BUSINESSES across the region have been rewarded for their green credentials at an awards ceremony in York.

Held at the Park Inn Hotel, the Investors in the Environment Awards Ceremony, sponsored by York-based company Novalux LED, this year saw 23 of the scheme’s members gain Bronze, Silver or Green status for their work to reduce their environmental impact and their carbon footprint.

The awards saw Jacky Fitt from York-based firm The Big Ideas Collective presented with an individual award for her environmental work this year, along with her company receiving their Green level accreditation for their environmental performance.

The awards were presented by Paul Ellis from the Yorkshire based Ecology Building Society, which also picked up its own Green award on the night.

Other businesses and organisations receiving awards included Hull College, which also received a special award for its work this year, Barnsley Premier Leisure, HITEK Electronic Materials, Hull City Council and York-based Solarwall.

The Investors in the Environment scheme now has more than 250 members, who are collectively saving thousands of tonnes of CO2 and hundreds of thousands of pounds. The scheme is managed and delivered by Yorkshire Energy Partnership and aims to help businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber become more sustainable and competitive.

Laura Backhouse, business account manager at Investors in the Environment, said: "Our members are really enthusiastic and committed to the scheme for all the right reasons; immediate cost savings, attracting new customers and, most importantly, reducing their environmental impact.

"They are regularly achieving above and beyond what we would expect and are making some extremely impressive savings."