Our awards
Our colleagues work hard every day to serve our customers, directly in store or indirectly from our Store Support Office in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Everyone loves a pat on the back, and we’re proud of the recognition we’ve received for some of our achievements over the years.
2017
Best Corporate Event (Bronze) – Conference Awards 2017
B&Q was recognised by the Conference Awards judging panel as the Bronze Best Corporate Event winner for their Business Conference held in Brighton in February 2017, attended by 1,000 senior managers.
Britain’s Greenest Garden Centre - Garden Retail & Garden Industry Awards
B&Q was recognised by judges as Britain’s Greenest Garden Centre for the second year running, for our commitment to sustainability and encouraging customers to garden for wildlife and wellbeing.
2016
Best Large Format Store – Retail Week Interiors Awards 2016
B&Q’s Cribbs Causeway store was recognised at the Retail Week Interiors Awards for its brighter design and better layout for customers. With larger ranges, there’s more for customers to choose from and, with the new highly visual, inspirational and informative displays, customers are better able to do-it-themselves. The new concept was the first of four stores trialling a combination of the best elements of DIY from across the Kingfisher group and is the result of close cooperation between B&Q and Castorama, B&Q’s sister company in France.
Best Business To Business Partnership – Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards 2016
B&Q and Scott Pallets were recognised by the Ethical Corporation for their collaboration in developing an innovative and sustainable solution to a common supply chain hotspot. Our returnable pallets in bespoke sizes are made of only responsibly sourced timber.
Unsung Hero Award – The Guardian’s Sustainable Business Awards
Rachel Bradley, B&Q’s Sustainability Manager was recognised at the Guardian’s prestigious Sustainability Awards for her work on B&Q’s One Planet Home programme. Read more about the award.
Waste and Resource Efficiency Award - Edie Environment and Energy Awards
Approximately 60,000,000m3 of timber is used annually and globally to make pallets and packaging. In partnership with Scotts, and to alleviate this issue, B&Q developed its ground breaking Green Pallet Scheme. Offering returnable pallets in bespoke sizes; made only of responsibly sourced timber and operating globally, this innovative approach saw B&Q receive recognition from the Edie Environment and Energy Awards.
Britain’s Greenest Garden Centre - Garden Retail & Garden Industry Awards
B&Q not only knows the source of all the timber in its garden-based products, but also across every single one of its 40,000 product lines. From zero-carbon initiatives to zero-waste targets, sustainability is at the very heart of the home improvement business, which led judges to select B&Q as Britain’s Greenest Garden Centre in 2016.
2015
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year - Retail Week’s CSR Initiative Awards
B&Q developed a new way to package and grow bedding plants, utilising its EasyGrow technology to reduce peat use and cut back on polystyrene trays. The changes ensured that sustainable gardening became accessible, easy and affordable to all, with the innovative approach subsequently recognised at the Retail Week Awards.
Sustainable Business of the Year - Energy and Environment Awards
In 2015, B&Q was awarded 'Sustainable Business of the Year' at the 2015 Energy and Environment Awards and was commended by the judging panel for its "bold decisions" in the field of sustainability.
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year – Retail Week
B&Q won the Audit Partnership Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year for their Greener Gardening Initiative. B&Q developed a new way to package and grow bedding plants, cutting peat use and ending the use of polystyrene trays, most of which had previously ended up in landfill. In addition to reducing waste, the initiative was also a commercial success with an increase in sales of bedding plants.
2014
Carbon Management; Stakeholder Engagement; and Sustainable Packaging Awards - Edie Awards
B&Q secured a hat-trick of sustainability awards and praise from the ceremony’s esteemed panel of judges - which included the Carbon Trust's chief operating officer Michael Rea, BRE's chief executive Peter Bonfield and Forum for the Future's chief executive Sally Uren - who commended B&Q for having "sustainability wrapped around the core of its strategy".
2013
The 50+ Awards: Best Employer of those who are 50+
The 50+ awards showcase the very best in life for those aged 50+ and are solely based on internet nominations and votes of those who are aged 50+.
Business in the Community (BITC) Big Tick Award: Customer Engagement on Sustainability
B&Q, who was Retail Week’s Responsible Retailer of the Year in 2012, was overall winner of the Customer Engagement on Sustainability award category for it One Planet Home programme.
The Guardian Sustainability Awards: The Carbon Award
B&Q is taking giant strides in cutting its carbon footprint. Innovation together with the dedication of staff at all levels has played an important role in this success. The judges described B&Q as "an impressive winner who displayed an innovative approach".
2012
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development
B&Q has been honoured with the UK’s most prestigious business award, The Queen’s Award for our work in creating a sustainable business and helping people improve the sustainability of their homes.
