The Scottish Business in the Community Awards for Excellence are the most prestigious in the UK for corporate social responsibility.

At this year’s Awards on Thursday 11th June, winners will be praised for pushing the mainstream boundaries of CSR and integrating it into core business practice despite current economic challenges. Categories range from the promotion of workplace health to working with schools to boost skills and employability.

Highest scorers are awarded the "Big Tick" which is used by hundreds of businesses to compete for customers, contracts and staff.

Also on the evening, the SBC Company of the Year Awards were handed out, with the coveted Large and SME Company of the Year.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP won the first Award and won comments from judges that they have raised the bar for CSR by implementing practices across the board and encouraging suppliers, partners and clients to get on board.

Small Company of the Year goes to Cunninghame Housing Association, a social enterprise. Judges praised their model of CSR and said other sectors could learn lessons from their example. “If all organisations were like this Scotland would be a better place.”

SBC's new Chief Executive Jane Wood said, “I am delighted to congratulate the winners of the Awards for Excellence 2009. I am particularly impressed, during this economic climate, with how businesses are demonstrating real bottom line business benefits from their responsible practices and partnerships. The businesses and people in them represent a challenge to us all on how to improve our economy, society and environment.”

As the awards highlight examples of excellent practice it is time for more businesses to take CSR seriously to survive the current climate. Jane added, “CSR has failed if businesses see it as a soft touch. It is no longer an option. These winners demonstrate that there are bottom line benefits when you do business responsibly.”

“To survive the harsh economic realities we are all facing, we need more businesses to sign up to CSR.”

The new Prince’s ambassador for Corporate Social Responsibility Robert Carr is also appointed at the awards ceremony. He takes over from BT Director Brendan Dick. Robert is Chairman of legal firm Anderson Strathern.

Notes for Editors

1.Judges of the awards are George Borthwick, Chairman of SBC, Samantha Barber, former Chief Executive SBC, Ty Jones Head of Corporate Responsibility Bank of Scotland Corporate and Gavin Greig, Corporate Responsibility Programme Manager Student Loans Company.

2.New big tick awards go to Scottish Power for Power in Partnership, Harper Macleod LLP for Healthy Workplaces.

3.Education awards go to Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Standard Life.

4.Active Communities awards go to Royal Mail Group Ltd (East of Scotland) and Cunninghame Housing Association Ltd.

5.Impact on Society award for small companies goes to Redeem.