An awards scheme that champions the West of England’s best bee-friendly businesses is back – with some of the region’s biggest firms promising to create some extra buzz around it.
The first Bee Bold Awards were held last year to champion the region’s pollinator champions.
Among the winners were Bath digital technology agency Storm, city-based social housing provider Curo and organic farm and veg box provider Middle Ground Growers, which farms 16 acres at Weston.
Now West of England firms are being urged to enter this year’s awards to highlight how they are helping pollinators create a better environment across the region.
The 2024 awards were launched by West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris in the Bristol office of international law firm Osborne Clark and attended by more than 100 business leaders, pictured.
Major employers represented at the event included Airbus, Lloyds Bank and Deloitte. 
Mayor Norris, pictured, described the awards as key to helping deliver on his commitment to make the region the UK’s bee and pollinator capital.
He said whether it was creating a blossoming green patch on a business’s premises or helping the local community with a range of pollinator-friendly actions, the awards recognised all ‘bee buddy’ firms and other organisations doing their bit to back the region’s vital pollinators.
“Going green makes good business sense,” he added. “Supporting bees and wildlife more generally is popular with the general public, and simple actions to help pollinators protect the vital contribution these insects make to our regional and national economy.
“In fact, these black and yellow striped heroes’ services are worth around £1.8bn a year in boosting yields and the quality of yummy fruit and veg – including here in the West of England region.
“I urge all West of England bee buddy businesses and other organisations – please get involved and share your ideas to help the West’s pollinator heroes.”
Among the ambitious nature recovery targets introduced for the West of England is one to increase the abundance of wildlife by 30% by the end of the decade.
Bee Bold winners will be chosen by an expert panel and announced in early June, with awards and prizes on offer.
To apply, visit http://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/bee-bold
