Striding to a much better community

9:47am Thursday 14th August 2008

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A COUPLE from Mere, who founded a walking holiday business six years ago, have won a Business in the Community award.

Alison and David Howell started Foot Trails from home and the business is now based in Berwick St Leonard.

The Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence, known as Big Ticks, honour companies that have a positive impact on the community, environment, marketplace and workplace.

Now in their eleventh year, they are the UK's leading awards for responsible business practice.

Foot Trails is the smallest company to achieve a Big Tick, and received the award and an oak sapling at a dinner at Bristol University. It reached the final five in the Award for Excellence for Rural Action, and Mr and Mrs Howell joined the other finalists at a reception at Downing Street.

A dinner followed at The Royal Albert Hall, with talks given by Sir Michael Parkinson, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer about the need for business to act responsibly. The couple was invited to the House of Commons to discuss their achievements and work with members of the Select Committee for Corporate Responsibility.

Mrs Howell said: "We are extremely honoured to receive this award and very proud to be representing rural business at such a high level."

Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: "Those who achieve the Big Tick are leading companies, ones that run their businesses aware that they depend above all on the talent, innovation and loyalty of their people.

"They know that they cannot build a successful sustainable business without constantly showing their commitment to being a better business."