A SHINING EXAMPLE Beaverbrooks sets the gold standard when it comes to giving back to the communities where it does business. The jewellery business, which has 71 outlets across the UK, has given away more than £14m to over 750 different good causes since 2000. That giving is carried out through the Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust, which hands out 20 per cent of the company’s post-tax profits to charities, every year. The £144.7million turnover company also has a £250,000 fund where workers can apply for cash for a charity of their choice. That’s separate to a company scheme that encourages each of its stores, plus head office departments, to choose its own individual charity and then donates £100 for every member of staff. Beaverbrooks pledges to match any sums that its “colleagues” raise for local charities. It is also a driving force in the workforce giving campaign to get more people to give money to charity through their salaries. The ethos and commitment
to helping is not simply about fundraising, it is really about becoming truly involved. And that is why every one of those 980 colleagues is encouraged to become active in good causes – and get 16 hours paid time off every year to take part in charity work in their community. Mark Adlestone is the thirdgeneration head of the family-owned business. His great grandfather arrived in Britain from Russia in the 1880s and Beaverbrooks has just celebrated its centenary.
Making a difference He says the retailer’s philanthropic approach is driven by nothing more than the recognition that it is “the right thing to do”. He says. “It’s very much part of DNA of the company, it has always been there and is an integral part of what the
“Larger companies are now paying closer attention to what their supply chains are doing when it comes to CSR.”
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