United Utilities scoops top award

WATER services group United Utilities has scooped the top national award for responsible business practice.

The quoted business, which runs water and waste water services in the North West, has won Business in the Community’s (BITC) Company of the Year award.

BITC president, the Prince of Wales, named United Utilities as the winner of the competition at a garden party reception at his Clarence House home.

Only seven companies were eligible to enter the Company of the Year competition after achieving the Platinum + standard in BITC’s corporate responsibility index.

The annual Awards for Excellence recognise companies’ corporate responsibility business practices and programmes. Now in their 12th year, they are the UK’s most respected awards for responsible business practice.

Philip Green, chief executive of United Utilities, said: “I am honoured that the breadth of our company’s environmental and social commitment has been given such significant recognition.”

The Awards for Excellence are peer-assessed by a panel of more than 100 independent business and BITC partner representatives. Judges look for qualities such as high quality management of responsible business practices and a positive impact on society and the environment.

United Utilities was praised for its community involvement, environmental projects and emphasis on sustainability.