Southern Co-Op given Queen's Award for Enterprise for its work on sustainability

Dressed in full uniform, complete with ceremonial sword, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson paid a special visit to Southern Co-op to present the Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

Colleagues and business partners of Southern Co-op gathered for the ceremony where they were presented with the award for Sustainable Development - one of the most prestigious awards for UK businesses.

Mark Smith, chief executive of Southern Co-op, said: ‘The principles we have around sustainable development go all the way through our business so it is important that we celebrate this success with colleagues throughout our co-operative.

‘Our third party partnerships are also important to us on this journey as we always achieve a lot more when we work with others.

‘This award is an opportunity for us to celebrate where we have got to on our sustainable journey. This award recognises organisations, like our own, who have a true and genuine commitment to being responsible and sustainable, and how it's truly embedded in business strategy, governance, management, culture, and day to day decision making.’

The Lord-Lieutenant praised the co-operative for continuing to achieve the Fair Tax mark and for the efforts of all of the company's colleagues who made the award possible.

Speaking at the event, the Lord-Lieutenant said: ‘This is a very special award presentation. Actually it is the first time I have presented a sustainable development award. This is a really difficult award to achieve.

‘I had no idea Southern Co-op was formed in Portsmouth in 1873. At that time, it was set up in response to societal change. It was a business to help people help themselves. Sadly some of these issues still remain today and I'm pleased to see Southern Co-op is still here helping people.

‘Of course there are other challenges now with the changing climate and declining wildlife and your response comes through very strongly. It's a great business. I am very pleased to read your values and being customer focused is clearly in your DNA.’