CREST23 Business Awards are “fantastic” was the unanimous verdict on Surrey’s only green business awards as the HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Mr Michael More-Molyneux officially declared them open to entries on Monday 6 March.
The launch of CREST23 – now recognised as a showcase for sustainable business in Surrey – in their rebranded format, brought together a number of business owners including former award winners such as CREST22 Smarter Transport winner McLaren Applied and sponsors Surrey County Council, the WWF, Holdsway and supporters Surrey Chamber of Commerce and Surrey Hills Enterprises, as well as Jonathan Lord, MP for Woking.
Speaking at Clandon Wood Nature Reserve, itself a CREST22 winner, Mr More-Molyneux said: “To be the only Sustainability Business awards in Surrey is, I think, fantastic and exciting.”
He remarked on the change in attitude that businesses, as well as farmers like himself, have towards the environment, making the aim to get to carbon net zero one of their key objectives and said: “I know many of you here are huge enthusiasts of what CREST is doing and of the countryside, so, all I can say is please keep up the good work and let us go on and save our planet together.”
The awards programme works in association with the University of Surrey and alongside a complete rebranding with new award categories, it has launched CREST Consortium, a new think tank body that seeks to make Surrey the UK’s green business hub.
Representing Headline Sponsor, Surrey County Council, Katie Sargent, Greener Futures Group Manager for the council, said: “The reason we sponsor CREST is because it really does align very closely with what we’re trying to achieve through the local authority network in the county and also more widely in the public and private sector.”
She drew attention to the fact that businesses are responsible for approximately 25% of the county’s emissions and explained that the council wants to work in partnership with businesses to try reduce that “big chunk of carbon”.
In 2019 the Council, realised that engagement was going to be critical to work with businesses and communicating its messages and signposting.
“Fortuitously, that’s when we heard about CREST,” she said, adding: “It’s really lovely that there was an independent award programme that is supported by the university and Surrey Chambers and it’s just the perfect solution and hopefully we will be able to continue to support CREST.”
Katie, who is also on the CREST Awards judging panel commented: “It’s been really eye-opening for me to see the types of businesses that come forward and to read the nominations and see the great stuff that’s happening and then celebrate that at the lovely award event that Carol Miller and Terry Tidbury (the Co-Directors) put on every year it’s been fantastic. I really hope this network can continue to grow.”
The awards day will be hosted by the WWF at its Living Planet Centre UK headquarters on 26 October 2023. The day is set to include sustainability workshops by leading experts on business sustainability as well as the CREST green businesses exhibition.
The deadline for entries is 26 May 2023 and companies and organisations can enter through the website on our APPLY page and you can find out more about the Awards here
The CREST23 Business Awards Categories are:
- Sustainability Impact – Larger Businesses (t/o over £1m)
- Sustainability Impact – Smaller Businesses (t/o up to £1m)
- Circular Efficiency Award
- Smarter Transport Award
- Transforming Food Award
- Community Impact
- Restoring Nature
- Judges’ choice – Sustainability Hero Award