As the Exeter Sustainability Awards returns for its third year, the focus firmly remains on recognising businesses, community groups and individuals who are going the extra mile for sustainability in Exeter.
This year the awards will also recognise the ideas of the future by introducing the Green Ideas Youth Award category for Primary and Secondary school children. The new category is an opportunity for young people to share why the environment and its future is important to them and their ideas for living and working in a more sustainable way.
Hannah Overton, Marketing and Commercial Manager at Princesshay, says, “It is fantastic to continue and grow the awards for a third year. To be able to provide a platform that recognises and celebrates the positive steps so many individuals and businesses are taking to be more sustainable in the city is important. We are also excited to introduce a new category for the next generation, to provide them with an opportunity to share their ideas for their future planet.
We want to encourage as many people as possible to enter this year, even if they have entered previously so that together we can champion the efforts of as many entries as possible.”
The Exeter Sustainability Awards are free to enter and are open to organisations and individuals living or operating within a 10-mile radius of the city centre. The categories open for entry are Community group / charity / non-profit, Green Ideas Youth Award, School / educational organisation, Micro business (0-9 employees), Small business (10-49 employees), Medium/Large business (50+ employees) and Sustainable Hero Award open for any individual going above and beyond in their community.
A panel of judges will be looking for environmental and social best practice, innovation, sustainable energy use and climate resilience. Judges include Cecila Manosa Nyblon, Education and Skills Partnership Development Manager at University of Exeter; Dr Russ Wakeham, CEO and Co Founder of Two Drifters Distillery; Peter Knight, Manager Director of Stagecoach South West, Emily Delve, Commercial Director, Coastal Recycling and Nikki Buckley, Head of Sustainability Engagement, University of Exeter.
Judge, Cecilia Nyblon Manosa says, “It’s great to see Exeter Sustainability Awards continue to grow year on year. As we work collectively to address our planetary challenges, it’s important to remember that local action in our communities can drive global change to create a greener, healthier, and more equitable future. I am especially excited to see the new Green Ideas Youth Award category in 2024 to shine a light on and celebrate children and teenagers’ creativity and innovations to imagine a more sustainable future for all”
The awards are sponsored by local businesses Stagecoach South West, University of Exeter Global City Futures, Exeter College, and Coastal Recycling who will be working with founders Princesshay to celebrate, support and recognise the sustainable practice and commitment of businesses, organisations and individuals driving change and making a difference to sustainability across Exeter.
Peter Knight, Managing Director at Stagecoach South West says “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Exeter Sustainability Awards again this year. Last year the calibre of applications was impressive, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other individuals and businesses are doing to create a positive sustainable impact for our future.
As a sustainable travel option in the city and surrounding area it is important for us to be part of initiatives like this, working with partners whose sustainable values match our own.
We are making progress with our plans to roll out our electric fleet next year in Exeter which we anticipate will create a significant decrease in emissions not only contributing to cleaner air and improved public health but also aligning with Exeter’s broader environmental goals of reducing the city’s carbon footprint and achieving it’s 2030 net zero goal.”
University of Exeter, Global City Futures, Exeter College and Coastal Recycling are sponsoring Green Ideas Youth Award, Small Business, School / Education Organisation and Community group / charity / non-profit respectively.
Organisations, businesses, and individuals can enter themselves or nominate others and can enter here.
