Contributing to our community helps to provide meaning and significance to our business.
Stories
We have many stories that show how we have interfaced with our local community and helped with charities. It is easy to get caught up in our own company ecosystem. Contributing to our community keeps us grounded in real needs and real consequences, not just internal targets, and reminds us that the value we create extends beyond our balance sheet.
Working with young people
We have taken on students from local schools for work experience, giving them a chance to see how a successful business functions and to learn some practical elements of working life. We are proud of the people we have supported through apprenticeship and intern programmes, and are keen to encourage others at the beginning of their careers, in whatever way we can.
Supporting local charities
Each year, we support charities which are either local to us, or have made a difference to or touched our team and their families. We get nominations for our charities of the year from members of our team to ensure that there is personal significance to our donations. Past beneficiaries have included Sobell House hospice, the Alzheimers Society, Action for Children, Katharine House Hospice, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, the North Oxfordshire Community Food Bank, and Oxford Against Cutting.
Colleague commitment
Each member of our team is offered one paid day per year to spend volunteering for a charitable cause. In the past, this has included baking biscuits with visitors to a community cafe space, supporting a youth rugby tournament and a company wide cycle to Wiesbaden.
We can do more
We are always very interested in similar opportunities to contribute to our community. Please get in touch with me if you think we can help. – Peter Swanson, Founder and Executive Chair
