Identifying issues pressing to the community and the business
Capital Shopping Centres Group PLC aim to provide clean, safe and secure centres to which customers want to return frequently. As part of their programme to achieve this they have linked up with partners such as Catch22 and Ocean Youth Trust Scotland to introduce and initiate a social enterprise approach to tackling anti-social behaviour.
Working with Catch22 (formerly Rainer Crime Concern) they have run projects at the Victoria Centre in Nottingham, targeting young people of school leaving age from disadvantaged backgrounds and in London with those about to make the transition from primary to secondary schools. The organisation promoted “Say Yes” and developed “Take One” campaigns respectively, based on social enterprise principles allowing young people to get involved, create defined roles and responsibilities with clear outcomes supported by mentors. They also work with Ocean Youth Trust Scotland on a young leadership programme that provides young people with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in communication, confidence, teamwork and responsibility.
Training talent for the future
Capital Shopping Centres is taking action to engage young people in developing their skills. The company’s Retail Gold project is a partnership between Newcastle Education Business Partnership and CSC.
The project organises and develops placement opportunities for young people undertaking BTEC First qualifications in retail. Success in Newcastle and Gateshead has led to the development of the programme in other centres. The Retail Gold project has become a leading retail training programme in Newcastle and is used by the John Lewis Partnership and WH Smith stores there as part of their training programmes. It is an innovative example of best practice in developing skills for the entire sector.
In addition and in partnership with Norwich Prison and City College, the Chapelfield Norwich project is opening up employment opportunities for serving prisoners, giving them valuable support and experience to make reintegration into the community a more positive experience with a better chance of success.
Engaging Employees
Participation in community activity is a key part of Capital Shopping Centre’s culture. All projects are designed to facilitate employee involvement, from planning through execution and to review.
All projects are an opportunity for staff development, stakeholder and community engagement and demonstrate a commitment to community development and regeneration. All employees have an annual personal appraisal and for those with direct responsibility for community issues, objectives are included in their review as part of their personal development plan.
For details on other projects and community initiatives that led to Capital Shopping Centres achieving the CommunityMark, please visit www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/CR