Retail Week Awards
Winner of responsible retailer category, for our genuine commitment to placing sustainability at the heart of our business and in the process making it easier for our customers, colleagues and suppliers to reduce their environmental impact.
2011
Gallup Great Workplace Award
In recognition of our world class employee engagement results.
Sunday Times Green List
Recognised in 18th position, one of only three retailers to make the top 60.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Gold medal for our entirely edible garden which stood at nine metres tall, the highest garden ever constructed at Chelsea.
Retail Week Awards
Store Manager of the Year - Maureen Milligan.
UK Packaging Awards
Supply chain solution of the year for Longspac, a multi-trip packaging system used to transport kitchen components to customers’ houses, instead of using traditional cardboard packaging.
2010
Gallup Great Workplace Award
Awarded to B&Q for the fourth year running and we are the only UK business to receive the award. The Gallup Great Workplace Award is based on the most rigorous workplace research ever conducted and honours organisations whose employee engagement results demonstrate they have the most productive and engaged workforces in the World.
Observer Ethical Awards
Winner of Ethical Business Award. Our strong heritage in sustainability was recognised by the judging panel, including our 16% absolute reduction in CO2 emissions against a 2006/7 baseline, our work towards demystifying ecological ideas to our consumers and our overall commitment to being a responsible retailer.
The Sunday Times Best Green Companies
Recognised in 44th position, one of only four retailers to make the top 60, and ranked 10th in the 'bigger companies with medium environmental impact' sector.
HR Excellence Awards
Winners in two categories: HR Excellence Gold Award for 'unswerving dedication to excellence in HR and business transformation' and Most Effective Use of Internal Communications for our campaign 'Transforming B&Q', designed to improve employee engagement and drive better business performance.
Institute Of Internal Communication Awards
Winners in two categories: Best Single Campaign and Best Strategy for our campaign 'Transforming B&Q'. In our entry, we demonstrated how we used all channels of communication, from print, face-to-face and on-line in order to redefine our Purpose and Values.
Verdict Research
Voted Best DIY Retailer from a poll of 6,000 consumers. The Consumer Satisfaction Index 2010 takes into account areas such as product range, price, convenience, quality, ambience and service. Verdict Research senior analyst Malcolm Pinkerton explained: "B&Q's crowning of Best DIY retailer is much deserved. While work done to enhance its already comprehensive and quality range of products helped them win, it was the investment in improving customer service and store environments that propelled them into first place."
2009
Gallup Great Workplace Award
In recognition of our world class employee engagement results.
Retail Week Rising Star Awards
Campbell Ettinger was named Buyer/Merchandiser of the Year and Becky Woodward was named HR/Training Professional of the Year.
Top Employers for Working Families
Recognised by work-life balance charity Working Families as one of the top 20 organisations whose initiative and example has made positive change happen for working families.
DBA Design Effectiveness Awards
Gold Award in the corporate brand identity, design and implementation category for our Cooke & Lewis kitchen range.
The Times Top 50 Places Where Women Want to Works
The Times Top 50 Places where Women Want To Work. Included in the top 50 for the fourth consecutive year.
House Beautiful Awards
Silver Award for Best Kitchen range (under £10,000) for Cooke & Lewis High Gloss Kitchen, aubergine accent (as shown above). Silver Award for Best Garden Building for Portable Shack Up Shed. Silver Award for Best Eco Product for B&Q Insulated Loft Board.
2008
Gallup Great Workplace Award
In recognition of our world class employee engagement results.
Personnel Today Awards for excellence in training
For 'Project Confidence Workshops' focusing on product knowledge for customer advisors in a fun, informative and hands-on environment.
Race for Opportunity (RFO) benchmarking survey
B&Q was ranked 7th in the private sector, achieving Gold Status, with an overall score of 88% (up from 86% in 2006).
Retail Week Awards
Winner in product innovation category for recycled plastic loft insulation.
Starpack Awards
Gold Awards in Technical Development and Environmental Categories for the development of Carrierpacs, an innovative multi-trip package made from polypropylene with 45% recycled content and used for delivering kitchen worktops.
Garden Industry Manufacturers Association Awards
Winner in Growing Product category for B&Q Organic Living Salads & Vegetable range.
2007
Gallup Great Workplace Award In recognition of our world class employee engagement results.
Retail Week Awards
Winner in corporate responsibility category.
Business in the Community
Big Tick - Man Group International Climate Change Award (for Energy Efficiency Made Easy at B&Q).
Business in the Community
Silver Big Tick Winner - Jubilee Award (for Sustainable Communities, B&Q's Awards & Grants Programme).
HR Excellence Awards
Best Learning and Development Strategy.
People in Management Awards
Winner staff engagement category.