Businesses are to strengthen their position by entering business in the communitys awards

Businesses across the UK are being invited to apply for Business in the Communityís Awards for Excellence 2005. This is an opportunity for both large and small companies to receive nationwide recognition for the impact of their commitment to responsible business practice.

Business in the Communityís Awards for Excellence are the most prestigious responsibility awards in the UK. Rigorously assessed and independently assured they have become a powerful benchmark of good corporate practice. They recognise companies for integrating responsible business practice into their mainstream operations resulting in a positive impact in the workplace, the marketplace, the environment or the community.

Nigel Griffiths MP, Minister of Corporate Social Responsibility said yesterday at Business in the Communityís AGM: I pay tribute to the work of Business in the Community over the past years in leading its members in the drive to make responsible business practice an integral part of the way we do business both here in the UK and wherever we operate in the world. That of course includes the sort of business practice which Business in the Communityís Awards for Excellence celebrate. Iím very pleased that the Department of Trade and Industry has been supporting the Awards since they started seven years ago and we are continuing that relationship for 2005.

Now in their eighth year, they are the primary means by which Business in the Community identifies, celebrates and shares good practice in corporate responsibility.

Entrants from previous years tell us that putting an entry together not only establishes a baseline for future development, but also creates a valuable resource of information, impact, evidence and stakeholder endorsement that can be put to good use for a variety of reports and communications.

Stuart Rose, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer said: I am delighted to launch the Awards for Excellence 2005 and call upon companies, large and small, to enter. The process of assessment is a rigorous check on performance, and the Big Tick, awarded to successful companies, is now a powerful tool for communicating organisational and brand values.

Companies which demonstrate a high standard of excellence in the way they organise and integrate their responsible business practices will be awarded a íBig Tickí. In 2004 there were 138 recipients of this prestigious endorsement logo from across the UK representing all business sectors.

Julia Cleverdon, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said: Once again we begin the search for the latest inspiring examples of the positive impact of companies on society, with the launch of our Awards for Excellence 2005. This year we will have a special focus on how we can really share and spread the good practice, knowledge and learning that the growing number of Big Tick companies have acquired. I urge any company with a story to tell of its positive impact on communities or customers, employees or the environment, to enter these awards.