National Responsible Business Champion

Parliamentarians announce National Responsible Business Champion award short-list

November 10th 2017

Jonathan Djanogly MP and Baroness Greengross, Co-Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group (APCRG) have today (10 November) announced the companies short-listed for its 2017 National Responsible Business Champion award.

In selecting companies for the national award shortlist, Parliamentarians looked for companies that are: supporting their local community; investing in healthy workplaces; offering apprenticeships and training to all age groups; promoting equality and diversity in the workplace, including offering disabled people work opportunities; and monitoring suppliers’ actions on these issues. The criteria in 2017 reflect the fact that the Group wishes to support the action being taken by Government and responsible businesses to reduce the disability employment gap.

The APCRG National Responsible Business Champion 2017 will be presented with the award at a reception in Parliament on 22 November 2017.

The APCRG Responsible Business Champions scheme is supported by National Grid plc.

Baroness Greengross said:

“Yet again we have a very strong shortlist and I thank all the MPs who took the trouble to nominate these companies. MPs are very well placed to encourage responsible business practice at a local and national level and I am very glad that an increasing number of them are doing so. Each of these companies thoroughly deserved the endorsement of their local MP as their Constituency Champion and I congratulate them all on being short-listed for our national award.”

Jonathan Djanogly MP said:

“Each year we receive nominations from MPs for companies of all sizes and across a wide range of business sectors. I’m pleased that yet again some very small companies have been short-listed for our national award. We all know businesses that are deeply committed to supporting their local communities and treating their employees, customers and suppliers well. The great thing about our award – which is judged on a company’s impact at constituency level – is that small companies can hold their own against much larger national and international businesses.”

“This year 2 companies were again nominated by 2 MPs, but this year that happened on a cross-party basis which really demonstrates all-party support for responsible business practice. Standard Life Aberdeen was nominated by Ian Murray MP (Labour) and Christine Jardine MP (Liberal-Democrat); and Liberty House Group was nominated by David TC Davies MP (Conservative) and Jessica Morden MP (Labour).”

Rhian Kelly, Head of EU & UK Public Affairs, National Grid said:

“National Grid is very pleased to support this Responsible Business Champions award scheme and we are delighted that a growing number of MPs have supported it, in this its third year.

These shortlisted companies have done particularly well to secure the support of both their constituency MP and the Parliamentary judging panel. We look forward to hearing which of them is chosen as the National Champion 2017.”

Constituency Responsible Business Champions short-listed for the RBC national award 2017

Company

Constituency

Anglian Water Services Ltd

Rebecca Harris

Castle Point

AO.com

David Crausby

Bolton North East

Atkinson Building Contractors

Rory Stewart

Penrith and The Border

Heineken UK

Nigel Adams

Selby and Ainsty

Hotter

Rosie Cooper

West Lancashire

intu properties plc

Kate Green

Stretford and Urmston

Liberty House Group

David Davies

Monmouth

Liberty House Group

Jessica Morden

Newport East

London City Airport

Stephen Timms

East Ham

Marks and Spencer plc

Maria Miller

Basingstoke

Maydencroft Limited

Bim Afolami

Hitchin and Harpenden

Pfizer Ltd (Walton Oakes)

Crispin Blunt

Reigate

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Christine Jardine

Edinburgh West

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Ian Murray

Edinburgh South

Thanet Earth

Roger Gale

North Thanet

The Marbrook Centre

Jonathan Djanogly

Huntingdon

Zurich Insurance

Justin Tomlinson

North Swindon

Anglian Water Company was nominated by Rebecca Harris MP for its strong leadership on flood risk reduction and resilience work, as well as its commitment to inclusion and supporting the wellbeing and health of its employees.

Rory Stewart MP nominated Atkinson Building Contractors, a family business with almost 100 employees, citing its generous support for many local clubs and charities and because it is “leading the way for apprenticeship schemes in Cumbria”.

As a former engineering apprentice himself, Sir David Crausby MP was “proud” to highlight the commitment of AO.com to apprenticeships through its award winning scheme and he commended its in-house schemes to help staff progress, as well as its broader support for young people in his constituency.

Nigel Adams MP nominated Heineken UK, focussing on the huge part it played in supporting the local community in the immediate aftermath of the severe flooding in Tadcaster in early 2016 as well as its longer-term support for the community and responsible drinking initiatives.

Hotter was nominated by Rosie Cooper MP for its strong support for the local community, including strong business-education partnerships; its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its staff; and its leadership on apprenticeships and training.

Kate Green MP nominated intu properties plc, particularly highlighting the excellent work it has done to make its shopping centres more accessible for people with autism; its work as a sector champion for disability and as a sector leader in safety in shopping centres.

Liberty House Group was nominated by David TC Davies MP and Jessica Morden MP. The panel were particularly impressed by its generous support for steel workers, who were paid a half-salary for nearly 2 years while a loss-making steel plant was inactive, as well as the company’s commitment to reducing the carbon impact of steel-making in south Wales.

The former Corporate Responsibility Minister, Stephen Timms MP, re-nominated London City Airport, citing its work with schools and universities; its continuing commitment to providing pathways into work for unemployed residents; and its support for healthy lifestyles.

Maria Miller MP nominated Marks & Spencer plc (Basingstoke) for its “pivotal” role in the success of the Basingstoke inclusion Zone and the outstanding work it has done locally to encourage and support the employment of disabled people

Maydencroft Ltd was nominated by Bim Afolami MP who cited its passionate commitment to its local community, its investment in its employees’ skills and the strategic approach it takes to reducing its environmental impact. The company has a bespoke CPD scheme; a minimum of 10% of the workforce are in an apprenticeship programme and a majority of its apprentices go on to have careers with the company.

Pfizer Ltd was nominated by Crispin Blunt MP, who highlighted its work to promote science education and the take-up of STEM subjects. He commended its support for career fairs, Big Bang events, apprenticeships and its work experience and volunteering programmes. He also highlighted its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and the excellence of its employment conditions.

Christine Jardine MP and Ian Murray MP nominated Standard Life Aberdeen plc, particularly commending its work to break down barriers to employment both as an employer and through community programmes and partnerships. They cited its strong support for the Edinburgh Guarantee Scheme, its internship and Modern Apprenticeship programmes; its leadership on the Living Wage and on inclusive employment; and its family-friendly employment policies for carers, reservists, parents and adopters.

Jonathan Djanogly MP nominated a very small company, The Marbrook Centre, for its generous collaborative work with several local charities and other community groups. He commended its free dementia friends training, its provision of free meeting and training space and the impact of its work in reducing the isolation felt by some carers.

Thanet Earth was nominated by Sir Roger Gale MP for its engagement with community groups and schools; its investment in healthy workplaces; its extensive support for apprenticeships and training; and its inclusive employment policies and support for the Shaw Trust, which helps disabled people return to work.

Justin Tomlinson MP highlighted Zurich Insurance’s work to promote a healthy workplace and to encourage diversity and equality in a nomination which also drew attention to its important contribution to Swindon, through a “fantastic volunteering scheme” and generous financial support.

Editors’ Note:

The APCRG judging panel consists of: Lord Aberdare, Jonathan Djanogly MP, Baroness Greengross and Baroness Howe of Idlicote.

APCRG certificates endorsing companies as Constituency Responsible Business Champions are being sent to nominating MPs to present to the companies locally.

Further information about the APCRG is available on its website (www.apcrg.org.uk).

More information about National Grid is available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/Responsibility/