ZURICH Financial Services has been short-listed for a revered national Business in the Community award.

Every year, the BITC runs the annual Awards for Excellence competition to help encourage responsible business practice.

Zurich, which employs around 4,000 people in Swindon, was nominated for the award after outlining its dementia awareness project into the Community National Impact Awards for Excellence 2003.

Zurich's dementia programme began in 1995 when £2 million was contributed to the scheme to help support innovation and bring about real changes in dementia care and improve the quality of life for dementia sufferers.

Jane Hewin, spokeswomen for Zurich, said: "With the dementia programme we wanted to work with other organisations and build partnerships to change people's dependence to independence."

"We have also worked with groups in India with a similar aim and we are now working on an Older People programme which aims to raise awareness instead of sweeping the subject under the carpet."

At its height the company worked with nine different organisations at the cutting edge of dementia care.

It has funded around 22 major projects to increase awareness, developed and supported training for GPs, health professionals and carers and they have established rural services in areas like Cornwall and North Wales for dementia sufferers.

Now, the company is waiting for the final judging of the award on May 16.

As one of the finalists, the firm has also achieved a Big Tick award. This internationally recognised symbol has been awarded to around 200 companies across the country and is awarded to both companies and company projects, which have achieved excellence.

The Big Tick accolade will be presented to the firm by the Department of Trade and Industry on June 12.

Last November, Zurich was short-listed for a number of insurance awards, chosen as a finalist 13 times for the insurance industry's Oscars, the Insurance Times Awards.