Mace Sustain won The City of London Lord Mayor's Dragon Award for economic regeneration at an awards ceremony last month.

The annual awards encourage organisations across Greater London to become involved in the regeneration of their local communities.

While the social inclusion category covered Mace Sustain's work with socially excluded groups of people, the economic regeneration category was more representative of the company's work in targeting local people for job opportunities through mentoring, CV advice and work experience and providing expertise and assistance to local businesses, SMEs, social enterprises and community organisations through volunteering.

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In a short-list of four that included Barclays plc, Compass Group and MITIE Group, Mace Sustain was singled out by the judges for the longevity of its programme (first introduced on More London in 2001) and the difference it has made to the lives of more than 1,500 people across London in the last eight years.

Director of Mace Sustain, David Rowbotham, and community regeneration manager Gez Carr were at the awards dinner held at The Mansion House. The award was presented by Lord Mayor of London Alderman David Lewis and journalist Martin Lewis.

David Rowbotham commented: "We were extremely proud to receive this award for the achievements of our community regeneration programme. Our programme has helped address both the higher levels of unemployment in the London Boroughs where we are operating and the current construction industry skills shortages, but most importantly, it has made a significant and lasting impact on the individuals that we have helped access training and sustainable job opportunities."

Mace Sustain client UBS, sponsor of the recently completed Bridge Academy in Hackney, won the overall Lord Mayor's award in recognition of it exceptional programme in corporate community investment.

(GK)