Wildanet honoured to being named Most Sustainable Large Business at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards

Liskeard-based Wildanet was named Most Sustainable Large Business at the annual awards ceremony held on Friday December 8^th at the Royal Cornwall Museum, in Truro.

It’s a huge accolade for the alternative network provider (Altnet) founded in 2017 with a mission to extend high-speed broadband to hard-to-reach rural areas, bringing significant socio-economic benefits to communities and businesses, enabling them to be more sustainable, digitally connected and have easier access to essential services without the need for travel.

Launched in 2002, each year the Cornwall Sustainability Awards recognise and reward Cornish businesses for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, circular economy and carbon neutrality.

Awards judges heard how Wildanet’s ethos and operation is steeped in responsibility and sustainability; seeking to balance looking after the environment, looking after people, and growing a successful long-term business.

Helen Wylde, CEO of Wildanet, said: "Wildanet is honoured to have been recognised as Most Sustainable Large Business at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our mission as a business, alongside our commitment to our customers and the communities we serve. We are passionate about bringing fast, reliable broadband access to rural areas, operating sustainably as a business ourselves and providing the connectivity vital to a successful and sustainable economic future for Cornwall and the South West.”

Wildanet employs and trains local people, works with local suppliers wherever possible and supports staff and supply chains to adopt sustainable work practices.

The company has become a leading advocate for digital inclusion and commissioned independent research - Connecting Cornwall - Demonstrating the Value of Improved Connectivity – quantifying for the first time the positive social, economic and sustainability impacts of extending national gigabit capable broadband across hard-to-reach areas in Cornwall.

Wildanet is heavily invested in the communities where it operates and has formed close partnerships at every level; from hyper-local community organisations; to parish councils; local authorities, charities and business groups. A key element in supporting communities has been establishing digital community hubs in the areas Wildanet operates.

And Wildanet’s widely acclaimed B-23 initiative, in partnership with Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Leap, brought together 23 Cornish businesses in 2023, inspiring and supporting them to join Wildanet in working towards B Corp status. The initiative won widespread praise, funding was secured from Cornwall Council to run a second Cornish cohort and it is planned to extend the programme to Devon in 2024.