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Fairtrade business awards overall winner 2019

The venue for the 2019 Fairtrade Business Awards ceremony was the beautiful and atmospheric Arnos Vale cemetery; a sanctuary of nature, architecture and history in the heart of Bristol, now protected from development for future generations.

Minuteman Press Bristol are thrilled and honoured to learn that in the Fairtrade Business Awards 2019 we have been voted Overall Winner by the Fairtrade business judging panel.

The trophy (a beautiful Bristol Blue glass hand-crafted stylised coffee bean) and certificate were presented by Nick Hewer (The Apprentice, Countdown, PR guru and so much more) to a grateful Peter Wise on behalf of Minuteman Press Bristol. Nick is a passionate ambassador and advocate for Fairtrade; he has visited international projects supported by Fairtrade and spoken fervently at Fairtrade events.

Minuteman Press Bristol were selected from a final shortlist of 50 dedicated Fairtrade businesses invited to attend the Fairtrade Business Awards. Some inspiring and influential Fairtrade category winners were recognised including the University of Bath, Lyons Davidson, the Create Centre and the University of the West of England. All have been avid contributors in the development and growth of the West Country Fairtrade network.

Minuteman Press Bristol have been actively involved with Fairtrade and the Fairtrade business network for the past seven years. Fairtrade is such a worthy cause for businesses to be able to practically support and make a real difference. All the team at Minuteman Press Bristol engage and contribute – be it promoting Fairtrade to customers, purchasing Fairtrade product or endorsing Fairtrade at conferences.

“It was such an honour for Minuteman Press Bristol to be recognised by Fairtrade and a colossal surprise, entirely unexpected; hence the casual attire next to Nick!” commented Minuteman Press Bristol director Peter Wise.

“A huge thrill to meet the wonderful Nick Hewer and learn about his experiences with Fairtrade. I couldn’t resist confiding to him that The Apprentice is a lesser show without him”, his response so characteristically modest.

Poverty should not be permitted to exist in 2019, everyone can make a practical difference by supporting Fairtrade and purchasing Fairtrade products, helping provide an income on which producers can survive, build sustainable infrastructure and grow. Why wouldn’t you? Farmers are paid less than 75 pence per day, less than half the amount needed for a decent standard of life. 75 pence – how much did your coffee, newspaper or sandwich cost?

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We won! Fairtrade Business Awards 2016

Hosted by ethical beauty and wellbeing expert, Liz Earle MBE and opened by Molly Scott Cato MEP the Fairtrade South West Business Awards 2016 were well attended by 68 shortlisted businesses at the prestigious At-Bristol Science Centre’s penthouse conference facility. Minuteman Press Bristol were thrilled to win outright Best Fairtrade Office 2016 (sponsored by the lovely people at Burges Salmon).

The ceremony was the culmination of Fairtrade Fortnight celebrations in the region. It forms part of the Sit Down for Breakfast, Stand Up for Farmers campaign, highlighting the fact that many farmers in developing countries provide food for us, but don’t get paid enough to feed their own families – an injustice Fairtrade seeks to redress.

Businesses that use and sell Fairtrade products make a significant contribution to reducing poverty in developing countries and helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Fairtrade also enables businesses to achieve transparency in supply chains demanded by the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Minuteman Press Bristol proactively support Fairtrade by purchasing food, drink and cleaning products, display Fairtrade promotional information, write blog articles concerning Fairtrade, support other Fairtrade businesses and so much more. We are all passionate about Fairtrade, its ethos and the wonderful work it does in highlighting global injustice.

All images provided by Jon Craig Photography.

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Another Prestigious Award Comes Our Way

At Minuteman Press Bristol, we love to be recognised for our commitment. Especially when that award relates to an important principle which we have long since held and which we adhere to in our everyday business. In 2015 we have once again been awarded the Fairtrade South West Business Gold Award in the category of Best Fairtrade Office.

