Influential backing for the green awards

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has urged more people to take part after agreeing to be guest speaker at this year’s dinner in May when the winners will be revealed.

The third annual competition will honour the best environmental work being carried out by business, schools, individuals and community groups

“Awards like this are hugely important in recognising all the hard work done by businesses, community groups and individuals to look after our precious environment,” said Ms Spelman.

“We all want to protect nature, and we all need to. Recognising and celebrating what people are doing to that end should I hope inspire even more people to get involved.”

Ms Spelman entered Parliament as MP for Meriden in the West Midlands in 1997 and has held various posts including Conservative whip and party chairman. She took over the Environment portfolio when the coalition was formed last spring.

She previously worked in the sugar beet industry in Paris and also wrote a book on bio-fuels whilst on maternity leave with her first child.

Businesses, schools, individuals and community groups are all invited to put themselves forward in one of 10 categories ahead of a glitzy ceremony in May.

The competition was first established to recognise the work being undertaken to help place Yorkshire at the heart of UK’s low-carbon economy.

Previous guest speakers have included Ms Spelman’s predecessor Hilary Benn, the Leeds Central MP, and Labour leader Ed Miliband, the MP for Doncaster North who was then Energy and Climate Change Secretary.

Last year’s winners included Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, which is committed to buying up and protecting an area of rainforest the size of Yorkshire; Settle Hyrdo, a £400,000 green energy plant funded and constructed by a Dales community and Ragged Robin Conservation Group, which picked up the Countryside Award.

The ceremony, at Leeds’ Queens Hotel, was hosted by Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury.

Some of the region’s leading environmentally-focused businesses are sponsoring awards categories this year.

The categories are:

n Best Environmental Business, for firms with a world-class track record on environmental and carbon-reduction policy.

n Innovation, sponsored by Science City York, for excellence in the development and deployment of new and existing environmental technologies.

n Manufacturer of the best green product, for firms making products which help reduce carbon levels and make industrial processes greener.

n Young People’s Award, sponsored by Asda, for the school, college or youth group that does most to promote environmental issues among staff, students and the community while reducing its own carbon footprint.

n Built Environment: Projects over £1m, sponsored by Grant Thornton UK, for developers, clients, architects and building professionals who break new ground in integrating environmental considerations.

n Built Environment: Projects under £1m, sponsored by Logistik, for similarly ground-breaking projects costing less than £1m.

n Countryside Award, sponsored by Northern Gas Networks, for work carried out to preserve and protect the countryside.

n Green Champion, sponsored by the Yorkshire Post, for the individual who does most to promote environmental measures. The winner may be someone who changed the culture of a workplace or community by persuading others to “think green”.

n Community Award, sponsored by Yorkshire Water, for the best and most creative schemes to make communities greener.

n Climate Change, sponsored by InterfaceFLOR, for the individual, group or business which reflects imaginative and strategic thinking in tackling or adapting to climate change. They will also consider books, papers or research works that offer solutions to climate change problems.

The master of ceremonies for this year’s event will be revealed at a later date.

An easy way to enter

entering the Yorkshire Post Environment Awards is easy.

Simply visit www.yorkshirepost.co.uk and follow the links for an online entry form, telling us why you or your organisation should win a prize.

No additional material will be included in the judging process. The closing date for entries is Friday, April 1.

Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony on Thursday, May 19.

As well as receiving a trophy, all winners will be featured in a special supplement in the Yorkshire Post.

The 2010 awards were a big success attracting nearly 100 entries covering an enormous range of projects and initiatives.