Several Bradford businesses were celebrated at the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Raising the Bar Awards.

Now in its 11th year, Raising the Bar recognises the hard work that the region’s businesses put into supporting the wider community and measuring their social impact in their local area.

The awards saw categories listed across three key areas of environment, education, and community, and subdivided to recognise small, medium, and large-scale businesses in each area.

This year’s community awards were won by:

  • Yorkshire Garden Centres (large), which includes Tong Garden, Bingley Garden Centre, Otley Garden Centre, and Tingley Garden Centre.
  • Talk Straight Group (medium) - a cyber security and business communications firm based on Dansk Way in Ilkley.
  • SVH Inc (small) - a Harrogate-based firm that delivers workplace wellbeing solutions to businesses.

The education awards were won by:

  • Robertson Group (large) - a family-owned construction, infrastructure, and support service business firm which has an office in Sheffield.
  • Medicines Management Team (medium) - business based on a Chapel Street, Bradford, whose skilled pharmacists provide support practices in relieving the workload pressure on GPs.
  • UKREiiF (small) - the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum is a Leeds firm that unlocks investment and drives regeneration and development.

The environment awards were won by:

  • First Bus (large) - a bus transit firm that has a depot based on Bowling Back Lane in Bradford.
  • ACS Group (medium) - a technology and business supplies firm that has an office on Otley Road, Baildon.
  • Rance Booth Smith Architects (small) - an architectural practice on Victoria Road, Saltaire, offering a range of design and building solutions.

During the awards presentation evening, broadcaster Andrew Edwards, awards show host, said: “Tonight, we will be sharing with you how businesses empower and encourage employees to go the extra mile in the Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire region.

“The nature of these awards is not just about the accolade. It’s about giving recognition to all those businesses who strive to improve the places where we live and the lives of people that live here.

“Congratulations to all the winners.”