CUMBERWELL PARK SHOWS COMMITMENT TO THE GREEN AGENDA
Bradford-on-Avon venue Cumberwell Park has recently been recognised in several award schemes for their environmental work. Cumberwell Park offers a space for meetings, conferences and events as well as being home to a golf club for 1500 members.
The family run business won the environmental category in the Bath Life Awards and their head of conservation, Jon Keepen was a runner up in the British and International Greenkeeping( BIGGA) Awards category of Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year. Judges at the Bath Life Awards praised Cumberwell for its“ highly thoughtful conservation work: the commitment and range of work it does and the way it communicates its importance to members.”
Conservation work The conservation work at Cumberwell Park covers a number of key areas. Jon ensures that the course is sympathetically managed for the wildlife as well as for the golfers to enjoy. There are a number of bird boxes installed on the course for raptors such as barn owls, kestrels and little owls, all of which have successfully produced young in recent years. This is a testament to the food sources available on the site. Other boxes are on the course to suit smaller birds such as the blue tit.
The matrix of water bodies, grassland and trees benefit a wide range of species. Wild flower meadows and rough areas are cut and baled to enable flowers to flourish which in turn benefits the pollinators. Trees are integral to the course with both woodland and individual trees playing their part. Thousands of trees have been planted by the James family since the opening of the original golf course in 1994. Large lengths of hedgerows have been planted, and only last month 420 metres of hedging was sown on the orange course comprising 1,700 native plants to benefit local wildlife.
Sustainability in catering The Cumberwell Park team is dedicated to sustainability in the catering side of the business. The meat is sourced by the head chef from a local butcher to ensure that food miles are minimised and other food products are sourced locally wherever possible. The venue has also been recycling waste for some years from both the catering and greenkeeping areas including cardboard, paper, plastic, cans, metals and cooking oil are all separated. Food waste is sent to a local anaerobic digestion site, minimising what is sent to landfill.
Setting an example The team have recently installed a water fountain in their downstairs bar to enable customers to refill their reusable water bottles, therefore reducing the plastic water bottle requirements. Plastic straws have been taken out of circulation in favour of a recyclable alternative and further cardboard and plastic reduction is being investigated.
Entering business awards and winning them
Multi-award-winning Denise O’ Leary of Purpol Marketing gives her top tips for entering and winning business award schemes.
Has my company got what it takes to win an award?
Almost certainly yes, but you need to commit to:
• Choosing the right award to enter
• Take the time and effort to craft a compelling entry
With many hundreds of awards to select from and stiff competition for top prizes it’ s not easy. You need to give yourself the best chance, making your entry a timely process.
Isn’ t it just the big companies that win awards?
This common assumption is wrong. A few less ethical award schemes might favour big brands, but it is those who actually enter that win. You have to fill out the form and stop wishing.
• Visualise why you want to win
• A gleaming trophy for your office?
• Being featured in the press?
• An invitation to the palace or No. 10?
• Raising your profile?
• Gaining respect and admiration of your industry?
• Building trust in your business?
• Recruiting new talent?
• Winning new customers?
• Proving others wrong?
Choose the right award scheme for you
Whether you are a micro business, a single person organisation, part of a large corporation, an outstanding entrepreneur, a charity or social enterprise or a public sector body there is an award out there with your name on it.
Choosing the right award is critical to success and value leveraged. Where does your business shine? What do you do really well? You don’ t have to be the best in the world, the UK or even in your sector, you just have to be the best company who actually entered.
What kind of recognition will deliver the most for your business?
• International
• National
• Regional
• Local
• By sector- e. g. Travel and Tourism
• By industry / job role – e. g. architect
• By demographic- gender, age
How to find the right awards for your business
• Look at previous winners- Do you want to be associated with them?
• Choose the right category- What gives greatest credibility?
What awards title would you be most proud of winning? What to consider:
• When the award deadline is.
• Cost of entry
• Will the benefits outweigh any cost involved?
• Do you definitely fit the criteria?
• Is there a more obscure category you could enter to avoid competing against many others?
Top tips for writing your award entry
Once you have chosen the right award, do your research. Make sure you find information relevant to the category you’ re entering and provide facts and figures to prove how you match the criteria. I would also:
• Write your award offline before uploading into the portal.
Later this year they are moving to online membership renewals to save on the use of paper bills.
Cumberwell Park is increasing its community focus in 2018 as part of a wider business plan. The events team is working with local companies and Wiltshire College to host fashion shows, craft fayres and other events whilst raising key funds for charities based in and around Wiltshire.
01225 863322 enquiries @ cumperwellpark. com
For more info: www. cumberwellpark. com
• Follow the instructions, stick to the word count and answer every question.
• If entering multiple awards, write every award individually. In two different categories, the same question will require a subtly different answer.
• Make your entry stand out with colours, imagery, short and easy to read paragraphs and no unexplained acronyms or jargon!
• Make use of headings and sub-headings, graphs and tables to bring your entry to life.
To find out more about Purpol Marketing’ s services including bid writing visit: www. purpolmarketing. co. uk or email: hello @ purpolmarketing. co. uk
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018 35