BITC Cymru unveils most responsible companies in Wales

Costain and Capital Network Solutions were announced as the Wales Responsible Large and Small Responsible Businesses of the Year and five other winners were confirmed in categories covering work in schools, with the next generation of employees, communities, environmental matters and workplace wellbeing.

The announcements were made at the Wales Responsible Business Awards Gala Dinner, held at The SSE SWALEC on Thursday 29 June, a high profile event, hosted by Lucy and Rhodri Owen from BBC Cymru Wales. The awards, managed by Business in the Community (BITC) Cymru, recognise the very best of responsible business and how companies across Wales are making a positive difference to the challenges shared by business and society.

Whilst Capital Network Solutions and Rhondda Housing Assocation have been shortlisted in previous years, all of the other five award winners (including Costain) were new to the Wales Responsible Business Awards this year.

Matt Appleby, Director of Business in the Community Cymru added:

“When the awards opened for entries back in November we called on companies across Wales to stand up and be counted as the most responsible companies in the country. True to form, Welsh businsses answered that call and shared some amazing stories of working with communities, schools, their employees and in their local environment; doing business in a better way.

“The judges knew in March they would have a tough time determining the winners, but once again their hard work has paid off and now the winners of the 2017 awards are those companies which are helping to lead the responsible movement in Wales.”

Alun Griffiths Contractors won the GE Aviation Wales Inspiring Young Talent Award for its Apprentice+ progamme which is supporting young people through training and into employment. Rhondda Housing Association secured the Wellbeing at Work Award, sponsored by Principality Building Society for a comprehensive approach to workplace mental and physical wellbeing through its HAPUS Initiative. IKEA Cardiff won the Dŵr Cymru Environmental Leadership Award for how they are engaging with customers and suppliers to reduce product and in-store waste. Mott MacDonald scooped the Wales & West Utilities Building Stronger Communities prize for its work in Aberfan, supporting community groups whilst at the same time developing new local infrastructure. In the NPTC Group of Colleges Education Award, Bouygues UK took home the award for their Wales Education Programme; which brings STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and construction skills into schools across Wales.


If you want to catch up on all the Winner case studies, their stories and films, visit the #WalesRBAwards section of our website here. You can also take a look at the BITC Cymru Flickr album from the Gala Dinner 2017!


Matt Appleby added:

“Congratulations to every company that made the shortlist and of course the 2017 winners. BITC Cymru is looking forward to working with all the winning businesses to continue to make an impact on the challenges we share as a nation. While the party from last night might be over, the hard work starts now to grow the responsible business movement in Wales and share the stories of how the nature of business is changing for the better.”

The Gala Dinner also featured the appointment of the new Prince’s Ambassador for Responsible Business in Wales, a position which Chris Nott OBE (Senior Partner, Capital Law LLP) will take over from Michael Hayden (Head of Business & Corporate Banking – West Wales, Barclays Bank). Chris is a senior partner at Capital Law LLP and outside of the practice he is a leading advocate for the development of the business environment in Wales. He is the chair of the Welsh Government’s Financial & Professional Services Sector Panel and in 2016 received an OBE for services to business and economic development in Wales. In his new role as the Prince’s Ambassador for Wales, Chris will liaise directly between HRH The Prince of Wales and BITC Cymru to support the growth of the responsible business movement in Wales.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Nott said: “Businesses have a responsibility to help others succeed. People often think there’s a clash between doing business and doing business responsibly. I don’t think there is, in fact, I think working responsibly (together) creates a powerful force that can positively impact clients, colleagues, communities, the environment and of course, the bottom line.

“So, over the next couple of years, I’m going to meet people from different businesses to learn about what working responsibly means to them and share their experiences of doing so.”

The Awards and Gala Dinner are sponsored by the Welsh Government, Wales & West Utilities, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, GE Aviation Wales and the NPTC Group of Colleges. Finance Wales kindly hosted the Awards judging day and Media Wales is the 2017 Awards media partner.

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