Dacorum Borough Council Announces its Business Heroes

Dacorum Borough Council has announced its Business Heroes 2019.

The awards recognise the businesses in the borough that really make a difference and have a positive impact on the lives of others – shaping the future of economic growth in Dacorum.

The six winners are:

Retail hero – Number Twenty

A Berkhamsted charity gift shop which sells a range of locally sourced products with profits donated to the Hospice of St Francis. Customer service is key and time is taken to source the correct item if it’s not in stock.

Employment Hero – Indigo Tree

This small tech company are constantly looking at new ways to offer benefits to their staff, which in turn will benefit the business. Each Individual is given time and budget for training and learning plus an afternoon a month to spend on their own project.

Skills Hero – D-Lab CIC

Based in Berkhamsted, D-Lab offers low cost courses, covering topics such as 3D printing and Algorithmic Art, plus mentoring, networking and the opportunity to work alongside and learn from like-minded people. Many schoolchildren have benefitted from work experience or focused workshops and D-Lab work hard to inspire a love of innovation and technology in as many young people as possible. Local companies are encouraged to visit and discuss collaborative ventures.

Business2Business Hero – Tring Together

Tring Together, run by Vivianne Childs alongside her day job as a business coach, runs vibrant networking events where local companies can meet and forge excellent working relationships. This and their involvement in the organising of community events puts them at the heart of what makes Tring such a great place to do business.

Environment Hero – Tring Brewery

This company has many environmentally friendly credentials. It gives spent grain to a neighbouring farmer to feed his cows so there are zero food miles and it uses a heat exchanger to recover 90 per cent of the energy used in beer production. The brewery also encourages the sale and re-use of metal beer containers instead of plastic and uses re-useable or compostable plastic glasses at events.

Business in the Community Hero

David Evans MBE – Grass Roots and the Future Proof Enterprise Group

David’s corporate and personal donations have benefitted Tring’s Swimming Club, Running Club, Rugby Club, Cricket Club, Squash Rackets Club and more. He was awarded an MBE for services to corporate social responsibility after pioneering initiatives such as offering work placements to homeless people. David now runs a number of social enterprises in energy conservation, public health and education.

The winners will receive their awards at a ceremony at Little Hay Golf Course on Friday 19 July.