Community Impact Award
Gary Towers from Business in the Community speaks about what he's looking for in a potential winner.
Norfolk County Services
NPS Group
Responsible companies recognise that good community investment brings long-term sustainable benefits to both business and communities. This award acknowledges companies who are making a real impact on their local community - especially in areas of disadvantage. Innovative schemes are particularly sought together with those that demonstrate real partnership with community organisations. Nominations for this category are welcomed from either businesses themselves or community organisations that have witnessed a potential winner in action. The judges will be looking for initiatives that are sustainable, are relative to the size of the business and clearly show the measurable impact that has been achieved.
2009 Winner
Chapelfield - Davina Tanner, general manager:-"Since Chapelfield shopping centre opened just over four years ago the management team has worked with neighbours, community groups, local organisations and businesses to ensure that Chapelfield has a positive impact on the local community. Winning this award is a wonderful endorsement of that work and an inspiration to other businesses I hope. Our efforts over the last 12 months have addressed the needs of disadvantaged young people and helped offenders who have served their sentences and want to join the workforce. We have assisted local charities who want to showcase their work in order to raise money and encourage volunteers. And we are working with City College Norwich to allow people working in the retail sector to achieve formal qualifications and recognition for their skills. Helping all these individuals from different sections of the community is a hugely satisfying part of my job, to have won an award and recognition for doing this is brilliant and shows other large customer-facing businesses that they can make a difference."
2009 Finalists
ChapelfieldThe Chapelfield shopping centre is working hard to have a positive effect on the city in addition to the extra choice of shops it offers. The centre had problems with young people excluded from other parts of the city by ASBO's but, rather than trying to move them on, it has engaged with the youngsters and dramatically reduced their antisocial behaviour. Chapelfield has also developed a good partnership with Future Projects, an organisation that works with excluded young people, funding a bus for the charity and helping set up a programme of summer activities. Among other initiatives, Chapelfield is giving offenders nearing the end of their sentences work experience; providing stand space for charities in the shopping centre and advising them how to make the best use of it; and taking part in a partnership with City College, Norwich, to set up a retail academy.
Farrows
Norwich graphic design firm Farrows impressed the judges with its innovative use of "down time". When members of the firm's 18-strong team are not working on projects for clients, their time is made available to charities and community groups. Annually, the firm is able to donate £70,000-worth of work designing logos, publicity materials and goods for sale. The firm also hit on the idea of taking its clients' surplus promotional materials, ranging from plastic cups to mountain bikes, and making them available for charities to auction. Thirty pallet-loads of goods have been stored by the firm and passed on to charities. Director Nick Farrow is also giving business advice to charities, notably helping the Hamlet Centre Trust for disabled children to access £50,000 of extra funding.
Mills & Reeve
Enthusiastic and wide-ranging activities by Mills & Reeve staff really live up to the law firm's objective of Making a Difference in the local community. Staff at all levels in the firm have got involved in fundraising events, including a carol service which raised £5,000 for Age Concern. Time is also given to good causes through the firm's Give a Day policy, which gives staff a day off a year for volunteering, and projects done in their own time. These have included taking 40 elderly people from a day centre on a trip to the seaside, and 15 staff making weekly visits to a school to help pupils with their reading. The M&R charitable trust gives £67,000 a year to good causes and 24pc of staff participate in payroll giving.
Sponsored by:
Business in the Community is an independent charity with 27 years experience of promoting responsible business practice. Our purpose is to mobilise business for good, inspiring companies to take action and help them to improve their business effectiveness by having a positive impact on the community and a reduced impact on the environment. To address issues directly affecting their marketplace and encourage talent, flexibility and diversity in the workplace. Members include 80 of the FTSE 100 and a developing range of locally based companies. The regional network has offices in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Newmarket and Ipswich.