YORKSHIRE Water is celebrating a hat-trick of awards this month.

The Bradford based utility has been awarded platinum status in the Business in the Community environment index for its environmental management and performance.

The company also received a BITC responsible business Big Tick at the charity’s awards event in Bradford after clinching an improvement strategy prize at the European Call Centre and Customer Services Awards.

Richard Flint, Yorkshire Water chief executive, said: “We have six strategic business objectives which are our commitment to sustainability. They ensure we can provide essential water and waste service to our customers across Yorkshire.

“We’re doing all this against a backdrop of significant economic, social and environmental change. The essence of our vision is doing what is right for our customers, colleagues, partners and the environment.”

Other local winners at the Bradford Big Tick awards included Morrisons, which was recognised for its support of schools through its Let’s Grow scheme which i sproviding gardening kits for pupils and for its support for BITC’s Rural Action campaign Shipley-based The Centre For Partnership, the graduate development wing of social housing provider Incommunities won a Big Tick for inspiring young talent through its GEM programme offering unemployed and under employed graduates work experience, a qualification and employment within the housing sector.

Geraldine Howley, chairman of the Centre for Partnership Group and Incommunities chief executive, said: “This unique programme provides ‘career ready’ graduates for housing organisations on a national basis. In a short time GEM has developed into a high quality programme designed to equip each participant to become leaders of the future.

“I am proud that it has developed a national and international presence and that over 90 per cent of graduates have found employment following the programme.”

The responsible small business award went to Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, which has a tearoom in Ilkley.

Liz Needleman added: “Responsible businesses across the UK are contributing towards building more resilient communities, stimulating local economies, creating diverse, skilled and healthy workforces and addressing skills shortages.

“It’s never been more important for businesses to demonstrate the economic value, environmental and social impact they make across communities.”