CATERING
CHARITIES: LOOK BEYOND THE ALTRUISM
Engaging with a charity is rewarding, fulfilling and mutually beneficial, says Anthony Kingsley, the Sustainability & CSR Lead at Vacherin, but in reality, the benefit for the company can be even greater than for the beneficiary, he explains the why.
1. It helps attract, recruit and retain employees
Employee engagement has risen up the priority list for the private sector in recent years as companies are put under increasing pressure to address social and environmental issues. Employee volunteering for a charity is a clear strategy to meet the needs of the employee, while reducing the cost to the employer through low productivity or high employee turnover. It also provides personal development for employees, allowing exposure to operations outside their day-to-day responsibilities that spurn creative ideas for the business:
• Those employees who work for UK companies that rank very high in employee engagement may experience up to 18% higher productivity rates.
• Research has linked higher employee engagement with up to 40% lower employee turnover rates.
2. It’s the future
A company must think long term, assess the broader picture and begin with a basic assessment of
26 | TOMORROW’S FM
people and their priorities to assess where collaborations can be clearly identified. A practical strategy that builds ‘shared value’ for all groups will only lead to greater success.
Many businesses still find it challenging to create successful employee engagement, especially with the rise of millennials, we are witnessing a growing desire for companies with a solid employer reputation, culture of collaboration, and rewards for performance, but not necessarily monetary. Businesses are being held responsible for their greater impact on society, which 30 years ago, most would not have even realised was an issue.
3.
It can save money, rather than cost it
It costs a lot to replace a valued employee who departs and considerably more to replace a dissatisfied client who takes their business elsewhere! Smart CSR engagement can motivate, train and reward employees. For Vacherin, employee engagement and community engagement have both become high priorities because
of the nature of the business, and we have brought both together. At Vacherin there is a policy allowing for two paid days of volunteer work for each employee, providing the opportunity for private sector/ charity partnerships.
LUMINARY BAKERY When Luminary Bakery met
Vacherin, we knew it had potential to be a great partnership. Luminary Bakery is a project founded by the East London charity and social enterprise, Kahaila. It is spearheaded by Alice Boyle, who is on a mission to offer stable employment for women that have experienced exploitation, domestic abuse and low income. Alice says: “I started Luminary because I saw a desperate need among women in my neighbourhood and I couldn’t NOT respond”.
Having worked with women withdrawing from exploitation for several years, Alice undertook extensive research to identify and attack the underlying causes of the challenges they face. She discovered that one of the major
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