Vitacress environment manager Leah Mathias-Collins has won Female Achiever of the Year at the Inspire Business Awards 2018.
Judged by a panel of business leaders and experts from across the region, the annual awards celebrate Hampshire businesses and their successes.
Since joining Hampshire-based Vitacress in 2015, Leah has had a huge impact on the business, using her immense knowledge and skills to change people’s perception of the need to better manage the water used by the business.
Leah commented on her win: “I am extremely proud to have received this award. It endorses the importance of my environmental work at Vitacress and reminds me that my colleagues are 100% on the environmental journey that the company is on. I have always believed in open and honest communication that ensures the environment is at the top of the agenda. It was a great night and very special to dress up in a posh dress and not be wearing wellies!”
Leah has employed a variety of successful initiatives from forming a “water group” to setting up fantastic volunteering projects to engage fellow colleagues with the local environment. But her commitment does not stop at the office door – she is also keen to share her knowledge and appreciation of the environment with children, regularly giving talks in schools about her work as part of the Food Hero programme, as well as welcoming youngsters to Vitacress farms to learn about watercress and insect identification.
Vitacress CEO, Toby Brinsmead, commented: “Environmental sustainability is at the heart of what we do so we are delighted that Leah has been recognised in this way. We are all very proud of her!”