Following the introduction of new uniforms to more than 2,000 staff, over ten tonnes of items including shirts, trousers and coats were passed on to The Salvation Army to reuse.

Donated items with logos, such as suit jackets and trousers, were de-branded and made available by The Salvation Army Trading Company’s charity shops to those who need them most. Other items were shredded and made into carpets, insulation, cushions or even the stuffing for car seats.

Andy Camp, commercial director for London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway, said: “By donating old uniforms to The Salvation Army, we wanted to give something back to the communities we serve, whilst ensuring as many items as possible were recycled.The response from our staff was fantastic and this award nomination recognises our efforts in diverting over ten tonnes of unused clothing away from landfill.”

Kirk Bradley, head of corporate partnerships from The Salvation Army Trading Company, added: “This partnership has been a great success which has enabled The Salvation Army to help West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway staff to responsibly recycle their excess uniforms while supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people.”

The scheme has now been recognised at the Business Culture Awards, which celebrate forward-thinking among companies, in the Best Corporate Responsibility Initiative category.

The idea has also been recognised at the customer and employee-focused Engage Awards, in the Best Employee Centric Strategy and Best Use of Innovation in Employee Engagement categories. The winners of both awards will be announced at separate ceremonies in London in November.