Businesses boosting the diversity of the City of London and providing training and work opportunities for young people have been recognised in the capital’s top responsible business gongs.
Six firms emerged triumphant in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards, held by the City of London Corporation to recognise companies which go the extra mile to benefit society.
The winners received their awards last night in an awards ceremony at the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor of the City of London’s official residence – the first in-person Dragons since before the pandemic.
Lord Mayor of the City of London Vincent Keaveny said:
“The City, the capital and the UK as a whole will benefit greatly from creating a society where people are able to progress in their career based on merit rather than how they talk or which school they went to.
“It’s wonderful to see so many of this year’s winners taking positive action to tackle inequality and to give people the skills, the experience and the confidence they need to get on in life. What they are doing brings my Mayoral theme for the year – People and Purpose – vividly to life.
“All this year’s winners deserve a lot of credit for going above and beyond to benefit their staff, their communities and society as a whole.”
Winners included recruitment firm Barrington Hibbert Associates for its work in helping people from under-represented and low-income backgrounds trying to start careers in the City.
Barrington Hibbert Associates CEO Michael Barrington Hibbert said:
“Our experiences of working with individuals and organisations in the City has reinforced the fact there is no shortage of ability, talent or commitment to succeed amongst under-represented groups, but there is a real shortage of opportunity. We’re committed to doing all we can to create access to these opportunities.”
The Dragon Awards are organised by Heart of the City, the City Corporation-funded charity which supports hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises with their responsible business programme.
