Celebrating Sustainability: Highlights from the Investors in the Environment Annual Awards 2025

We’re still buzzing in the Genee office after a fantastic day at the Investors in the Environment (iiE) Annual Awards in Peterborough last week. The event was a brilliant celebration of the organisations and individuals who are prioritising the sustainability agenda (often in challenging circumstances) and it reminded us just how important community, collaboration and shared ambition are in driving environmental change.

As the Northern Hub for iiE, we’re incredibly proud of our members across the North East and North West. Their commitment to reducing environmental impact, improving resource efficiency, and embedding sustainability into organisational culture continues to inspire us every day. Being able to come together in person and celebrate their achievements alongside the wider iiE community is a genuine highlight of our year!

We were especially thrilled to see so many of our members recognised. The Pioneering Care Partnership and Blue Cabin were both shortlisted for awards, while Everyturn Mental Health, Connected Voice, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead College and Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust achieved runner-up positions in their respective categories. We were also delighted to celebrate two major wins: Rise North East took home the Best Waste Reduction award, and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art was crowned Best Newcomer (Large).

Rise were recognised for a focused, time-limited waste reduction project that delivered exceptional impact. The judges praised the initiative for addressing environmental, health and social aims simultaneously, strengthening community bonds, and demonstrating a model that could be replicated across the country. It showed how short bursts of activity, when designed with intention, can achieve meaningful, measurable change.

Baltic’s achievement as Best Newcomer (Large) reflects their extraordinary commitment to embedding sustainability deeply into the organisation. Entering the iiE accreditation scheme at Green level—right from the outset—is no small feat. Their work spans everything from exhibitions and learning programmes to day-to-day resource management. With strong leadership support, sustainability has been woven into the organisation’s culture, resulting in major reductions in electricity use, waste, and carbon emissions, even as staff numbers have nearly doubled. Baltic has also embraced sustainable travel schemes, biodiversity initiatives, and early steps toward accessing the district heat network to reduce reliance on gas. Their bold and inspiring vision reflects the ambition of the art they champion.

We were incredibly proud to see Steve Mack, from Newcastle United Foundation, and Rachel Leech, from Gateshead College, join the expert panel. Both shared honest, practical experiences of building environmental management systems from the ground up and bringing people along with them. Their passion, positivity and authenticity resonated strongly with the audience, demonstrating what can be achieved when sustainability is embraced with enthusiasm!

Our Managing Director, Jo, delivered two packed workshop sessions - one on supporting the natural environment and another on simple but effective sustainability quick wins. The conversations sparked lively discussion, idea-sharing and problem-solving, showing once again that collaboration is at the heart of driving genuine progress. The energy in the room made it clear that the iiE community is full of people ready to take action and support one another.

The keynote address from Archie Struthers of Nattergal Ltd was another standout moment. His insights into nature restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and landscape recovery gave us all plenty to reflect on, especially as organisations consider how to play their part in supporting the natural world. His follow-up conversation with Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), added even more depth and inspiration. Sarah then compered the awards with her trademark warmth, professionalism, and energy, bringing the whole event together.

Thank you to our North East and North West members who braved the weather to join us. Connecting with our members in person is always a joy, and the annual awards provide such a valuable opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate the important work being done across the U.K.

If you'd like to discover how Genee can support your organisation to develop an effective environmental management system which is aligned with your organisational needs, get in touch at jo@genee.org.uk.