A Kent businessman has suggested the school projects nominated for an environmental awards scheme could generate innovative ideas for tackling some of the most serious issues facing the planet.

Ventilation specialist Farmwood is one of the supporting organisations of the Green School Awards, and managing director Nathan Wood said he saw the awards as a way of educating young people and the public generally about the “global issue” of air pollution.

Nathan Wood said: “We are hopefully going to find inspiration from one or two of the ideas, approach those schools directly, and see if we can work with them on pushing them forward.”

And he expressed confidence in the community’s willingness to positive changes.

He said: “I think that once one school in the area starts to do something everybody else starts to look at what they are doing.

The Green School Awards are open to primary and secondary schools, and have six categories: green travel and road safety; energy conservation; nature conservation; health and well-being; recycling; and – for the first time this year – air pollution.

Mr Wood said all the categories were important, but air pollution was particularly resonant for his company.

He added: “The Green School Awards are a fantastic opportunity for us to get involved with schools in Kent.

“There’s a need to raise awareness with Kent schools and the public that air pollution is a global problem.”

Awards organiser Karen Brinkman of the KM Charity Team said: “Nathan is right to highlight the potential of these awards – both for generating new and interesting ideas and for raising awareness among young people and the general public about the environmental issues that we face.

“It’s great to have an organisation involved that takes these issues so seriously.”

The judges for the awards are Golding Vision, Loop CR, ADM Computing, Ashford International Hotel, EduKit, NCS Technology, East Kent Recycling, Kidzania and Kent and Medway councils.

The awards are due to be presented at the Ashford International Hotel next month.

Learn more about the awards at www.greenschoolawards.co.uk.

And watch a video in which Mr Wood speaks about the Green School Awards here: