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Last Visited: 8/29/2007
The Prince of Wales visits Bettys in Harrogate in 2003 acompanied by Jonathan Wild of Bettys (Click photo to enlarge).
A COMMITMENT to ethical practices and a strong leadership style have earned a Harro-gate company's chairman The Prince's Ambassador Award.Jonathan Wild, chairman of Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, was nominated by HRH The Prince Of Wales, who praised Mr Wild's work.
Speaking via video message, Prince Charles said: "Under Jonathan's leadership, Bettys and Taylors is admired not just for its commitment to customers and employees but for being a most innovative business whilst retaining strong values and deep roots in Yorkshire."Mr Wild has played a significant role in the company's ethical work, including the 'Trees for Life' programme, which is dedicated to giving back to the communities that supply their tea leaves and coffee beans.
Logo for BettysThe Prince of Wales said: "Jonathan has spearheaded the company's ethical sourcing initiative, focusing on procurement of teas and coffees from secure and well-managed stocks and sourcing ingredients for their famous Yorkshire tearooms locally."On top of all this the company is a passionate advocate of cooking skills in schools, something particularly close to my heart."He also praised the company's charitable work, saying: "To date, the company has far outstripped its goals and has donated more than £1 million to Oxfam and planted 3 million trees on four continents."
Mr Wild was presented with the award in front of 450 business leaders at the Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence ceremony at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.He said: "We are so fortunate in having a Prince of Wales who cares so deeply about society and about the environment and who is willing to hold visionary but not always conventional or popular views."