Borders Green Team has been awarded the contract by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to carry out groundworks such as weeding, strimming and grass cutting, as well as garden maintenance for around 30 homeless temporary accommodation properties throughout the area.

Borders Green Team was created in 2006 and provides garden services for public organisations and private customers.

The Weensland Mill-based business has received a number of accolades, including being named Social Enterprise Business of the Year runner up in the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards in 2017.

As well as ground and garden work, Borders Green Team staff provide vital training and work experience to adults with learning disabilities within the area. The business works with each trainee to create a plan to help them improve their chances of entry into employment, and getting more involved in their local communities.

Borders Green Team manager David Oliver said: “The directors and management of Borders Green Team Enterprises are delighted to be awarded the contract for maintaining the gardens for the homeless service throughout the Scottish Borders.

“This will enable us to keep a full-time supervisor in employment, which in turn helps greatly in the continuation of our core aim of providing work and training placements for our service users with physical and learning disabilities.

“Our service also provides a high-quality professional gardening service that includes planting, fencing and landscaping.”

Councillor Mark Rowley, SBC’s executive member for business and economic development, with responsibility for housing, added: “It is great to see such an innovative social enterprise bidding for, and winning, contracts in the Scottish Borders.

“Borders Green Team provide a valuable service to guide adults with learning disabilities towards employment and will ensure the garden areas at our temporary homeless accommodation are maintained to a high standard.

“Social enterprise is a vibrant sector with a key role to play in helping the Scottish Borders to thrive so it was great to get to meet Borders Green Team.

“I look forward to SBC working with them during the contract, and the benefits it will provide their team and the local community.”