6.10.2004 ET

(CSRwire) London - 2004 sees a record number of 101 companies being awarded the 'BIG TICK' standard in Business in the Community Awards for Excellence, up from 82 in 2003. The number of entries, received from both small and large companies, also rose from 218 in 2003 to 264. A further 37 companies awarded the Big Tick in 2003 have been re-accredited.

The BIG TICK is awarded to companies that are able to demonstrate a high standard of excellence in the way they organise and integrate their responsible business practices, and can demonstrate a positive impact both on society and on the business. The winner of each award category will be announced at The Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 6 July 2004, hosted and supported by Carillion PLC, Company of the Year 2003.

The 101 companies will each receive the BIG TICK logo in June at a series of celebration events across the country supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Companies use the logo to communicate their achievements and endorse their performance as responsible businesses.

Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence are recognised as the leading awards in the field of corporate responsibility. Established in 1998, they reward and celebrate the positive economic, social and environmental impacts of business on society through community programmes and business practices. Business led and rigorously assessed, the awards recognise best practice and focus on impact and evidence of results.

The aim of the Awards for Excellence is to:
· raise awareness of the benefits of corporate responsibility · encourage companies to improve their positive impact on society · recognise and share best practice · promote the positive role business can have in society

This year's Awards for Excellence are organised in association with the Financial Times, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), supported by Carillion plc, Company of the Year 2003 and independently assured by Arthur D. Little.

CSR Minister Stephen Timms commented:

"The Government is committed to putting Corporate Social Responsibility at the heart of business. The high calibre of the record number of 101 companies who have received the Big Tick endorsement shows that business big and small is increasingly recognising the need to integrate responsible business practice and to acknowledge the key role business has in society to making a positive impact."

The new Government CSR report and website, www.csr.gov.uk, launched by the Minister on the 10 June, highlights the various ways in which Government is supporting the development of responsible business practice including its support for Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence.

The Awards criteria were developed in line with the EFQM Excellence model recommended by the British Quality Foundation. Entries into categories across four key areas - environment, marketplace, workplace and community - have been rigorously assessed by 108 independent assessors representing business, Government and the not-for-profit sector.

Julia Cleverdon CBE, CVO, Chief Executive Business in the Community said:

'We are absolutely delighted to celebrate the achievements of our 101 award winning BIG TICK companies who have gone through this rigorous and independent assessment. As Examples of Excellence, their success reflects the growing commitment within business to integrate responsible business practice across the marketplace, workplace, environment and community. The challenge is to get all companies understanding that this commitment makes real business sense. As a result of these inspirational stories we know many others will get the message.'

The full list of Big Tick companies is below. For further information and case studies contact:

Sue Garland
Media Consultant Awards & Conference
Direct Line: 020 7566 6631
mobile: 07834 868337
email: sue.garland@bitc.org.uk

Peter Newman
Awards Director
Direct line: 020 7566 8676
mobile: 07768 065407
email: peter.newman@bitc.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
· The BIG TICK was introduced in 1998 and has since been awarded to over 380 companies. Now widely recognised, it is used by recipients to communicate their achievements in the field of corporate responsibility.

· Business in the Community is a unique movement in the UK of 700 member companies. Our purpose is to inspire, challenge, engage and support business in continually improving its positive impact on society. Together, our member companies employ over 15.7 million people across 200 countries. In the UK, our members employ over 1 in 5 of the private sector workforce. Membership of Business in the Community is a commitment to action and to the continual improvement of the company's impact on society. Our members commit to:
· Integrate responsible business practice throughout their business · Impact through collaborative action to tackle disadvantage · Inspire, innovate and lead by sharing learning and experience.

· Further information about Business in the Community can be found at the website www.bitc.org.uk.

