The Coventry Evening Telegraph has been honoured with a top award for the work that it does on behalf of the people of Coventry and Warwickshire.

Coventry Newspapers, publishers of the Evening Telegraph, was announced as the best company in the Midlands for the impact that it makes on its local community.

Coventry Newspapers managing director Geraldine Aitken and Evening Telegraph editor Alan Kirby received the prestigious award at a glittering ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.

The award was made by Midlands Excellence, which judges the success of companies across the region. It follows close scrutiny by a panel of expert assessors who examined the company's activities among all its papers throughout Coventry, Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Geraldine, pictured above with Kwik-Fit owner Sir Tom Farmer, said: "The most successful companies, not only in this country but across the world, are now recognising that the impact they have on society and the perception that the public has of their activities is vital.

"The best and most progressive businesses place great emphasis on corporate social responsibility and I am so proud that the contribution made by Coventry Newspapers and its staff in this respect has been recognised in this way.

"I am also very proud that as a company we are recognised as not only working for the benefit of the community but also being an integral part of the community."

Alan said: "The Evening Telegraph has served the people of Coventry and Warwickshire for more than 100 years. The paper has changed dramatically during that time, but its basic founding principle to offer support to the community it serves and to harness the goodwill of its citizens has never faltered.

"Today I am so very proud that the paper's positive impact on local society, its contribution to the community, is as great as it has ever been and is recognised as such."

It was the vast range of community support given by the Evening Telegraph to the people of Coventry and Warwickshire which helped earn the accolade.

This included the fantastic achievement of the company's own charity, Snowball, which has raised over £1.5m for disabled children since it was founded more than 13 years ago. It is the most successful regional newspaper charity in Britain.

Internal achievements included the involvement of staff in community activities such as the Prince's Trust, local school mentoring and active membership of local organisations and charitable trusts.

The assessors were also impressed with Coventry Newspapers' environmental initiatives, including the use of recycled paper in the printing of its products and the recycling of production materials such as newsprint and aluminium printing press plates.

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