Latest News
Novus triumphs at Business in the Community awards

We have once again been recognised for our commitment to the communities in which we operate with a prestigious Business in the Community award.
We won the West Midlands Collaborative Action Award for the development and ongoing success of our Staffordshire Business Class Cluster initiative. The award was part of Business in the Community’s (BITC) West Midlands Responsible Business Gala Dinner.
Established in 2013, the initiative was designed to create a long-term partnership between ourselves and Thistley Hough Academy, which is located four miles from our head office in Stoke-on-Trent. This acted as the trigger for seven more business and school partnerships to be formed in the three years since. In 2014/15 the businesses volunteered 1718 hours supporting 3065 pupils, helping to improve skills and increase their employability.
In a significant night for us, we were also re-accredited as a Responsible Business, and also won the West Midlands Small Responsible Business Award thanks to our continued impact championing responsible business in the UK over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, Holly Hartley, principal at Thistley Hough Academy, was acknowledged with a Community Champion Award for excelling in her engagement and partnership with the business sector for the benefit of society.
The West Midlands Responsible Business Gala Dinner is designed to celebrate the powerful role and positive impact of business in society. It is an opportunity to share inspirational stories of how companies and organisations are making a real difference in the region.
Novus chairman Stuart Seddon said: “A responsible attitude is very much part of the Novus DNA. We are a family business and have always upheld traditional values in our dealings with our workforce, our customers, our suppliers and the wider world. We are proud to support the communities within which we work and working with local charities, community organisations and community volunteers we aim to play our part in improving people’s lives and improving communities. Our Business Class initiative is an extension of this and our way of directly supporting young people in schools through a long-term, needs-led collaborative approach.”
Raksha Pattni, area director west, Business in the Community, said: “At Business in the Community, we firmly believe that responsible business is not just a better way to do business but it is the only way to do business and I’d like to congratulate all those who have achieved success.
“The recipients of our awards clearly demonstrate the positive impact businesses and individuals can have when they collaborate and come together as a force for good to tackle a range of economic, social and environmental issues that are essential to building a fairer society and a more sustainable future here in the West Midlands.”
The other partnerships in the Staffordshire Business Class Cluster are:
- The Hanley Economic Building Society and Ormiston Horizon Academy
- Steelite International and Haywood Academy
- Riverside and The Discover Academy
- Home Retail Group and Stafford Sports College
- Keele University and Sandon College
- Stoke-on-Trent College and The Co-Operative Academy of Stoke-on-Trent
- Lucideon and The Excel Academy