UK-Wide Timber Frame company Benfield ATT has won national recognition for its Impact on Society and the influence it has upon its local South Wales community, the communities in which they build their ecologically-sourced self-build homes, schools, developments, flats and health buildings, and the construction industry as a whole.
Dr Benfield (far right) receives Business in the Communitys Impact on Society Award; consisting of a Certificate and Baby Tree; Left to right; Julia Cleverdon, CBE, Business in the Community - Gareth Davies, Director of Welsh Affairs, Royal Mail Group - David Grayson, Business in the Community
Benfield ATT, the company owned by industry expert Dr Michael Benfield, helped Wales pick up its first Impact on Society Award for a Small Business ‘Big Tick’ as part of the prestigious Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence. Only 6 of these endorsements were awarded to companies in the UK.
Dr Benfield was presented with the Award at the Cardiff event sponsored by the Royal Mail. The Impact on Society Big Tick demonstrates the measurable impact that Benfield ATT has had on society through its internal operations and business practices.
The Award is a standard of excellence set by Business in the Community, recommended by the British Quality Foundation, endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry and based on the European Business Excellence Model. The most innovative and inspirational 'examples of excellence' in each of the fourteen categories in Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence 2004 were announced at a celebratory gala event in London recently.
Benfield ATT’s efforts within the construction industry have been dynamic over the past year. Its high quality processes have been awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification and their internal training programmes have been acknowledged by Investors in People. In February 2004 Benfield ATT became the only company in the UK to produce FSC-Certified¹ Engineered Timber Structures; since this time FSC-certified projects have included an FSC-Certified School Building, an FSC-Certified Leisure Lodge for a private customer, and two FSC-Certified Homes of which will be featured on the television series ‘House Race’ on ITV Central and Discovery Home & Leisure from July 2004.
Benfield ATT’s promotion of timber frame within society has included the above-mentioned House Race, working on the BBC’s Under the Hammer and advising BBC Radio Four characters in The Archer’s on their Self-Build storyline. Benfield ATT works closely with Wood.for Good and is truly passionate about Timber Frame construction being the future. A major feature of Benfield ATT’s impact upon society has been to encourage the development of it’s people, with the team taking ownership of this prestigious Award.
Dr Michael Benfield, said: "We're delighted that our efforts have been recognised in this way. Our involvement within the industry and local community is firmly positioned as a real issue and this has been integral to our success over the last year. Placing people at the centre of the organisation, and implementing policies and practices designed to benefit the customer as opposed to the main contractor is really taking off…ensuring our Timber Frame is the first choice method of building for years to come."
Julia Cleverdon CBE, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said:
"As an Example of Excellence, Benfield ATT’s success reflects the growing commitment within business to integrate responsible business practice across the marketplace, workplace, environment and community. The challenge is to get all companies understanding that this commitment makes real business sense. As a result of these inspirational stories we know many others will get the message."
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence are run in association with the Financial Times, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry and recommended by the British Quality Foundation. They are recognised as the leading awards in the field of corporate social responsibility.
