Southern Co-op and Tops Day Nurseries celebrate success

Southern Co-op is among 31 organisations to be recognised in the sustainable development category of the awards, which salute the best of British business.

Mark Smith, Southern Co-op's chief executive, said: "We are honoured to have been awarded this significant and well-respected title.

"We are committed to being a responsible and sustainable business, playing our part in creating a fairer society and sustainable world.

"Our colleagues work hard to realise this goal across every aspect of our business and this award recognises not only the progress we've made but the high standards to which they work.

Mark Smith and Gemma Lacey celebrate Southern Co-op's success in the awards.

"Southern Co-op was set up nearly 150 years ago in response to the challenges of that time - exploitation, inequality and poverty.

"Many of these challenges sadly still exist today, alongside environmental challenges like climate change, declining natural resources and threatened wildlife/habitats.

"We all need to continue working together to tackle these issues and truly make a difference to our futures."

Southern Co-op runs convenience stores, coffee shops and funeral services in hundreds of locations across the south, including Southampton.

It is currently pursuing ambitious science-based targets to cut direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the business by 2030.

Gemma Lacey, Southern Co-op's director for sustainability and communications, said: "The information and evidence needed for this award was extensive but it also made us reflect on the progress we've made in making our business sustainable."

Tops Day Nurseries operates in towns and villages across Hampshire, including Fawley and Lymington.

Other Queen's Award winners include Tops Day Nurseries, which operates in Fawley, Lymington and other parts of Hampshire.

Cheryl Hadland, founder and managing director, said: “We are truly delighted and proud to achieve this award, despite suffering the crippling impact of Covid and, even worse, the under-funding of early years provision in this country in recent years.

"Early years educators provide the foundations for today's children to be able to run the country tomorrow."

Tops Day Nurseries was set up in 1990 and operates 32 nurseries along the south coast. It employs a total of 750 people.

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