Raising the Bar Awards 2022
Economy Winner: Mott MacDonald
Economy Highly Commended: Resume Foundation & Rance Booth Smith Architects
Environment Winner: Harrogate Spring Water
Environment Highly Commended: Mott MacDonald & Rance Booth Smith Architects
Education Winner: Exa Networks
Education Highly Commended: Sound Leisure & Mott MacDonald
Community Winner: Regal Foods
Community Highly Commended: Airedale Chemical, Bradford Bulls & Latimer by Clarion Housing Group
The West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Raising the Bar Awards returned for 2022 following a two-year hiatus, thanks to sponsorship from Provident Financial Group, Drax, HSBC, Solenis and Latimer by Clarion Housing Group.
Raising the Bar exists to encourage businesses to think consciously about the impact they are having on their community and the environment. Through the Raising the Bar platform, organisations can promote their social impact activities, record and monitor their progress, and find charities and not-for-profits looking for support.
The annual Raising the Bar Awards have been a key date in the regional business calendar since the initiative’s inception ten years ago. The 2022 event took place on Wednesday 30 November at the Civic Hall in Leeds.
The evening was hosted by local legend and frequent Raising the Bar supporter Andrew Edwards, host of BBC Radio Leeds. Guests also heard from Mark Farnsworth, Managing Director of Tong Garden Centre, who shared the company’s inspiring story of growth into an award-winning, family retail destination.
Honours were presented in four categories; Economy, Education, Environment and Community. This year’s panel of judges were blown away by the calibre of applications, with more businesses than ever before entering the prestigious awards.
The awards enable businesses and employees to be recognised for all the hard work they put in to improve their local areas and also the region they work and live in.
The Raising the Bar awards are one of the highlights of the region\'s business calendar and celebrate the achievements businesses have made in the key areas of Community, Economy, Education and Environment.
"Raising the Bar is a fantastic way to recognise and share best practice within the region. We were delighted to win an award, our team of Solenis volunteers work really hard in the Science Lab, for kids and fully deserved the recognition."
Solenis (formerly BASF)
Joanne Love, Site Communicator
"Raising the Bar celebrates the positive impact that companies are making on the local community. We're working with many local schools, promoting engineering and construction; and we're delighted to have our efforts recognised. The awards ceremony allowed us to see some of the other amazing initiatives, which are having positive impacts across Yorkshire."
Curtins
Suzanne Cocker, Business Development Assistant
"Our mission is to be a leader in the integration of communities by providing interpreting, employment and impactful social return initiatives to support people to live healthier, happier lives. Winning the Raising The Bar award allows us to shine a light on our work and to celebrate all those involve in making a difference in people's lives."
Enable2 CIC
Liz Weatherall, Managing Director
"We've been supporting the Bradford community for over 100 years now and it's been fantastic to be recognised as a responsible business at the Raising the Bar awards and for our team to receive the acknowledgment they deserve for all their hard work and commitment to our home city."
Naylor Wintersgill
Victoria Wainwright, Managing Director
"Winning the Raising the Bar community award is an honour that means a lot to everyone at Roche Legal as it has allowed us to showcase the extensive community and charity work we undertake. It is incredibly inspiring to be recognised alongside other small businesses who also do such wonderful work for the benefit of local people and organisations. We will continue our commitment to support local good causes and look forward to organising many more events and initiatives in the years to come."
Roche Legal
Rachel Roche, Managing Director
"Raising the Bar has been a fantastic initiative for helping us with our social responsibility aims. Winning an award in 2018 was great recognition for our team and inspires us to continue to help the local community."
Hungate by Lendlease
Steven Graham, Community Liaison Manager
"Winning a Raising the Bar award in 2018 was excellent recognition for our team and inspires us to do more to improve our local environment."
Mott MacDonald
Emma Wren, Principal Hydrologist
"Raising the Bar is a great way to benchmark yourself and to get recognition for something that most businesses are doing anyway. Winning an Award provided our team with a great sense of achievement and pride."
B&M Waste Services
Jayne Kennedy, Marketing Manager
"The awards themselves are inspirational, it's great to see the work that others do, and a chance to share ideas."
Jayne Talbot - Christeyns
Jayne Talbot