SBFM has won the Social Impact in Sustainability Award at the Yorkshire Sustainability Excellence Awards. The award was announced at the finalist’s lunch, held in Swinton Park in North Yorkshire on the 24th of April.
SBFM won for the success of its Evolve initiative and wider commitment to creating lasting social value across the facilities management industry. Evolve creates long-term sustainable employment opportunities by providing tailored support, training, mentorship and careers for underrepresented groups.
The judges were particularly impressed by the programme’s wide-reaching impact, having already supported more than 2,000 individuals from underrepresented and marginalised backgrounds; ex-offenders, people experiencing homelessness, ex-forces personnel, long-term unemployed individuals, former sports professionals, care leavers, neurodivergent people, and those with disabilities. To date, the scheme has generated £2.8 million in social value as part of SBFM’s wider £7.6 million contribution and collaborates with over 40 organisations, including clients and charity partners.
SBFM was also praised for its varied inclusive schemes, including its employee chatbot that provides real-time translations for its diverse workforce, its seven affinity EDI networks, and its fundraisers, including £11,000 raised for charity partner Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation in 2024.
SBFM’s partnership with 11 prisons and the Ministry of Justice was also recognised. Colin Shute, founder of SBFM, chairs the Yorkshire Employment Advisory Board, and in partnership with HMP Wealstun, SBFM has created a training workshop for offenders near the end of their release as part of the HMP Academies Framework.
Matt Chapman, CEO of SBFM, said: “We are delighted to receive this award, which recognises the strongest sustainable organisations in the Yorkshire region. Evolve reflects our long-term commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for people often overlooked by traditional employment routes. It’s a programme built on partnership, purpose and real progress – making a measurable difference where it matters most.”
The Yorkshire Sustainability Excellence Awards were created by The Business Desk, in partnership with Clarion, Deloitte and the Swinton Estate, to recognise the organisations making positive changes towards their environmental impact.