FULL LIST OF BIG TICK COMPANIES

The Co-operative Financial Services Cause Related Marketing Award
New Big Ticks
Blockbuster Entertainment Ltd Blockbuster supports Starlight Children's Foundation
BT - BT's 'Am I Listening?'/ChildLine Campaign Debenhams Retail Ltd - Breast Cancer Campaign 2004 Ford Motor Company - Breakthrough Breast Cancer Musgrave SuperValu-Centra (NI) Ltd - SuperValu Driving Home Early Detection with Action Cancer in Northern Ireland Musgrave SuperValu-Centra (NI) Ltd - Centra School Action Partnership with Action Cancer in Northern Ireland Yell - Yellow Woods Challenge
Re-accredited
Avon Cosmetics - Avon Breast Cancer Crusade The Co-operative Bank - Customers who Care Campaign - Safer Chemicals Food Brands Group Limited - Percol Coffee and Coffee Kids Charity Tesco Stores Limited - Tesco Computers for Schools Tesco Stores Limited - Cancer Research UK's Race for Life sponsored by Tesco Walkers Snacks Ltd - Free Books for Schools Woolworths plc - Woolworths Kids First

The Collaborative Action Award in association with the British Chambers of Commerce
New Big Ticks
Barclays and Cardiff City Transport Services Ltd - The Cardiff Outreach Bus Barclays, KPMG, Marks & Spencer and Marsh - Ready to Go and Ready for Work
Birmingham Business Action on Homelessness
Britannia Building Society, Dresdner Kleinwort Wassertein, Education Communications, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, HSBC, KPMG, Unilever UK, Watson Wyatt - Number Partners
Coventry Education Action Zone - Partnership Working Globe Enterprises Ltd, Barnfield Construction Company and Stuart Nevison - The Globe Centre HBOS plc and Macmillan Cancer Relief - The Million £ Challenge
Lloyd's Community Programme Member Companies - Lloyd's Community Programme
McDonald's Restaurant Ltd and Scottish Football Association - Schools Programme Premier Custodial Group Ltd & Reed in Partnership - HMP & YOI Doncaster Community Resettlement Team
Preston Community Impact Group
ProHelp London
Shell, ExxonMobil and Grampian Police - Learning for Life
Slough Business Community Partnership
The F.A. Premier League Clubs - Playing for Success
Re-accredited
Greater Manchester Cares
Leeds Cares
Liverpool Cares
Norfolk ProHelp

The ScottishPower Communications Award
New Big Ticks
AXA - AXA Hearts in Action Ambassadors
BNFL - BNFL: Our CSR Journey
BT- Communicating for a Better World

The HSBC Diversity Award
New Big Ticks
Bernard Matthews Ltd - Bernard Matthews Diversity Programme Inland Revenue - Diversity: Good for Business, Good for People West Bromwich Building Society - The Case for Diversity
Yorkshire Television - The Foundation Placement Scheme
Re-accredited
BT

The Reed Elsevier Education and Lifelong Learning Award supported by the Department for Education and Skills
New Big Ticks
Arriva plc Mentoring Programme
Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate Ltd - First Aid for Life Bradford and Northern Housing Association - YouthBuild Construction BskyB - Reach for the Sky BT - Education Programme Capgemini UK plc - Partners in Leadership Charlton Athletic Football Club - Using Football As The Educational Tool Citigroup - UK Career Academy Foundation Demag Delaval Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd - Education Programme Deutsche Bank - Incentiv8 EDF Energy - EDF Energy working with Castle View EAZ IBM - The Reinventing Education Programme Inland Revenue, Bristol and North Somerset Area - Educational Support Programme Jaguar Cars - Jaguar Education Business Partnership Centres Land Rover - Corporate Citizenship Rolls-Royce Group plc - Excellence through Partnerships
Standard Life Group Junior Road Safety Officers Scheme
The Co-operative Bank plc - Project Formation Ulster Bank - Aimhigher Roadshow
Re-accredited
British Gas - Think Energy
Deloitte - e-skills4industry
Greggs plc - The Greggs Breakfast Club programme PricewaterhouseCoopers - Education in Southwark Westfield Sharks / Montgomery Leisure Services Limited - Community Education Programme WHSmith - WHSmith TXT

The Shields Environmental Award
New Big Ticks
Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station - Going Greener to be a Good Neighbour Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office - Unwrapping the Environment Irish Polymers - Plastic Bottle Recycling in Ireland liftshare.com - Car Share Schemesco ScottishPower - Future Generation - Creating Sustainable Energy The Kent Art Printers Ltd - Greening up the print process Toyota Manufacturing UK - Achieving Zero Waste to Landfill United Utilities Plc - Sustainable Catchment Management Workspace Group PLC - A Partnership for Environmental Innovation
Re-accredited
BT
Carillion plc
Shields Environmental
The Scottish Nappy Company

