A Derbyshire company which sells ethical educational supplies to nurseries, primary schools and councils has been honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Cosy Direct is one of 226 organisations nationally to be recognised, winning the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development 2022 during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.  

Announced today, Cosy, which moved to a new 45,000-square foot specially adapted warehouse near Tutbury, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border in 2021, was set up by husband-and-wife Peter and Amanda Ellse in 2011.

Employing more than 100 people in the Midlands, Cosy Direct was set up after Peter and Amanda recognised a need for ethical, imaginative play equipment which would encourage outdoor learning.

Specialising in supplying products including upcycled tyres, climbing frames, reading shelters and story chairs that engage and inspire youngsters, Cosy pride themselves on their sustainable approach to business – which is why this award in particular is important to them.

Chief executive Peter Ellse said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Sustainability in what is Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year.

“Cosy is one of the UK’s most exciting prospects when it comes to the educational resources industry – we’ve more than doubled in size over the last three years – and our community-minded ethos is something which we take great pride in.

“Sustainability and an ethical approach to business is important to us; we’re also proud to support charities and grassroots projects around the world – including right here in the Midlands.

“In 2002, we set up the Cosy Fund – now known as the Cosy Foundation – which sees a minimum of 10 per cent of profit made from the business donated to small table-top charities and voluntary organisations.

“We’re actively involved in the Langalanga Scholarship Fund, which supports the education of bright children from the impoverished area of the Rift Valley, around the town of Gilgil in Kenya. Over the last decade, Cosy have helped to create doctors, teachers and even a DJ.

“Closer to home, we’ve supported volunteering at grassroots working closely with charities such as Derby Kids Camp and the Derby Book Festival.”

The Queen’s Award for Sustainability Development is awarded for commercially successful products, services and management that benefit the environment, society and the economy.

Cosy chief operating officer, Dave Hook said: “We’re a comparatively low carbon business and whilst we’re on target to be carbon neutral by 2023, there’s still such a big way to go.

“We want to help our suppliers become more carbon neutral, too, and we strive to educate them on recycling responsibly. Pallet wrap in warehouses is, for many, an ongoing problem. Its awful single-use plastic continues to defeat the whole sector and we’re keen to find a meaningful solution.”

Cosy are keen to emphasise that this award is a team-effort; they work collaboratively with more than 1,000 educationalists and school communities to research and develop ideas together.

They have worked with many of their research and supplier colleagues since Cosy was founded and value the ideas, too, from their employees and associates.

Managing director Nick Walker added: “On behalf of all our communities, we would like to say a huge thank you for their contribution to this national award; it’s a real team-effort and is their award to share.

“We collaborate ideas with our community groups and a family of over 200 SMEs, who are our exclusive co-developers – and we host several active business development groups on-site at Cosy.

“We like our employees to feel valued and appreciate their input. When we were told of a need for ‘carer-friendly’ hours of work – between the hours of 9.30am-2.30pm to work around childcare – we listened. Ten per cent of our workforce now work these hours, including two grandparents who work part-time so that they can collect grandchildren from school, enabling their parents to work full-time.

“We have six apprentices with us here at Cosy and work closely with Drake Hall prison and young offender institution in Staffordshire. Our ultimate aim is to be 25 per cent social levelling in the near future.”

Now in its 56^th year, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise are the most prestigious business award in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Award Emblem for the next five years.

Applications for Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2023 open on May 1, 2022. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.