THE finance director for bakery business Greggs has been recognised for his contribution to corporate responsibility.

Richard Hutton was presented with the ICAEW Sustainable Business Award at the FD Excellence Awards in London.

ICAEW Sustainable Business is one of the annual FD’s Excellence Awards and celebrates finance directors and their teams who make a telling contribution to corporate responsibility.

Greggs was founded as a family bakery business on Tyneside in the 1930s and has an impressive history of growth from just one shop to more than 1,500 across the UK.

Richard Hutton joined the company in 1998 and became FD in 2006. He has led the development of Greggs Breakfast Clubs, which gives free breakfasts to primary school children around the country.

Under his supervision the scheme has grown from one club in 1999 into a national initiative with 164 clubs providing breakfasts to more than 7,000 children every school day.

Hutton is also a trustee of Greggs’ charitable foundation, which last year awarded £800,000 in grants to local community and environmental organisations.

In addition, he sits on Greggs corporate social responsibility (CSR) steering committee and drives the company’s approach to sustainability.

Hutton said: “It’s particularly nice to have been recognised for sustainability because we try to run Greggs for the long-term and be good neighbours wherever we trade.

“Greggs’ reputation for sustainability can be traced right back to the Gregg family and the way in which successive leaders since have supported the simple principle of ‘doing the right thing’. I’m delighted with the award and want to thank my team at Greggs for the terrific support they give me.”

Keith Proudfoot, ICAEW regional director, nominated Hutton for his award: “I felt Richard would be a worthy candidate, confirming that businesses can be a power for good in the communities where they trade.

“Greggs plc has a long history of helping worthy causes as their near 30-year support of the North of England Children’s Cancer run held just last weekend attests.”