Three businesses with strong connections to Gwent were among the winners at the Business in the Community Wales Responsible Business Awards 2014.

Newport-based GD Environmental, Wales and West Utilities and Carillion Civil Engineering were the three Gwent firms among the 19 from across Wales which were recognised with the Big Tick accolade for demonstrating significant business and social impact and a sustained commitment to their responsible business programmes.

The annual awards was hosted by Nicola Heywood-Thomas, BBC Radio Wales and featured entertainment by Only Boys Aloud, proudly supported by Principality Building Society. Nicola was joined on stage by Rosie Sweetman, Wales Director for BITC and the Chair of BITC’s Wales Advisory Board, John Union the Head of Wales for Barclays Corporate Banking.

GD Environmental was named the Finance Wales Responsible Small Business of the Year.

The Newport-based recycling services company has achieved substantial growth which has been underpinned at every stage by a commitment to developing its staff, improving the environment and supporting the community.

GD Environmental was praised by assessors for the 'clear commercial case for their responsible business practices whilst creating employment opportunities for those furthest from the workplace, including ex-offenders'.

James Norvill, CEO of GD Environmental, said: “To be named as Wales’ Responsible Small Business of The Year is a great privilege. We recognise the importance of investing in our people; it is a key part of the company’s growth whilst supporting the communities in which we operate”.

Wales & West Utilities, which has a base at Celtic Springs in Newport, won the Network Rail Cymru Wales Building Stronger Communities Award for its 'Say NO to CO' campaign, which is educating communities across Wales about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Wales & West Utilities Inspiring Young Talent Award was picked up by ACT Training for its 'Traineeships – Earn while you learn' programme which has supported over 1,000 young people into employment or further education.

Carillion Civil Engineering won the Careers Wales Education Award for its work in the Heads of the Valleys and specifically for the partnership with the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community where it helped 130 pupils complete elements of their Welsh Baccalaureate.

Rosie Sweetman, Director of Business in the Community in Wales said: “All year round, responsible businesses across Wales are making a positive difference to the economic, environmental and social challenges we face as a nation, in ways that support their business goals.

“The Wales Responsible Business Awards are an opportunity to shine a much-deserved spotlight on the work that these companies are doing, day after day, week in and week out.

“I congratulate all of those companies who have achieved a Big Tick this year. I look forward to working with all the companies to grow the responsible business community and demonstrate that business in Wales is a force for good.”

The 2014 Wales Responsible Business Awards were sponsored by D?r Cymru Welsh Water, the Welsh Government, Finance Wales, Wales & West Utilities, Network Rail Cymru Wales, Careers Wales, Menter Iontach Nua and Legal & General.