Pictured above: From left to right, Richard Massey
Business in the Community with Fiona Church and Ian Beardmore
of Flint Bishop
Leading Midlands law firm Flint Bishop has strengthened its
commitment to working with the local community after becoming a
member of the Business in the Community initiative.
Business in the Community (BITC), which was established in 1982,
is one of the largest and oldest national business-led coalitions
dedicated to corporate responsibility. It inspires, engages,
supports and challenges companies to make a positive impact in the
community, workplace, marketplace and environment and currently
works with more than 800 companies across the UK.
BITC's priority is to work in areas of greatest disadvantage by
mobilising business to commit to making a positive
impact.
The organisation is active across the City of Derby and has run
several employability projects with community groups in the inner
city aimed at bringing vacancies at member companies to the notice
of those residents looking for work.
Members are also encouraged to volunteer their time including in
primary schools to assist with reading and numeracy. This is
shown to help raise the abilities of children who may not have
sufficient levels of support at home. The programme also introduces
positive role models to children who may come from a background
where more than one generation has been unemployed.
Ken Dixon, managing partner at Flint Bishop commented: "I'm
delighted that Flint Bishop has pledged its support to Business in
the Community; the organisation fulfils a very important role with
Derbyshire. For us, corporate social responsibility is not just a
buzz word, it is central to our business strategy and joining BITC
reinforces our already strong community programme, which sees us
involved in many worthwhile local projects.
"We appreciate that membership of BITC is an active commitment
and recognise the relationship between our firm's values and
responsible business practice and the role that this plays in
creating wealth, building trust and addressing social need" added
Ken.
Richard Massey, Account Manager at Business In the Community,
said: "On behalf of BITC, I would like to welcome Flint Bishop
to our 800 strong network of member companies. Their already strong
community focus demonstrates their commitment to responsible
business leadership".
Fiona Church, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and
Law, and Chair of the Southern Derbyshire and Burton Business
Support Group added:
"We are looking forward to working with Flint Bishop as BITC
endeavours to engage employers in community agendas and tries to
raise the aspirations of some sections of our community."
BITC is the latest in a series of local initiatives that Flint
Bishop has been involved over the past 12 months; other activities
include a 100km walk across the Yorkshire Dales for Oxfam, raising
finds to refurbish the Derby Citadel and helping to renovate and
clean-up Cromford Mill, an 18th Century grade one-listed cotton
mill which has recently been granted World Heritage Status.
Other local organisations involved with Business in The
Community include Bombardier, Rolls Royce, EDS, Lubrizol and The
University of Derby.