A North East company’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its workforce has been recognised in a regional awards initiative.

Property and energy firm The Banks Group has achieved the Bronze level award in the Better Health At Work initiative, an NHS scheme which recognises and celebrates the hard work and commitment of local employers who are improving the health of their workplaces and their employees. (more…)

One of County Durham’s rarest wildlife habitats is set to be restored to its former glory after adjacent land was purchased by Durham Wildlife Trust.

The Trust has acquired around 7.5 hectares of land at its Stanley Moss nature reserve near Sunniside for a nominal £1 from local developer the Banks Group, after Banks decided to return it to community ownership. (more…)

A popular Northumberland bowls club is finding the grass is much greener thanks to a four-figure donation from a north east developer.

The Alexandra Park Bowls Club in Cramlington is now enjoying the benefits of a new automatic irrigation system, which has been part-funded by a £5,000 grant from The Banks Group, via its Banks Community Fund.

The new watering system will ensure the bowling green remains in top condition and is helping to secure the long-term future of the club. (more…)

Walkers enjoying the scenery on a popular part of the beautiful Northumberland coastline can now take refuge from sudden showers after the installation of a new shelter.

Cambois Links near Blyth is an increasingly popular destination for walkers, families, cyclists and joggers, and already enjoys a number of well-used facilities, including well-planned footpaths, picnic tables and seating.

The new hardwood structure, which has been installed with assistance from a £5,500 grant from north east developer The Banks Group, via its Banks Community Fund, has been designed to both be in keeping with its surroundings and to withstand the worst that the North Sea coast can throw at it (more…)

A residents’ group in a County Durham village suburb has set up a new community resource with help from a local developer’s grant.

Members of the Haughton Residents Association near Darlington have created a memorial garden where local people can remember loved ones with a plaque, take time to reflect or simply enjoy sitting quietly within beautiful surroundings.

The Haughton Memorial Garden, which is now almost complete, has taken four years to create and will be open for use by all residents, regardless of faith. (more…)

Plans for a proposed wind farm in north Carrick have been withdrawn after South Ayrshire Council’s planning officers recommended the scheme for refusal at planning committee, scheduled for 15 September 2011.

Hamilton-based Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group, had put forward plans for the Knoweside wind farm, which would have been situated to the north west of Maybole.  The project received many letters of support from local residents and businesses and was anticipated to contribute an additional £6m into the north Carrick community. (more…)

Construction work on a new South Yorkshire wind farm is set to enter a new phase with the imminent arrival on site of the four turbines that will make up the scheme.

Banks Renewables, part of The Banks Group, is investing around £10m in the Marr wind farm near Doncaster, and has been undertaking preparatory work on the site, which sits to the west of junction 37 of the A1M, for the last six months. (more…)

Construction work on a new West Yorkshire wind farm is entering a new phase after the three turbines that will make up the scheme arrived on site.

Banks Renewables, part of the Banks Group, is investing around £10m in the Hazlehead wind farm, and has been undertaking preparatory work on site, which sits on formerly derelict brownfield land to the west of Barnsley, for the last six months. (more…)

More than 200 Northumbria University students have been taking part in a new initiative designed to give them a taste of what they will do and how they will work in their future careers.

North east property and energy firm the Banks Group challenged the second year students to come up with ideas for how a redevelopment scheme might be undertaken for a Banks site in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley.

The students, who are in the second year of BSc degree courses in Planning & Development, Estate Management, Building Surveying and Quantity Surveying, took on the different roles that would be included in a development team working on a project of this sort. (more…)

A 20-strong all-female team of colleagues from a County Durham-based property and energy group will be hitting the road this weekend to raise money for a leading cancer charity.

The ladies, who all work for the Banks Group at its new Meadowfield headquarters, are taking part in the Durham Race For Life, which is being held at the Aykley Heads Sports Centre on Sunday 3 July. (more…)