ASDA announced as the 2020 NI Responsible Company of the Year and 2020 Responsible Business Champions revealed
For more than 16 years, the Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland have showcased transformational stories of businesses taking real action to build thriving communities.
ASDA Northern Ireland has been named 2020 NI Responsible Company of the Year by Business in the Community (BITC) (Front): George Rankin, Senior Director and Joe McDonald, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs, ASDA NI pick up the NI Responsible Company of the Year trophies. Celebrating this impressive success are (l-r) Kevin Kingston, Chief Executive, Danske Bank (2019 winner and category sponsor for 2020); Chris Conway, Chair and Lisa McIlvenna, Deputy MD, BITC; John Mulgrew, media partner, Ulster Business and Kieran Harding, MD, BITC
- ASDA picks up top accolade
- Responsible Business Champions revealed in nine categories
- Responsible Business is more important than ever
Each year, the Awards celebrate those businesses demonstrating strong, inclusive leadership, who continuously innovate to tackle pressing social issues and repair and rebuild our planet.
“There is no doubt that 2020 has been a very different year to the one we expected, however, throughout the pandemic so far, I am continually heartened by the determination of companies across Northern Ireland to be even more responsible through their activities, as they take care of their people, the environment and their communities.”, says Kieran Harding, Managing Director of awarding organisation, Business in the Community.
The top award – NI Responsible Company of the Year 2020, sponsored by Danske Bank – was awarded to ASDA Northern Ireland. In assessing ASDA’s entry, the judging panel noted: “This is an organisation that isn’t afraid to tackle tough and topical societal issues head on. From improving nutrition to tackling plastics, the breadth and depth of ASDA’s responsible business activity is really impressive.
“It succeeded in taking a large ‘corporate’ strategy and making it local, ensuring its team brings colleagues, customers and suppliers with them along the way.”
Mr Harding adds: “Other than announcing our overall NI Responsible Company of the Year, we made the move to recognising Responsible Business Champions for 2020 rather than highlighting one award winner in each category. This was the right thing to do in a year where a celebration event was not fitting but recognition of responsible business is still absolutely vital. Responsible business is needed now more than ever.”
These awards are run by Business in the Community in partnership with JP Corry and SPAR.
The 2020 Responsible Business Champions are:
- Age at Work Champion, in partnership with Age NI: Bank of Ireland
- Diversity and Inclusion Champions, sponsored by Belfast Harbour: Bank of Ireland | Belfast City Council | Ciena UK Ltd Belfast | Diageo NI | Heron Bros | Northern Ireland Water
- Education Partnership Champions, sponsored by Allen & Overy: ABP Food Group | Allstate Northern Ireland | Dunbia | Farrans Construction/South Lake Leisure Centre | Henry Brothers Ltd | Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) | Westrock
- Environmental Leadership Champions, sponsored by Heron Bros: ABP Food Group | Bombardier | Choice Housing Ireland | Encirc Ltd | GRAHAM | Keltbray Group | Lidl Northern Ireland Limited | NI Assembly | NIE Networks | Translink
- Investing in your Community Champions, sponsored by Arthur Cox: Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd | Heron Bros | Lidl Northern Ireland Limited | Northern Ireland Water | Power NI | SONI Ltd | Ulster Bank Ltd
- One-to-Watch Champions, sponsored by Ciena: Cleaver Fulton Rankin | Olenick Global Ltd | The Consumer Council
- Responsible Digital Innovation Champions, in partnership with Digital DNA: Allstate Northern Ireland | Barclays Northern Ireland | Henderson Technology | Lidl Northern Ireland Limited
- Responsible Product/Service Champions, sponsored by Translink: Huhtamaki Foodservice Belfast | Northern Ireland Water | SONI Ltd
- Wellbeing at Work Champions, sponsored by Larne Port: Allstate Northern Ireland | Bank of Ireland | GRAHAM | JP Corry | Lidl Northern Ireland Limited | Musgrave Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Water | Power NI | Queen’s University Belfast | Selective Travel Management | The Henderson Group | Translink | Westrock
- Employability & Jobs Champions, sponsored by George Best Belfast City Airport, will be announced in 2021.