As it states, the award relates to Fairtrade, which is a simple and inherently ethical concept that relates to purchasing products direct from producers within countries which are economically poor. The guiding principle behind Fairtrade is that a fair price is paid for the products purchased, which is sufficient to cover production, the cost of living and factors such as education for children. Usually long term contracts are involved which then enable the producers to plan ahead, safe in the knowledge that a stable price will be paid.

Since its initial inception there are now in excess of 1,000 products that carry the Fairtrade mark within the UK, which include a whole menagerie of produce including tea, wine, beer as well as fresh fruit.

Minuteman Press Bristol’s involvement in Fairtrade began some years ago after discussions between the directors and the whole team, who universally agreed that the high ideals and excellent principles of morality, relating to the concept of Fairtrade, were an excellent fit for our own ethical stance in terms of product sourcing and utilisation. We actively promote the principles of Fairtrade within various facets of marketing, such as within our participation in Fairtrade events, and relevant elements of our online marketing, such as our website news.

Image by kind permission of Jenny Foster, Fairtrade network bristolfairtrade.org.uk. Image by the excellent Jon Craig joncraig.co.uk.

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South West Fairtrade Business Awards 2014

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The results of the South West Fairtrade Business Awards have been announced.

Minuteman Press Bristol were considered in the category of Best Fairtrade Office 2014; the results were presented by journalist and ethical expert Lucy Siegle of The Observer and The Guardian newspapers, at Bristol’s City Hall.

After careful deliberation the judging panel have awarded Minuteman Press Bristol with the Gold award!

Minuteman Press Bristol have always been committed to the philosophy and objectives of Fairtrade and where available purchase Fairtrade products. As the Fairtrade range expands Minuteman Press Bristol will be delighted to increase its purchasing of the spectrum of Fairtrade products.

The more UK businesses that support Fairtrade, the greater the impact that can be achieved; being in business should be about making a real difference.

Image by kind permission of Jenny Foster, Fairtrade network bristolfairtrade.org.uk. Image by Jon Craig joncraig.co.uk.

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All’s Fair in Trade

Minuteman Press Bristol was delighted to win a Bronze Award at the South West Fairtrade Business Awards in spring 2013.

Director Peter Wise and Senior Graphic Designer Ryan Smith were presented with the award by celebrity chef Levi Roots at a grand ceremony at Bristol’s Colston Hall.

Jenny Foster, Bristol and South West Fairtrade Co-ordinator, said: “South West Fairtrade congratulates Minuteman Press Bristol on achieving a Bronze Fairtrade Business Award. It is wonderful to see a local business that believes in working in a fair and ethical way and supporting Fairtrade locally”.

In order to qualify as a Fairtrade business, Minuteman Press Bristol had to reach a certain standard on a number of criteria. These ranged from stocking Fairtrade refreshments for staff and visitors in our kitchen, to supporting Fairtrade at community events, and promoting the benefits of Fairtrade within the office environment.

Image by Jon Craig.

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Minuteman Bristol Wins Silver Fairtrade Business Award

Minuteman Press Bristol was nominated for Best Fairtrade Office and achieved a very highly regarded Fairtrade Silver Award.

The Fairtrade Business Awards are the main event of Fairtrade Fortnight, which aims to encourage and celebrate local ethical businesses that promote fair trading.

Alexis Jochman, one of Minuteman Press Bristol’s graphic designers, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in such a worthwhile cause and proud to be awarded Silver in our category. The event was very well organised and it was a pleasure to be in the company of like-minded businesses”.

Image by Jon Craig.

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Minuteman Press Bristol and the fairtrade awards

Minuteman Press Bristol is delighted to have been invited to enter the first ever Bristol Fairtrade Business Awards.  The ceremony will be hosted by the newsreader, journalist and presenter George Alagiah OBE.

The principles and practices of Fairtrade have always been dear to our hearts at Minuteman Press Bristol. As a commercial enterprise we have continued to support Fairtrade in our purchasing strategies.

Our presentation has now been submitted and we’ll be at the awards ceremony in Leigh Court, Bristol in March 2012. We’re all very excited.