Business pioneers achieve the CommunityMark

The first pioneering group of 21 UK-based businesses to achieve the CommunityMark were revealed to ministers and business leaders today at a ceremony at 10 Downing Street hosted by John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The CommunityMark is the highest achievement for companies that are able to demonstrate the long term positive impact that they are having in their communities.

The CommunityMark is a new national standard that publicly recognises companies that are the best investors in their communities. Successful CommunityMark companies have passed a rigorous, independent assessment of how they invest in and work with their local communities, including scrutiny by their employees and community partners.

In one year alone, the 21 CommunityMark companies invested almost £600 million in the community through employee time, funding and other contributions; more than 30,000 schools have already benefitted, 2,000 people now have mentors from CommunityMark companies, and 1,000 people have already been given work experience placements. These are just a few examples from hundreds of initiatives they have spearheaded all over the UK and the world. Business in the Community has made a conservative estimate that 100 businesses will achieve the CommunityMark by 2010.

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, congratulated the companies successful in gaining the standard: “The CommunityMark is the highest achievement for companies that are able to demonstrate the long term positive impact that they are having in their communities. It’s a standard that sets the bar high enough to give most business leaders vertigo; and it’s an achievement to be proud of.”

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said: “The skills, strengths and sustainability of British business have never been so important to society. If the CommunityMark helps to bring about more effective partnerships between business and community groups, it holds out tremendous potential to deliver long-term sustainable solutions that will benefit us all.”

The trailblazing national mark was developed by Business in the Community with the support of companies, public and voluntary sector bodies, and was designed to be challenging and relevant to all concerned.  The CommunityMark is endorsed by government and the voluntary sector, and supported by HRH the Prince of Wales, president of Business in the Community.

The 21 pioneering businesses to achieve the CommunityMark are: Axis, Barclays, Blackburn Rovers Football & Athletic Club, BT, Contract Scotland, Deloitte, Design Links, Elementus, Ernst & Young, GlaxoSmithKline, HBOS, Heart of Midlothian Football, KPMG, Marks and Spencer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rangers Football Club, RWE npower, Sainsbury's, Tesco, The Town House Collection, Zurich Financial Services (UK).