A Preston social enterprise has scooped its fourth Queen’s Award.

Recycling Lives, which uses its commercial operations to support social good, won the prize for promoting opportunity for social mobility.

The firm supports, trains and helps employ ex-offenders.

Based at Preston the social enterprise supports up to 300 men and women at a time in 12 prison-based workshops.

Working with offenders has helped reduce re-offending rates to less than 5 per cent for those involved in the programme, and 70 per cent of those involved go into employment upon release from prison.

Recycling Lives operates 12 recycling sites nationally, including at Longridge Road in Preston.

Chief executive William Fletcher said: “We are incredibly proud of our unique model and how it is changing lives.

“Winning a Queen’s Award for Promoting Opportunity is the ultimate testament to our impact.

“It recognises the symbiotic relationship of our organisation; how our business is integral to the success of our social enterprise and charity and vice versa.”

The firm has scooped three other Queen’s Awards, two for sustainable development in 2010 and 2014 and another for international trade in 2018.

The Queen’s Awards celebrate pioneering products, services and more and are classed as one of the most prestigious business awards in the UK.

Read more: See the latest Preston business news and headlines