Aico’s Headquarters, in Oswestry, has been recognised as Best Commercial Premises on the Industrial Estate at the Oswestry in Bloom awards ceremony.

Oswestry in Bloom is a committee that aims to keep the town looking its best. They hold an awards ceremony every year to reward those who contribute to maintaining the town's appearance.

This spring, Derwen College Garden Centre Supervisor, Will Lyon, very kindly supported Aico’s flower bed project, and brought some college students along to help plant shrubs and flowers. Derwen College is a specialist college based in Shropshire, which offers students with special educational needs and disabilities the opportunity to learn independence and vocational skills. Aico has worked closely with the college for many years, supporting their students through educational workshops and more recently, sponsoring their beekeeping programme.

Will commented, “We are very grateful to Aico for giving our students this work experience opportunity and we are thrilled that we contributed towards Aico receiving their award. The students absolutely loved working at Aico and were involved in the design, planning and planting as part their curriculum programme on the college’s horticulture pathway. It was a thrill to watch the beds come to life and we are truly delighted with the outcome.”

This partnership is set to continue as the students return to prepare the flower beds for the winter, and hopefully plant again next year. Opportunities like this give students a chance to gain valuable work experience and develop their skills, as well as being a huge support to Aico, who are very grateful.

Lee Duffy, Aico’s Operations and Learning & Development Manager, commented, “We are delighted to have won the ‘Best Commercial Premises’ award from Oswestry in Bloom. Our grounds are carefully maintained to reflect the rural setting we are proud to be part of. Partnering with Derwen College was a natural choice, given the outstanding work they do. Our commitment to developing and maintaining our grounds to such a high standard aligns with our brand image and philosophy of making a positive impact within our community.”

Derwen College and Aico’s partnership has not only benefited Derwen’s students by providing them with valuable work experience but has also contributed to Aico's success in achieving the Best Commercial Premises award. This collaboration reflects the commitment to community engagement and the development of sustainable surroundings. This successful partnership serves as an excellent example of how businesses and educational institutions can work together to create positive impacts within the community.

To learn more about Aico’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, visit www.aico.co.uk/in-the-community/