CREST21 Business Awards winners, sponsors and some of the key stakeholders in Surrey’s first sustainable business awards were finally able to meet in person at a G&T reception hosted by Silent Pool Distillers.
The Surrey Hills distillery had scooped CREST21 Awards Going Circular and Resilience in Crisis titles, and General Manager Sophie Best said: “We wanted to host the reception to recognise and reward the fantastic work being done by local small businesses to improve their sustainability credentials.
“We always say it’s lots of small changes that add up to big change, and it can’t all be done at once. Watching the CREST21 Award entry videos was inspiring, and gave us lots of new ideas of things we could implement ourselves. A short distillery tour and a large G&T seemed the perfect way to celebrate and share further ideas and knowledge amongst a wonderful group of like-minded sustainability champions!”
Terry Tidbury, Managing Director News & Mail, said: “We’re really grateful to Silent Pool Distillers for offering to host a post awards reception to celebrate with other CREST21 Award winners and our sponsors. We’re delighted that the awards have been such a great success and of course we couldn’t have done this without the University of Surrey’s Centre for the Environment and Sustainability. Based on the feedback and support we have had, everyone is keen to see the awards become an annual event so we have already started work on CREST22.”
Among those present was the Sustainability Hero of the Year Mel Hemmings, a zero waste retailer based in Woking. She receives a place on one of the University of Surrey’s week-long masters level modules through the CES. Other category winners will receive a complimentary sustainability consultation session with one of the Centre’s leading experts.
“I think these awards are a wonderful idea,” said Mel. “I’m so honoured to have won this title. I’ve been so impressed with all the businesses who entered, who are doing things that I hadn’t even been aware of.”
Deidre Richardson, CES Programme Manager, said: “We are looking forward to working with all the winners on their sustainability strategies and goals and building on our strong links within the business community in Surrey. Meeting the winners and sponsors at the wonderful Silent Pool was a delight and so very well timed after the awards.”
Carol Miller, Chairman of Woking Chamber of Commerce Environment Committee, said:”CREST21 Awards have been such a positive experience – everyone felt good about being a part of them.”
As a PR consultant, Carol has worked with the News & Mail and the CES to develop the awards and added: “The big challenge was of course the pandemic and evolving as a hybrid event. It’s wonderful that Silent Pool has given winners and sponsors a chance to meet in person.”
Photography by Bob Holmes
To find out more about the CREST Sustainable Business Awards and for news of CREST22 Awards please visit https://crestawardssurrey.co.uk/ and follow @CRESTBusiness.