A leading Community Interest Company, established to tackle fuel poverty and boost environmental efficiency in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber, has been given a prestigious national award.

Community Energy Solutions (CES), which has offices in Boldon and Leeds, has won a Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice in recognition for its work to deliver energy-efficient and affordable warmth measures to communities across both regions.

The Green Apple Awards, which were launched by The Green Organisation in 1994, are designed to recognise and reward environmentally conscious activity in various sectors, including utilities, the built environment and retail.

CES impressed the judges with its entry in the Environmental Best Practice category, which is assessed in terms of the company’s innovation, commitment and measurable environmental benefits, and will now receive a special trophy during an awards ceremony at the House of Commons later this year.

As a major category winner, CES may also be given the chance to represent the UK in the European Business Awards for the Environment, which only accepts entrants that have been successful in country-specific feeder schemes, such as The Green Apple Awards.

Candidates for the international accolade will be chosen by a specially selected panel of judges, with CES Chief Executive Chris Leek hoping his team has a good chance of making it to the next round.

“We are extremely proud of the work we are doing here at CES and it’s fantastic to receive wider recognition from The Green Apple Awards,” he said.  “We are thrilled to have won the award for Environmental Best Practice and would be honoured if this meant we could go on to represent the UK at the European awards too.”