 1,250 clothing, food and homewear suppliers against Global Sourcing Principles
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led the development of a new approach to managing labour standards in supply chains allowing retailers to share audit results and better track issues
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introduced a unique ‘Milk Pledge’ which provides British milk farmers with security through a guaranteed price
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provided work experience for 2,500 people, including the homeless and disabled
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converted sandwich packaging to cardboard sourced from well managed forests.
