Having previously focused its community investment activities on corporate fundraising, sponsorship of children’s charities and providing reading buddies in schools, Bond Pearce was keen shift its focus to supporting adults in the local community.
Getting involved with BAOH has enabled the company to improve the diversity of its workforce while at the same time providing a range of development opportunities for existing staff.
“BAOH has changed preconceptions and endorsed the fact that everyone is the same but many simply haven’t had the same opportunities. Working with this client group has had a huge impact on us personally and professionally;” says Philip Withey, Senior Associate, Bond Pearce.
Initially, Bond Pearce hosted part of BAOH’s Ready for Work programme and helped homeless clients with their interview skills. The company has gradually stepped up its participation in the programme and is now one of its most active companies in the South West. Over 50 employees from Bond Pearce in Bristol have volunteered in BAOH, a quarter of the whole office.
Bond Pearce measures the impact of its involvement, with the support of Business in the Community, and feeds back to the firm’s human resources team so that staff can be referred to the programme for skills development. Staff that get involved report improved interviewing, networking and communication skills, clear development that Bond Pearce hopes to be able to build into its appraisal system in conjunction with BAOH in the future.
