The FIRST Responsible Capitalism Awards 2017 were presented by Rt Hon Lord Judge at a special ceremony held at the House of Lords in London. The ceremony was attended by business leaders, Parliamentarians and Ambassadors.
Dr Andy Wood, Chief Executive of Adnams, was awarded the Special Award for Environmental Responsibility for nurturing and expanding the Adnams Community Trust, for refining the company’s sustainability goals to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, reduce excess consumption of water, and minimise its waste to landfill sites.
The award recognises Andy’s 25-year commitment to leading the way in sustainable business and sharing Adnams’ success stories. Andy has been instrumental in key projects during this time, one of the largest was the building of an innovative new distribution centre in 2007, which is one of the most energy efficient buildings of its kind. This started a period of innovation within Adnams, seeing the addition of energy efficient brewing equipment, the carbon foot printing of its products and the diversification into distilling.
A sustainable business is not exclusively about environmental initiatives and impacts, it is about ensuring the company is fit for the future in a rapidly changing market. In 2017, Adnams invested over £9m into its brewery, and The Swan Hotel. These investments are critical to enabling Adnams to complete in the growing low and no alcohol drinks market, and in attracting a growing number of people choosing staycations and seeking luxury UK breaks.
When making the Award, the Judges are looking for leaders who have consistently demonstrated social responsibility as an integral part of commercial success, examining in particular the manner in which their business interacts both with the environment and the communities in which they operate.
Dr Andy Wood OBE commented “I am delighted to have been recognised with such a prestigious award. Leading a business committed to doing the right thing is a privilege, and it’s a testament to the great team we have at Adnams. In reality this award is for the whole Adnams team. Ensuring sustainability is an integral part of what we do, and not seen as a side-line activity has been the key to our success. ”
Güler Sabancı, Chairman of Sabancı Holdings, received the FIRST Responsible Capitalism Award for guiding one of the leading and most reputable business groups in Turkey; and who, inspired by her family’s core values of responsibility to the communities in which their companies operate and a sense of philanthropic duty, has created her country’s leading private foundation together with Sabanci University, now ranked as one of the world’s top 500 universities, and the Sakip Sabanci Museum which has become an institution of international repute.
The SME Dahrendorf Responsible Capitalism Award was awarded to Reg Hankey, Chief Executive of Pittards, which has developed and transformed a leather tanning business which was founded in Somerset in 1826. Pittards, whilst proud of its West Country heritage and conscious of its community responsibilities, has developed a vibrant partnership with Sole of Africa, a social enterprise devoted to transforming the lives of the disadvantaged in developing countries, especially in Ethiopia.
About the Awards
The Awards for Responsible Capitalism were initiated by FIRST in 2000 to honour business leaders who have excelled by achieving both commercial success and demonstrating social responsibility. Rupert Goodman, Chairman of FIRST said, “We at FIRST believe that commercial success can be assessed in terms of standard criteria, but that social responsibility involves a greater sense of the needs of the wider community as well as shareholders, a special interest in the well-being of groups in need, care for the areas in which the business operates, environmental initiatives, and support for the arts and culture.”
The Judging Panel is chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Judge, former Lord Chief Justice and includes Chief Emeka Anyaoku GVCO TC CFR (former Commonwealth Secretary General), Marilyn Carlson Nelson (Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Carlson Companies), Lord Plant of Highfield (Professor of Political Philosophy), Hon Philip Lader (Chairman of WPP Group), Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG Hon FRSE (former Defence Secretary and Secretary General of NATO), Dr Daniel Vasella (Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis), Lord Cormack DL FSA, Ratan Tata (Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group), Howard Schultz (Chairman of Starbucks) and Philippa Foster Back CBE (Director of the Institute of Business Ethics).
About FIRST
FIRST is a multidisciplinary International Affairs Organisation. It aims to enhance communications between leaders in industry, finance and government, worldwide and promote strategic dialogue. This is achieved via key channels; publishing, events, awards and cartographic services. FIRST is a winner of a PPA Award for Publishing Excellence and received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise both in 2010 and 2013 in recognition of its success in international markets.
Lord Hurd of Westwell, former Foreign Secretary, is Hon Chairman of the FIRST Advisory Council. Lord Cormack is President of International Affairs.
For more information please contact:
Rupert Goodman, Chairman of FIRST
Tel: 020 7440 3554
Fax: 020 7440 3545
Mob: 07899 900156
email: award@responsible-capitalism.org
website: www.firstmagazine.com and www.responsible-capitalism.org
About Adnams
Adnams, the brewer, distiller and retailer, is an independent values-based family business committed to a sustainable future. It has been brewing in Southwold on the Suffolk coast for over 145 years and produces a range of cask, keg and bottled beers. Adnams was the first brewer in England to build a distillery on the same site in 2010, where it creates award winning handcrafted spirits and proudly produces the ‘World’s Best Gin’, Copper House Dry Gin, and the ‘World’s Best Vodka’, Longshore Triple Malt Vodka*. Adnams beers and spirits can be found in pubs and supermarkets nationwide. The company also has an estate of pubs, hotels and a chain of stores. For further information about Adnams visit www.adnams.co.uk.
*As voted at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
For further information contact:
Sarah Fisk, Corporate Relations Manager
Sarah.fisk@adnams.co.uk | 01502 727239 | 07932 035152