A PIONEERING environmentally friendly business whose employees take an eye-opening route to work has scaled new heights by landing a top award.

Avalon Abseiling in Church Road, Harold Wood, decided it was time to ditch polluting lorries and scaffolding used by many firms to access high rise buildings, where it now fits cavity wall insulation.

Instead, as its name suggests, the 38 fitters launch themselves off the top of the buildings they are working on and lower their way down the side using climbing gear before drilling into the wall before firing in beads that have been shot through a tube from a tank on the ground.

The innovative company was this week praised for its vision and handed the City of London Corporation’s Sustainable City award at a ceremony at the Mansion House.

Director Darren Peacock said: “It’s fantastic to win the award – especially in our first year. It has put us on the map a little and will hopefully get people to take us seriously.”

Avalon Abseiling was recognised for their unique project which is a first for the building industry and is now about to go national and even global.

Not only has the company just agreed to work on skyscrapers in Kuwait but it wiil also be involved with Qatar’s football stadiums for the 2022 World Cup.

The novel idea emerged almost by chance and the firm founded by former cliff jumber Phil Boyce has now completed major projects with six boroughs including Camden, but not yet Havering.

The abseiling insulation system, which took two years to develop, is credited with reducing carbon emissions and cutting costs by 40 per cent or up to �2 million for Camden Council.

The firm now employs 50 people including 38 ‘rope access technicians,’ is looking to expand nationally and is in line to take on the Shard in central London.

Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development at the City of London Corporation said: “Avalon Abseiling’s achievement is particularly notable as they faced very stiff competition.”