LONDON, November 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The charity Business in the Community is inviting businesses to enter The Responsible Business Awards 2017 to proudly tell the public about the positive role they play in society.

Entries open today and companies of all sizes in the UK and abroad are invited to showcase what practical action they have taken to address social and environmental issues such as helping young people develop skills for the future, stimulating their local economy, supporting small businesses and using natural resources more sustainably.

Now in its 20^th year the Awards are the most prestigious and respected awards programme championing responsible business and celebrate inspiring examples of businesses making a difference.

For the first time the Awards will include a category recognising how responsible businesses are innovating in the wake of rapid technological change.The Responsible Business in the Digital Age Award, sponsored by Fujitsu, will be looking for companies demonstrating their ability to use technology to reduce poverty and inequality, improve livelihoods and enable us all to better manage earth's natural resources.

Chief Executive of Business in the Community Amanda Mackenzie said: "We want businesses to tell the story of how they are successfully helping society and our communities, while considering the interests of future generations as they grow. We can then inspire many more to be part of the responsible business movement for a fairer society and a more sustainable future."

Resource management company Veolia was awarded Responsible Business of the Year 2016 for the transforming how the business uses waste and natural resources through innovative energy solutions and green products.

Senior Executive Vice-President UK & Ireland, Estelle Brachlianoff, said: "At Veolia we firmly believe that being responsible is not just the right thing to do, it's the best thing to do - people want to buy from, work and partner with socially and environmentally responsible businesses and the Responsible Business Awards are a huge opportunity to show what businesses are doing to transform the environment and society."

Business in the Community is also running a series of free workshops across the UK for companies to find out more about the awards. Book a free place at http://www.bitc.org.uk/awardworkshops or contact events@bitc.org.uk for more details.

• Birmingham - 24 November
• Bristol - 30 November
• Leeds 30 November
• Nottingham - 29 November
• Manchester - 1 December
• Newcastle - 2 December
• London - 7 December

The closing date for entries is 10 February 2017. For further information about the 2017 Responsible Business Awards, including the full list of categories, the assessment criteria and application forms visit http://www.bitc.org.uk/awards/responsible-business-awards

ENDS 

For more information about Business in the Community or the Responsible Business Awards contact Alex Delaney, 020 7566 8694 / 07766 161419 or email alex.delaney@bitc.org.uk

Notes to Editors 

Business in the Community  

The Prince's Responsible Business Network is run by Business in the Community. Our members work together to tackle a wide range of issues that are essential to building a fairer society and a more sustainable future.

Responsible business is about how a business makes its money not just how it spends its profit. It is about managing growth responsibly while reducing dependency on natural resources. It is about how the business operates as an employer, supplier and customer and how as a neighbour it helps to create vibrant communities where people can flourish.

We are a business-led, issue focused charity with more than 30 years' experience of mobilising business. We engage thousands of businesses through our programmes driven by our core membership of over 800 organisations from small enterprises to global corporations.

The Responsible Business Awards 

Business in the Community's Responsible Business Awards brings to life how businesses are creating innovative and sustainable solutions to our most pressing challenges, inspiring thousands of others to make a lasting difference and adding value back to their own business.

Now in its 20th year, the Awards, rigorously assessed by independent business peers, are widely acknowledged as one of the most respected endorsements of responsible business in the UK and abroad. Open to companies of any size, sector or scale, a wide range of businesses enter, demonstrating the breadth and depth of responsible business.

Each year, over 250 business peers assess the entries, endorsement planters are used by companies to profile their achievement, inspiring thousands of people to be a motivated part of the Prince's Responsible Business Network.

SOURCE Business in the Community