Westmorland and Furness Council has this week picked up two awards after being announced winners in two categories at this year’s UK Green Business Awards for major projects and strategies associated with their approach to decarbonisation for the area.
This year's Green Business Awards received nearly 500 entries, including submissions from many of the UK's most successful and high-profile businesses. Finalists were selected based on their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the green economy.
Around 550 business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and campaigners from across the green economy gathered at The Brewery in central London this week for the annual UK Green Business Awards ceremony.
Westmorland and Furness council was shortlisted for three awards and selected by the panel of judges as winners for their submissions for the ‘Green Building Project of the Year’ for the retrofit of Voreda House, the UK’s first council office building to achieve Passivhaus EnerPHit accreditation and ‘Net Zero Strategy of the Year’ for the progress made during 2024, the first year in the council’s five-year plan to become net zero by 2037.
This is the third win so far this year for the council’s submission ‘2024: the First Year in Our Journey to Net Zero’, with judges at both the national Green Energy Awards and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) Awards recognising the significant steps made to date and the strength of future strategies and plans.
Cllr Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“What a fantastic achievement for our council officers and members who have worked hard to deliver pioneering projects, getting us off to a great start in our journey to becoming net zero by 2037. Congratulations to all who are involved.”
“Our role is not just to decarbonise our own property and fleet, but also to work with partners such as Zero Carbon Cumbria, Parish and Town Councils and community groups to achieve net zero in our area. I believe we have made a fantastic start in that endeavour.”
The full list of winners and highly commended organisations from this years awards are:
Manufacturer of the Year
IndiNature
The judges were hugely impressed with IndiNature and its natural fibre insulation, praising the company's 'exceptional innovation and impact' and an 'inspiring fully circular model' which promises to have a big impact on the construction industry.
Highly Commended: Interface
Highly Commended: Pilkington UK
Hospitality Firm of the Year
Swinton Estate
In a highly competitive category, Swinton Estate won over the judges through its 'superb use of innovation' which has allowed an historic estate to deploy a raft of clean technologies and establish itself as a 'real pioneer' in the field of sustainable hospitality.
Highly Commended: Lamington Group
Retailer of the Year
The Wine Society
The judges praised The Wine Society for its 'broad and collaborative approach' to a sustainability strategy where emissions reductions, regenerative viticulture projects, and a commitment to supplier engagement really stood out.
Highly Commended: Midcounties Co-operative
ESG Investor of the Year
Sponsored by Osborne Clarke
Thrive Renewables
The judges were hugely impressed with Thrive Renewables' strong environmental and financial performance, praising the company's direct investment in community energy projects, B Corp status, and position 'at the forefront of the UK renewable energy transition for 30 years'.
Highly Commended: WHEB
Early-Stage Investor of the Year
Cambridge Future Tech
In another really competitive category, Cambridge Future Tech got the nod from the judges for its impressive collaboration between industry, investors, and academia, which is helping to ensure 'the best of university research has access to finance'.
Highly Commended: Green Angel Ventures
Highly Commended: Sustainable Ventures
Communications Agency of the Year
Greenhouse Communications
In a perennially competitive category, Greenhouse Communications won out thanks to its long-standing commitment to the green economy, excellent operational credentials, and a raft of hugely impactful campaigns that revealed an ability to raise awareness of crucially important but often overlooked issues.
Highly Commended: Cognito
Consultancy of the Year
Zero Carbon Forum
Zero Carbon Forum was praised by the judges for its collaborative approach to helping the hospitality industry navigate the net zero transition, including through the innovative use of AI and an ambitious sector-wide power purchase agreement.
Highly Commended: Creative Zero
Green Building Project of the Year
Westmorland and Furness Council - Voreda House
In a hugely competitive category, Westmorland and Furness Council won over the judges with a Passivhaus project that was described as 'seriously good', 'a UK first', and 'an imaginative recreation of an ageing building'.
Highly Commended: Trammell Crow Company and EPISO 5 - Welcome Building
Green Heat Project of the Year
Kensa and Clarion Housing - Central London Retrofit
Kensa and Clarion Housing were praised by the judges for delivering a 'stunning example' of tackling heat decarbonisation in a technically challenging residential space, providing a replicable model for low carbon heating in urban and historic settings.
Highly Commended: Ambion Heating and Yorkshire Homes - Decarbonising Social Housing Project
Highly Commended: Eyesea Green - Wadham College Project
Supply Chain Project of the Year
Sponsored by Bute Energy
Aviva - Supply Chain Decarbonisation Strategy
In a competitive category, Aviva got the nod from the judges for a supply chain strategy that was 'strong strategically', impressively detailed, and built around a real commitment to supplier engagement.
Highly Commended: Jacqueline & Edward - Jewellery Supply Chain Project
Transport Project of the Year
UK Power Network DSO - ChargePoint Navigator
UK Power Network's ChargePoint Navigator was hailed by the judges for a 'fantastic' project, which took a 'strong strategic approach to helping local authorities deliver more equitable and efficient charging networks'.
Highly Commended: Flexible Power Systems and Waitrose - Decarbonising Transport Refrigeration: Smart Plug Initiative
Low Carbon Industrial Project of the Year
Material Evolution - Mevo A1 Cement Production Facility
In a highly competitive category, Material Evolution stood out for the judges thanks to the 'outstanding innovation and impact' evident in its pioneering work to produce ultra-low carbon cement.
Highly Commended: Celtic Renewables - Green Chemicals Project
Highly Commended: DB Cargo UK - Cricklewood Centre of Excellence
Renewable Energy Project of the Year
Sponsored by EQUANS
Reactive Technologies - GridMetrix
In another hugely competitive category Reactive Technologies' GridMetrix solution won over the judges through its combination of significant cost and carbon savings, improved grid stability, and ability to get more renewables onto the grid.
Highly Commended: Bute Energy - Twyn Hywel Energy Park
Highly Commended: Enviromena - Medebridge Solar Farm
Nature-based Project of the Year
Chirrup.ai - Bioacoustic Technology Project
All the finalists impressed the judges, but Chirrup.ai took the title with its biodiversity tracking technology hailed as "a brilliant example of the kind of innovation we need to protect nature".
Highly Commended: Suntory Global Spirits - Peatland Water Sanctuary
Marketing/Advertising Campaign of the Year
Osprey Charging Network and Bear Jam - Visions of the Future Campaign
The judges praised the Visions of the Future Campaign for its 'fresh, imaginative lens to sustainability storytelling', innovative use of AI, and 'beautiful embodiment of the idea that 'if we can dream it, we can build it''.
Highly Commended: EnergiRaven - Heat Highways Campaign
Behaviour Change Campaign of the Year
ScottishPower - Half Price Weekends
In another highly competitive category, the judges were won over by a
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