More than 60 employees from GVA gave up a full working day to engage in a number of community projects in Birmingham, which were organised with Business in the Community. 

As part of Business in the Community's annual 'Give and Gain Day', GVA employees participated in local community projects reflecting three key strands of the property consultancy's CSR programme; social, environmental and educational. 

The majority of GVA staff visited Alderman Bowen Centre in Bordesley Green, a day centre providing community activities and care for adults with learning disabilities. Here 35 employees - 10 per cent of GVA's entire Birmngham workforce - each spent over seven hours re-vamping the communal areas of the building through painting, cleaning and general maintenance work. 

Ian Stringer, senior regional director at GVA's Birmingham office said: "It is important that local businesses recognise the responsibility they have with regards to community activities. Projects such as those organised through Business in the Community's Give and Gain Day have a direct and real impact in the local area and it was great to see the enthusiasm of the GVA teams."

The Alderman Bowen Centre receives minimal funding to maintain the building and as such had been identified as in desperate need of attention.  GVA sourced all materials it needed for the revamp at its own cost.

Rina Guddu, partnership broker at Business in the Community says: "There were many rooms and communal areas at the Alderman Bowen Centre that were in need of a lick of paint and brightening up, including the activity rooms where clients develop vital social and life skills. Volunteers from GVA put in a great amount of effort and the results have been very rewarding."  

Participating in the environmental project elsewhere in Birmingham were 20 green-fingered employees from GVA's Property Management team who visited Highbury Park in Kings Heath, aiming to transform an area of the Victorian park back to the former glory of the grounds of Joseph Chamberlain, when he occupied Highbury Hall in 1880. Working with the Highbury Park ranger, GVA employees took part in pond dredging, clearing walkways and rebuilding a stone wall.  

A further eight members of staff from the HR department provided skills based workshops at Birmingham City University for Key Stage 3 pupils, including sessions on mock interviews, letter writing and introducing students to different roles in business. 

According to Business in the Community, last year's Give and Gain Day reported 70 per cent of employees from across the West Midlands developed their time management, communication, decision making and leadership skills, whilst 87 per cent of employees reported an improved perception of their employer and 82 per cent felt more committed to the organisation they worked for.