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HONOURED: Mark Stubbings, left, of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy with Anna Crampin of Scottish and Southern Energy and TV presenter Ben Fogle (S)

SAILING academy bosses attended a star-studded ceremony to be given an award from television presenter Ben Fogle.

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Acad-emy, along with its leading sponsor Scottish and Southern Energy, has won a prestigious Sport Industry award.

The pair received the Environmental Concern in Sport award for their entry, called Scottish and Southern Energy, powering the academy', at a London ceremony.

The judges said the project - of 170 solar panels on the roof, which generates 15 to 20 per cent of the academy's annual electricity requirement - showed a discernible legacy of environmental concern in action.' As a result of the sponsorship, the academy's level of renewable electricity increased while SSE improved its environmental performance.

Chief executive of the sailing academy, Mark Stubbings, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have won this award.

"I would like to thank SSE for their continued support of the academy and for their work with us on our environmental policies and legacy development programmes.

"Without the support of our sponsors, it would be extremely difficult for us to continue to offer our reduced-rate community sailing programmes that ensure we get as many local youngsters as possible out on the water and involved in an active and healthy life.

"Similarly, we would not be in the position we are in today - that of being one of the most environmentally-conscious venues in the United Kingdom - without SSE."

The association means that the academy is on track to achieve a target set by The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games that 20 per cent of electricity be generated using renewable energy by the end of 2011.

Anna Crampin, partnerships manager at SSE, said: "It is a fantastic achievement to have won this award.

"Working with a high- profile venue such as the academy has provided us with both a vital test-bed and a platform to showcase our emerging renewable technologies and products.

"As well as providing a full environmental impact assessment, a recycling programme and renewable energy on site, our sponsorship also contributed to the academy's youth development and reduced-rate community sailing schemes."

The Sport Industry Awards is the biggest event of its kind in Europe, rewarding commercial achievement in the country's sport in marketing, PR, sponsorship and digital media.

It is a chance to showcase your work in front of your peers and the wider industry, and the awards are now considered the highest endorsement of accomplishment in the world of sport.

10:30am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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