The client

With a multi-disciplinary and politically independent approach, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) combines cutting edge research and policy development with practical action.

The Environment Awards Forum, celebrating its tenth anniversary at the RSA, has established an Accreditation Scheme with the aim of improving the design, operation and efficacy of award schemes by accrediting awards to objective standards, ensuring that there is a benchmark for awards that reward real progress towards sustainability. Accreditation gives recognition to those award schemes that meet a robust set of criteria and by doing so demonstrate high quality and validity.

The challenge

As the Environment Awards Forum’s Secretariat, IMS Consulting had the responsibility of ensuring that the UK’s 12 finalists into the European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) were well represented and received as much publicity and promotion as possible, as well as raising the profile of the Forum and its work in progressing sustainability in UK organisations.

What did IMS do?

IMS Consulting organised an event bringing together the 12 entrants into the EBAE to showcase best practice and performance in sustainability in the UK, promoting the UK’s exemplary work in the field. The Celebration Ceremony was hosted by the Forum with certificates presented by Lord Taylor, Parliamentary under Secretary of State Defra.

What was the outcome?

The event was an important opportunity for the organisations represented, particularly SMEs, to showcase best practice but also to benchmark themselves against each other, encouraging healthy competition and networking, helping to drive forward the sustainability agenda in UK businesses.

Since the event, three of these entrants were selected as EBAE finalists, two of whom were winners, not only promoting the UK as an exemplar in sustainable business but also the work of the Forum and the Accreditation Scheme in encouraging sustainability in UK businesses.

Testimonial

“The 12 companies chosen for Europe are the cream of the crop in terms of UK environmental innovation and demonstration of their ‘green’ commitments.” - Lord Taylor, Parliamentary under Secretary of State Defra