We were delighted to pick up a Silver Award in the 2015 regional Fairtrade Business Awards which we hosted here at Watershed last week. The aim of the Awards is to increase sales of and support for Fairtrade amongst local businesses, by promoting businesses that support Fairtrade and encouraging others to do more.

Watershed's General Manager James Taljaard was on hand to collect our award, jointly presented by Divine Chocolate and Aardman, who are using Shaun the Sheep to demonstrate how incorporating Fairtrade into a business has massive impacts on farmers in developing countries. We are screening Shaun the Sheep over the Easter Holidays!

James says:

"I'm thrilled that we have won a Silver Fairtrade Award, building upon our Bronze Award last year, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to this cause. We now stock a delicious Fairtrade cola and wines, so pop in and give them a try. And of course we were very proud to host the ceremony here at Watershed - a great time was had by all!"

Now in their third year, the Awards reward businesses that demonstrate commitment to using and promoting Fairtrade. This year there was a 40% increase in applications and an increase in Gold Award winners, demonstrating an impressive level of commitment amongst South West businesses to fair and ethical trade.

The Fairtrade Business Awards are part of the Bristol Green Capital 2015 programme and link with the Go Green Business Scheme. Bristol is hosting the International Fair Trade Towns Conference in July 2015 and celebrates 10 Years as a Fairtrade City during 2015.

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