SWINDON-based WH Smith has been named as a finalist in a national community awards scheme.

The Business in the Community Awards for Excellence 2003 is the UK's most prestigious awards ceremony for companies able to demonstrate a successful series of community initiatives and business practices.

Nominated for its community programme WH Smith TXT, the firm, which employs 1,500 people in retail and news distribution at its offices in Greenbridge and Pipers Way, is among only six finalists in the awards' Education and Lifelong Learning category.

WH Smith TXT was developed by WH Smith to help teachers improve literacy standards among 11-to 14-year-olds in some of the most challenging secondary schools across the UK.

The three-year, £1.5 million community-investment programme, which operates in 104 selected secondary schools, was designed with the help of teachers, educationalists, the DfES and the Scottish Executive Education Department.

Said Richard Handover, Chief Executive of WH Smith: "We are delighted to be one of the finalists for this prestigious award.

"Our commitment to education is reflected in our programme of community involvement. We strongly believe WH Smith has an important and valuable role to play in the community and are focusing our efforts on WH Smith TXT, a community-investment programme helping to make a real difference to literacy standards in schools and to the confidence of the students involved."

To mark the company's achievements, the DTI will formally present WH Smith with its Big Tick Mark at an event being held at Lancaster House, in London next week. The Big Tick Mark can only be used by companies that have reached a measurable standard of excellence in the field of corporate responsibility.

Julia Cleverdon, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said: "Companies achieving the Big Tick in our Awards for Excellence should be very proud of their achievement.

"I congratulate them all as examples of best practice. They have come through a rigorous and independently assured assessment process and have emerged as truly inspiring case studies delivering great benefit to wider society through their programmes and partnerships."