- Area:
- Wales
- Release date:
- 16 8 2007
The Big Lottery Fund in Wales has reached the finals of the all Wales Business and Sustainability Awards in recognition for its extensive achievements in driving forward a greener policy for the workplace.
The ARENA Network’s Wales Business and Sustainability Awards have been running for 10 years and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is one of three organisations in the running for the Management award for sustainable development in the public sector. BIG will have to wait until the awards ceremony in October to find out if it has been successful.
BIG’s Cardiff and Newtown offices already boast a Green Dragon Environmental Standard Certificate, awarded by the ARENA Network back in 2006. The fund has also proved that going green is good for business and has saved thousands of pounds in an environmental drive that is setting the benchmark for BIG’s offices across the UK.
Green initiatives by staff have slashed electricity use by 15 per cent, increased recycling by 80 per cent, created 315kg in composting material and saved £4,000 in the last financial year. Simple initiatives such as switching off lights, printing double-sided on paper, recycling and composting waste achieved the cuts.
Staff saved more than 6,600 miles of travel and 37 working days by using video conferencing facilities linking offices. A Green Team in the Wales office that drove forward the environmental policy is now an example of good practice for BIG’s offices across the UK. Recently, Wales staff were instrumental in helping establish a Green Team in BIG’s Cambridge office. Staff will also share their green knowledge with other tenants in the Newtown and Cardiff office buildings.
Big Lottery Fund Director in Wales, Ceri Doyle, said: “ We are delighted to have reached the finals and I would like to congratulate all the staff for their commitment in implementing the policies and meeting the objectives the Green Team have set. Climate change is happening now and we all need to take responsibility for our planet. As well as improving the quality of life, we’ve proven as a business that being good to the planet and not wasting energy can be good for your budget and your reputation.”
The 2007 Awards ceremony will take place on 18th October at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff and the Ramada Plaza, Wrexham. The two venues will be linked by satellite and it promises to be another enjoyable night to remember.
For further information about interview, filming and photo opportunities, please contact Oswyn Hughes at the Big Lottery Fund press office in Wales on the numbers below.
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 02920 678 207
Out of hours contact: 07760 171 431
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102 030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
- In Wales, the Big Lottery Fund is rolling out close to £1 million a week in Lottery good cause money, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across Wales most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
- The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £20 billion has now been raised and more than 250,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
Tags