Ploughcroft Ltd, of Brighouse, won best business initiative for its development of a solar roofing NVQ, and Todmorden's Harmsworth, Townley and Co Ltd was awarded best commercial installation for its multi-technology microgeneration offices at The Melting Pot.

They were presented at the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership conference and awards ceremony.

Harmsworth, Townley and Co's managing director, Clare Townley, said the team of six were "over the moon" to be picked.

She said: "We're happy to be recognised for what we believe in. What we have done shows it does actually work."

The firm was recognised for its regeneration work, including adding solar hot water and solar electricity (PV) panels, low energy insulation, and biomass boiler in their offices, The Melting Pot.

The business moved to the former Melting Pot Glassworks in 2005, which was in need of renovation.

The extensive work and installations now means they are saving £6,000 per year.

Energy consumption has been cut by 87 per cent and costs by 85 per cent.

The training course, developed by Ploughcroft with the National Federation of Roofing Contrac-tors, includes training roofers on the installation of different makes of solar panels on to different roof coverings including slate, concrete and plain tiles.

It was adopted by Leading Sector Skills Council Construction Skills in 2009 and mapped on to the Roofing NVQ units.

The Conference, organised by Huddersfield-based Yorkshire and the Humber Microgeneration Partnership, was backed by Yorkshire Energy Services and the Energy Saving Trust.

Installers, consumers and politicians were there, including Rosie Winterton, minister for Yorkshire and Humber.

BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson presented the awards.

There are now over 300 businesses across the region involved in the microgeneration sector.