p14 Columnist mar5 3/3/10 15:50 Page 14
news comment
ttglive.com
Jill Gardner Hays Travel
“We must take a step back
and think what we are doing in
terms of social responsibility
and in commercial terms”
A
s Hays Travel celebrates its 30th school events and being actively involved in the
anniversary I’ve found myself life of the school.
contemplating the 11 years I’ve We have also recently signed up to support
spent with the company and how the Sunderland AFC Foundation Corporate
much has changed over this time. Challenge, by which we pledge to raise £10,000
The biggest change has been the for the charity by September this year. The
technology that we use and the advances charity, which is run by the football club, raises
we have made to make it easier for our funds for under-privileged children across
front-end staff to provide a far wider and the north-east, helping to raise educational
better service to our customers. standards, promote inclusion and well being,
It was lovely to see how many regular encourage life long learning and support
and loyal customers attended our football development.
birthday celebrations in our shops Each of our branches and departments have
last month. been set the challenge of thinking up their own
It really reminded me that, although fundraising initiatives and the whole company
these days Hays is a large organisation, is taking part in a walk along the north-east
what really makes us who we are is the coastline as part of the scheme.
part we play in the local communities So although it is easy for us at senior
of the north-east. This is where our management level to get bogged
roots are and part of our identity that down in the figures, budgets,
we still take enormous pride in today. turnovers and strategies,
Each Hays Travel branch is given a what makes us most proud
sponsorship budget to use how they of our organisation is what
choose within the local area, helping to goes on at a community
build community ties and benefit local level and our work supporting
causes and charities. The diversity we see in charities.
the events and fundraising that goes on Watching with horror the disaster which
across the branches is incredible. has unfolded in Chile this week, only a month
We have a branch which supports their after the catastrophe in Haiti, really puts things
local boxing club, those who run mystery into perspective and sometimes we need to
coach tours for customers, and many who take a step back and think what we are doing
work with local hospitals and nurseries and in terms of social responsibility as well as in
local sports clubs. commercial terms.
All of our branches also sponsor a local high
school, which involves not only sponsoring a Jill Gardner is commercial director at
geography prize, but also getting involved in Hays Travel
14 05.03.2010
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