Leading law firm Howes Percival LLP has won a Leicestershire Business Award 2009 for its highly successful REACH series of community initiatives.

Howes Percival won the Contribution to the Community Award, beating two fellow finalists: property investment giant Hammerson and the Hinckley & Rugby Building Society. The winner was announced at a ceremony at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, in front of more than 600 business and political leaders.

REACH saw Howes Percival’s Leicester office mark its first decade in the city with a year-long comprehensive series of volunteering and community action initiatives in seven aspects of Leicestershire life: conservation; community; rural enterprise; health; education; arts; and sport.

All 59 Howes Percival staff in Leicester got involved, giving 2,600 man hours to the projects, and helping 11 charities along the way. The firm invested £30,000 into the REACH initiative and raised a further £25,000 for charities. Howes Percival’s victory in the Award follows previous winners which include AstraZeneca, Leicester Tigers, Alliance & Leicester and Office Depot.

The judges praised the breadth of Howes Percival’s ambitious engagement with the city and county, and were impressed by how the law firm’s staff enthusiastically embraced the ideas by volunteering. Activities ranged from a music competition for schools which saw hundreds of children compete, to a contemporary art event which saw six artists work with local arts students on temporary installations around Leicester.

Staff from Howes Percival also did garden makeovers, a dragon boat race, cleaned up a stretch of river and its banks, took Leonard Cheshire Disability service users on a Christmas shopping trip, helped primary school children with numeracy, took part in a skydive, completed the Three Peaks Challenge for three children’s charities, and much more. The firm sponsored local Paralympian hopefuls, bought books for secondary school pupils and sponsored the East Midlands Food and Drink festival.

Howes Percival partner Keith Gilbert, who collected the award, said: “We are thrilled to have won the award. It’s great news for our team in Leicester, who put in so much time, effort and enthusiasm. It’s also great credit to the organisations, charities and individuals we worked with. Helping them was mutually beneficial, as the business gained so much from being so involved with Leicestershire people from all walks of life.”

Leicestershire Business Awards organiser Katie Bennett said: “It was great to see Howes Percival recognised for such a strong community strategy. This Award reinforces Howes Percival’s alliances with Leicestershire Cares and other local charities.” Howes Percival was named Leicestershire Cares Company of the Year 2008.