Two of Bradford's biggest companies have won awards for their positive contribution to society.

Yorkshire Water and Bradford & Bingley were winners at the annual Business in the Community (BITC) Big Tick awards, which honour companies for ethical and responsible business practice.

Yorkshire Water was a receiver of the Impact on Society Award and the BUPA Healthy Communities Award, as well as being re-accredited in the Eco-efficiency category. It was also shortlisted to become the 2007 National Example of Excellence, an award which will be presented at a dinner later this year attended by Prince Charles and former US vice-president Al Gore.

Meanwhile, FTSE100 company Bradford & Bingley collected an EDF Energy Environmental Leadership Award and a Jubilee Award.

Yorkshire Water has been highly praised for its corporate and social responsibility programmes.

Managing director Kevin Whiteman was last year named the Prince of Wales official ambassador to Yorkshire to promote environmental business practice after his company reduced its pollution incidents by more than 56 per cent in five years.

The company also has a culture of community work amongst its employees, with 850 taking part in voluntary work last year.

Community affairs manager Anne Reed, said: "Yorkshire Water takes its responsibility to the community very seriously and we work hard to make a positive difference in the region, so we are thrilled with the Big Tick. We have moved away from just making straight donations to focusing more on volunteering."

"Whenever we are involved in capital programmes in communities, such as road works, we contact local councillors and officials to find out where we can offer support, getting involved in things like painting a community centre."

Meanwhile Bradford & Bingley's environmental award comes hot on the heels of its becoming one of the first FTSE100 companies in the country to achieve Carbon Neutral status.

It also invests in a wide range of local causes, contributing £500,000 to the National Media Museum's new TV gallery and helping replace some of the equipment in the nursery and reception areas of Baildon Church of England School, which was burnt down last year.

e-mail: mark.casci @bradford.newsquest.co.uk