A SCOTSTOUN environmental organisation has been honoured for its efforts to aim for the top in all of its activities.

Staff and volunteers at the Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust (DRCET) celebrated after receiving a Committed to Excellence award at the Scottish Awards for Business Excellence in Glasgow.

The prize recognises the group’s efforts to maintain a high level of best practice across the board, from dealing with customers to helping staff reach their potential.

Neil Lovelock, project manager at DRCET, told the Post: “This Committed to Excellence award gives our staff and volunteers recognition of just how important a role they play amongst the people and local communites we serve.

“In the past year, we have not just seen some extraordinary work and outstanding achievements carried out by our staff and volunteers, but a major shift in how the importance of the wider impact of what we do is appreciated by local community groups across the area.” As part of the award process, DRCET went through a self-assessment process to determine its strengths and areas of improvement, working with Quality Scotland and listening to staff and customers.

The organisation then drew up a framework of improvement, deciding which how best to maximise its upturn in fortunes in a project which took around six to eight months.

Mr Lovelock said: “We have looked at how we can best support the organisations we work with including housing associations and community groups. There are lots of groups out there so it’s about focusing our resources on where we can be of most benefit.” The award is welcome recognition for DRCET, which is involved in a wide range of projects in Glasgow North West. These include running litter picks and developing community gardens at Kingsway Court and the Heart of Scotstoun Centre.

It is also involved in running the De’ils On Wheels community bike workshop, repairing and recycling bicycles.

DRCET will now enjoy its Committed to Excellence status for two years but Mr Lovelock, 45, added: “This is the start of our excellence journey as we continue trying to be as good as we can be.” Claire Ford, chief executive of Quality Scotland, said: “Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust stands out as a prime example of how a commitment to sustaining business excellence can bring about transformational change to a social enterprise organisation in relation to its people development and best practice programmes.” Formed in 2004, the Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust aims to help people in Yoker, Scotstoun and Whiteinch with a wide range of environmental projects.

The team is made up of seven volunteer directors, three staff, sessional workers and volunteers. More information is available by logging on to: www.dumbartonroad.wordpress.com.

Quality Scotland is a charitable organisation that promotes Business Excellence across Scotland in the private, public and voluntary sectors. As a member-based organisation, Quality Scotland was established in 1991 to help organisations throughout Scotland achieve and be recognised for excellence and in doing so, gain a competitive advantage.