CHAMPIONS of the environment representing businesses, schools and the community were rewarded for their commitment at the seventh annual Groundwork Bury Dinner and Awards.

The event at the Longfield Suite in Prestwich attracted 260 guests and paid tribute to those who have adopted a strict "environmentally friendly" approach, including two Radcliffe firms.

BEP Surface Technologies made their mark on the awards - at the double!

The company, with premises in Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe, won two top categories and also clinched a highly commended slot. BEP triumphed in the Energy, Water and Waste Management section while health and safety officer David Chapman was presented with the coveted Outstanding Individual of the Year Business award.

BEP Surface Technologies is the new trading name of Bury Electro Plating and BEP Grindings, which merged three months ago after sharing the same building. The 35-strong company electroplates industrial rollers and carries out work to enhance the surface wearability.

Bosses successfully addressed the health and environmental consequences of using hexavalent chrome in their electroplating process and recognised that disposal of waste chrome solution entailed a significant potential risk. Its transport and disposal required high levels of safety management and long-term storage of the material presented a potential problem for future generations.

To avoid these risks, BEP purchased and installed a £35,000 chrome purification plant, which was the first of its kind in the UK. The equipment removes impurities and prolongs the life of the solution and the waste produced is non-hazardous. This has resulted in 22,000 litres of toxic waste solution disposed of every three years being reduced to zero. Additionally, BEP's energy usage has been reduced by 25 per cent.

Director Mr Stephen Howard said: "Our new plant removes all the contaminates from the chrome plating solutions and means we never need to dispose of them."

Colleague David Chapman, who left school with no qualifications, did not expect or intend to take a managerial role in technical activities. But he has introduced a range of health, safety and environmental initiatives to improve the company's performance and to meet regulatory requirements.

He has designed and run various training courses, studied for the National Examining Board in Occupational Safety and Health certificate and is currently preparing for his Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment certificate exam.

He said: "Everyone here knows how central health and safety environmental management is to me. I'm constantly trying to make improvements and battle against the old attitudes. I've also been involved in a lot of studying and I'm proud to have won the award."

Awards were divided into eight categories, which embraced everything from health, safety and environmental management, buildings, security, structures and landscape improvements, through to community environmental projects and outstanding individuals in business and the community.

Radcliffe-based Seward Refrigeration proved they were hot stuff when their policies put them among the prizes. The company, launched in 1993 and based at the Dale Street Industrial Estate, clinched the Health, Safety & Environmental Management award. Seward are specialists in the design, installation, service and maintenance of industrial refrigeration systems and 95 per cent of their clients work within the food industry.

They earned the award after developing various health and safety advisory documents. Health and safety liaison officer Mr Phillip Morris was responsible for compiling a detailed plan for every installation and also put together a health and safety policy, environmental policy and safe systems of work. Additionally, the firm has introduced a strict employee training programme which includes testing and wearing breathing apparatus, on-site and off-site emergency action plans, strict safety and vetting procedures for all sub-contractors, health surveillance for all employees and safety testing and monitoring of plant and machinery.

Mr Morris, who accepted the award on behalf of the 20-strong company, said: "Proper training is essential because we work in a high-risk industry, involving the use of ammonia, for example. To receive the award is just fantastic and it's a great achievement for us. We are only a small company and there were much larger businesses nominated for the same award."

Over the years, Groundwork Bury have established the dinner and awards as the premier event of its kind in the borough. Guests included Bury's mayor and mayoress, Councillors Barry and Sharon Briggs, Euro MP Gary Titley and former chairman Dennis Taylor.

In the last year, Groundwork Bury has generated a work programme to the value of £900,000, has improved 10,350 sq metres of land, planted 1,677 trees, provided 2,000 days of activity for young people, worked with 73 schools, actively worked with 81 businesses, carried out 61 environmental reviews and helped to create or safeguard 447 jobs.

AWARDS

Health, Safety & Environmental Management. Winner - Seward Refrigeration. Highly commended - BEP Surface Technologies Ltd; Chadwicks of Bury; Ernhills Bakery; Wallwork Heat Treatment.

Energy, Water and Waste Management. Winner - BEP Surface Technologies Ltd. Highly commended - Colour Anodising Ltd; P&S Textiles; Senior Hargreaves; Thomas French Ltd.

Buildings, Security, Structures and Landscape Improvements. Winner - Appleby Bowers. Highly commended - Bracken Ltd; Senior Hargreaves.

Community Environmental Projects. Winner - Topping Fold Community Garden. Special commendation - Whitefield Junior Wardens. Highly commended - Chesham Fold Community Centre; Pimhole Community Farm.

Schools Environmental Projects. Winner - Holly Mount primary school. Highly commended - Hollins Grundy; Springside and Whitefield primary schools.

Public Sector Initiative. Winner - Community Greenways. Highly commended - Business Investment Programme, Brook St Metal; Bury Streetcare Initiative; Bury Wildspaces Project; Kerbcraft; North West in Bloom, Parks and Countryside; Prestwich Village Strategy.

Outstanding Individual of the Year: Community. Winner - Mavis Warner. Special commendation - Winnie Green. Highly commended - Stuart Andrews; Maureen North.

Outstanding Individual of the Year: Business. Winner - David Chapman. Special commendation - Graham Flack; Philip Morris.