The Barclays European Community Impact Award New Big Ticks Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer - Freshfields in the Community GE European Equipment Finance - GE EEF in the European Community GlaxoSmithKline - Barretstown: Therapeutic Recreation for Children with Serious Illness IBM Europe Middle East and Africa - Kidsmart Early Learning Programme

The BUPA Healthy Communities Award supported by the Department of Health
New Big Ticks
Airbus UK - Airbus UK Charity Challenge
BAA Heathrow - T5 Economic Community Development Programme Bradford & Bingley - Shelterline British Gas - 'here to HELP' programme British Gas - British Gas Rhondda Cynon Taf 'here to HELP' Programme Broad Street Windows - Contribution to our Community Burnley Football Club - The Club for its People Developing Futures Capital One - Case Administration and Tracking System (CATS) - supporting the investigation and prevention of child abuse EDF Energy - Learning Through Landscapes EDF Energy School Grounds Awards IKEA Bristol - Safer Street, Safer Shopping Marks & Spencer - Ready for Work Powergen UK plc - Powergen's We Test You Rest Campaign Rhondda Housing Association - Working Together ScottishPower - ScottishPower Primary Link Serco Docklands Limited - Stay Safe, Not Sorry campaign Simmers of Edinburgh Ltd - The Simmers Challenge Sodexho Ltd - Sodexho Healthy Eating Programme
Re-accredited
AXA - Hearts in Action Programme for Bristol Barclays PLC - Barclays SiteSavers BNFL - Regeneration of West Cumbria BT - BT community Connections
C>Ways Limited - Creating a Safer Community
Cardiff City Transport Services Ltd - ReStart Mobile Bus Services
Eversheds Solicitors - Employee Volunteering with Leeds Cares
Lovells - New Start
The Elite Group - The Elite West Leeds Partnership Transco - Transco Affordable Warmth Programme - Integrated Fuel Poverty Action Zurich - Dementia Programme

The EDF Energy Innovation Award in association with Demos
New Big Ticks
Bernard Matthews Ltd - Bernard Matthews Diversity Programme British Gas - 'here to HELP' programme IBM - The Reinventing Education Programme Pinnacle psg - Sport in the Community Premier Custodial Group Ltd & Reed in Partnership - HMP & YOI Doncaster Community Resettlement Team Rolls-Royce Group plc - Excellence through Partnership

The UnumProvident Realising Ability Award in association with The Employers Forum on Disability
New Big Ticks
BSKYB - Sky Disability Strategy
Everton Football Club - Everton Football in the Community Marks & Spencer - The Marks & Spencer/DisabledGo Programme Re-accredited
Barclays PLC

The Post Office Rural Action Award
New Big Ticks
Hopes of Longtown
Orton Farmers Ltd - Orton Farmers Market The Trelowarren Estate - Restoration of The Great Office
Re-accredited
Waitrose Ltd

The Skills for Life Award sponsored by the DfES in association with Investors in People
New Big Ticks
Remploy Ltd - Realising Potential
Walkers Snack Foods Limited Skills for Life Programme

The Impact on Society Award in association with Tomorrow's Company New Big Ticks
Marks & Spencer
Rio Tinto
The Co-operative Bank plc
Re-accredited
Carillion plc

The Impact on Society Award for a Small Company in association with Tomorrow's Company
New Big Ticks
Bankside Restaurant
Benfield ATT Ltd
Cheshire Building Society
Happy
LSI Architects LLP
The Kent Art Printers Ltd
Re-accredited
Adnams Plc

Contact:
Emma Harvey
Media & Communications Assistant
Business in the Community
137 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7RQ
Tel: 0870 600 2482
Direct: 020 7566 8666
Mobile: 0773 936 1783
Fax: 020 7253 1877
Website: www.bitc.org.uk
_______________________________
Business in the Community is a unique movement in the UK of over 700 member companies. Its purpose is to inspire, challenge and support business in continually improving its impact in the community, environment, marketplace and workplace.

Events@Business in the Community

Book now for Business in the Community's Annual Conference and Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner:

6th July - The Annual Conference, London http://www.bitc.org.uk/events/events_calendar/conf2004.html
For more information contact Claire de la Motte on 020 7566 8794, or email claire.delamotte@bitc.org.uk

6th July - The Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner, London http://www.bitc.org.uk/events/events_calendar/gala_dinner.html
For more information contact Anita Dennis on 020 7566 8797, or email anita.dennis@bitc.org.uk

For more information please contact: