In the final months of 2025, Cherwell Collective was nominated for nine awards available to community organizations, small businesses, and organisations working on sustainability and climate issues.

The Cherwell Collective team was thrilled that the organisation was ultimately awarded two of those awards at gala ceremonies organised by the Oxford Climate Awards and the Cherwell Business Awards. 

Oxford Climate Awards

The Oxford Climate Awards were held on 17 September at Oxford Town Hall. The black-tie gala showcased leaders in climate action across Oxfordshire. At the ceremony, Cherwell Collective was nominated for both the Sustainable Medium Business of the Year award and the award for Innovation. Much of the Cherwell Collective staff attended the festive ceremony. 

Speaking of the staff, Cherwell Collective Executive Director Emily Conally said, “Our team is incredible for their dedication, creativity, and the heart and soul they pour into this work, supporting not only our company goals but also sharing resources, skills, and knowledge.”

As the evening progressed, Cherwell Collective staff were ultimately thrilled to collect the award for Sustainable Medium Business. Adding to our organisation’s pride was the fact that our close partner, Oxford Food Hub, also took home the award for Sustainable Small Business, as well as being selected as the Overall Winner of the evening!  Dr. Connally called Oxford Food Hub’s wins “well-deserved recognition for the great team there.”

Cherwell Business Awards

The excitement continued just two evenings later, 19 September, at the Cherwell Business Awards – sponsored by the Banbury & District Chamber of Commerce.  The black-tie gala was held at the Cheserton Hotel in Bicester. Cherwell Collective competed for three possible awards that evening, including the prizes for Sustainability, Charity, and the Overall category.

Emily Connally attended and collected the evening’s Sustainable Business of the Year prize for the organization. Reflecting on both wins, she said: “We are deeply honoured to have received awards this year from both the Oxford Climate and Cherwell Business communities. Being a finalist, and of course winning these awards signals our peers in both communities recognise the contribution we make and signals longer-term potential to be a local bridge for sustainable enterprise.”

The Long-Term View

Cherwell Collective has been gathering case studies of local excellence to support individuals, businesses, and organisations to adopt more circular supply chains. Any time we receive recognition of this work, it gives us an opportunity to meet potential collaborators and also to speak to people in a very celebratory and hopeful way about the possibility of more sustainable business locally, as well as the opportunities for cost savings for our fellow SMEs.