Octink (formerly branded as Allsignsgroup) is a graphic display and signage manufacturer. The company’s Responsibility Committee was established to identify and promote key CSR objectives and KPI’s for improvement. This is chaired by the Managing Director and draws upon employee input from the main impact areas of the company.
The company's CSR strategy is linked to their business strategy and reflects their values. It has been developed with all their key stakeholders in mind: staff, clients, suppliers, community and partners. Octink has identified social issues most relevant to the business and pressing to its communities through engagement with key community stakeholders, and support and membership of local organisations: Hounslow Education Business Partnership (HEBP), Brentford Chamber of Commerce and Slough Business Community Partnership (SBCP).
An integrated approach
Octink has integrated its community investment throughout the business, and takes an innovative approach to creating both community and business benefits. One example of this creative approach is their strategy to minimise their own environmental impacts by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill.
Octink works with the local authority and a Community Repaint scheme which helps to match their waste paint materials with community groups who need these resources. The paint is used in many community projects, such as employee volunteer led events organized by the Business Community Partnership to make over local schools, community centres, churches and community venues.
Employability
Another issue the company is addressing locally is the need to prepare and train young people for proper employment and raise skill levels and career aspirations. They are doing this through a number of programmes and partnerships, one of which is the Way to Work apprentice scheme.
Way to Work - Octink works with a local organisation called Way to Work who run an apprenticeship broker scheme aimed to encourage young people to gain work experience - Octink recruits one placement annually and mentors the apprentice to learn on the job skills. One previous apprentice, now employed by Octink, says:
“I joined through a company called Way to Work, which helps young people get into the workplace and at the same time complete an apprenticeship and earn some extra qualifications. This was ideal for me as I did want to further my education but I was also eager to start working. I have since gone on to complete an NVQ Level 3 in business and administration skills and I hope to further my career within the company. With the current economic climate, the link between the company and community is really important for school leavers in this area, and hopefully some will be inspired by the company’s continued investment and my story.”
"It’s our moral duty to assist in the development of local young talent. The business case for us is clear, we are meeting and engaging with exceptional local students, and gaining valuable publicity and recognition as a result."
- Mike Freely, Managing Director
Leveraging support
The company has made a strong commitment to engaging employees in their community investment activities, encouraging volunteering and fundraising and aiming to create 10 volunteering days for staff in 2009. They are also committed to increasing their positive impacts on communities by supporting their clients’ community activities and encouraging their suppliers to support Octink’s community investment programmes, leveraging support and sharing best practice wherever possible.
Ultimately, they aim to leverage more support to their partnerships, whether cash, time or in-kind resources, to have greater benefit for both community partners and programmes.
For further information on Octink's community investment initiatives, visit their website.
