The UK arm of Yell, the international directories business, has been selected as a showcase to help the drive in Berkshire for applications for The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2009.
The Queen’s Awards Office highlighted Yell’s continued success by selecting the company to act as an ambassador for the county. This follows its distinction in twice winning a Queen’s Award in the Sustainable Development category – in 2002 and 2007.
David Moore, Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on The Queen’s Awards, visited Yell’s UK head office in Reading, on Wednesday 17 September, to underline how other Berkshire companies could follow the company’s previous lead and apply for the 2009 Awards. The deadline for applications is midnight on 31 October 2008.
During his meeting with Howard Rubenstein, Yell’s company secretary who also oversees its UK corporate responsibility programmes, David received a progress report on activity that led to the company winning a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise last year. The corporate honour is held for five years.
David Moore said: “It is a huge achievement for a company to twice win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and an accolade that really marks it out as an example by which others can be judged.
“It’s clear that Yell has an unwavering commitment to sustainable development and that the company feels a strong responsibility, not just in running a successful company, but also in honouring its responsibilities in other areas, such as the environment and the wider communities in which it operates.
“Its successful participation in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise has helped it gain the additional spotlight and reputation that it deserves. We hope Yell’s success will encourage other Berkshire companies to apply for an Award, before the deadline at midnight on 31 October.”
Yell was named in April last year as a second time winner of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, for its continuing excellence in pursuing sustainability – an approach to business that entails the fostering of strong economic growth whilst also benefiting society, encouraging protection of the environment and demonstrating prudent use of resources. HRH The Duke of Kent presented the award to the company last November.
The company, part of the international Yell Group, received the Award for its development of an innovative management and leadership system to implement and promote sustainable development.
It showed that a sustainable approach lay at the heart of every aspect of its business, from its management principles and structure, through to measures to minimise its impact on the environment and initiatives to benefit the wider communities in which it operates.
Yell was praised for “its impressive array of innovative initiatives embracing all aspects of sustainability.” One example is its Yellow Woods Challenge, Yell’s flagship environmental campaign for schools, run in partnership with the Woodland Trust and local authorities across the UK.
The Challenge entails youngsters taking old Yellow Pages directories into school for recycling, with every participating school receiving a free environmental education pack to help teach pupils about paper, recycling and woodland conservation. A Challenge mascot, Kirk, helps bring the issues of recycling and the environment to life and make it fun.
Howard Rubenstein said: “At Yell we’re extremely proud of our achievement in twice winning a Queen’s Award. They are amongst the most prestigious awards for business in the UK and we feel a very strong sense of responsibility in ensuring we maintain, and hopefully surpass, the high standards that have been acknowledged by our awards success.
“I recommend other companies in Berkshire of whatever size to seriously consider applying for a Queen’s Award in one of its three categories of international trade, innovation, and sustainable development. To win is a strong endorsement of the way a company shoulders its wider responsibilities, boosts morale and also attracts considerable kudos.”
David Moore’s visit to Yell took place in the week that it launched its first ever Environment Week, with daily activities in its UK offices to highlight the company’s environmental strategy and raise money for the conservation charity The Woodland Trust. These included an environment quiz, visits from the Trust and a “Dress in Green” day.
For further information on Yell’s commitment to the environment, please visit:
www.yellgroup.com/environment
Issued on behalf of The Queen’s Awards Office by COI News and PR. For more information contact Mark Fenwick on 020 7261 8541 or
mark.fenwick@coi.gsi.gov.uk; or Jon Salmon, Yell Press Office on 0118 950 6656, 07801 977340 or
jon.salmon@yellgroup.com
Notes to Editors:
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious awards for business performance. They recognise and reward outstanding achievement by UK companies. The awards are made each year by The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an advisory committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions.
Companies can apply for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise at
www.queensawards.org.uk. Categories are International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. There is also a Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for individuals.
About Yell Group
Yell is a leading international directories business operating in classified advertising markets in the UK, US, Spain and Latin America through printed, online and telephone-based media. Yell’s principal brands include: in the UK, Yellow Pages, Yell.com and Yellow Pages 118 24 7; in the US, Yellow Book and Yellowbook.com; and in Spain, Paginas Amarillas and PaginasAmarillas.es. All these brands are trademarks.