David Cook Director, Corporate Marketing and Public Affairs 3M is named HRH The Prince of Wales Ambassador for responsible business for the second year

HRH The Prince of Wales has announced David Cook Director, Corporate Marketing and Public Affairs 3M is to continue as the Prince’s Ambassador for Responsible Business in the South East for a second year running.

I look forward to working with David over the coming year to build on this success and do even more to transform our South East communities by placing business at the heart of meeting the very real social needs we face.

The Prince’s Regional Ambassador Award is one of Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence and recognises the powerful contribution made by individual business leaders to improve the communities in which they live and work through responsible business. The Ambassador in each UK region is tasked with working closely with BITC and its members to champion responsible business best practice across the region.

Ambassadors are chosen not just for their own contribution, but also for demonstrating leadership which has both transformed their own business and inspired others organisations to take action. Importantly, the Regional Ambassador is also the local representative of Business in the Community’s Business Emergency Recovery Group, which was established by The Prince of Wales to ensure there is a mechanism for businesses to help local communities in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as flooding.

David Cooke was re-accredited as Regional Ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales’ for a second year for his leadership and commitment to responsible business. 

The announcement was made at South East Awards for Excellence celebration breakfast, run by Business in the Community, supported by Audi UK on 15th June at the Audi Quattro rooms.

In a recorded message shown at the event, HRH The Prince of Wales said “For over a quarter of a century as President of Business in the Community I have been fortunate to work with some of the most remarkable and far-sighted business leaders in the country who all share a real commitment to make a difference in the communities in which they operate. Change rarely happens without the dynamism of key individuals - and this applies as much to those that lead community groups as it does to those who run businesses. It is the leadership shown by the Chief Executive that makes the whole difference. I am therefore delighted that David Cook has agreed to remain as my ambassador for another year.” 

Commenting, Monica Wilson Regional Director, Business in the Community said:

“I am delighted that David has once again been recognised by HRH The Prince of Wales for his work in South East.  David is passionate about education. In 2009  David was responsible for the launch of 3M Worldlywise an online initiative that aims to educate young people about sustainable living and show them how scientists, engineers and new technology can help solve the problems of the future. The programme has been designed for use by not only teachers and 11-16 year olds, but also STEM Ambassadors - representatives from science and industry who visit schools to demonstrate to students the benefits of studying the subjects and how they apply to future career possibilities.

David has been directly responsible for incorporating STEM Ambassadorship into 3M’s graduate training programmes, as a way to develop employees’ ‘soft’ skills.  As a result the number of STEM Ambassadors at 3M doubled from 40 to 80 – and they are all being encouraged to use 3M Worldlywise in their preparations and activities.

David joined BITC’s South East Leadership Team in 2008 and tirelessly to promote BITC’s work across the South East. He recently sponsored and led 15 business leaders on a regional Seeing is Believing visit in Basingstoke. The aim of the visit is to understand the issues facing young people and people who are homeless when it comes to employability and skills.  This has raised BITC’s profile and acted as a catalyst for business engagement.

I look forward to working with David over the coming year to build on this success and do even more to transform our South East communities by placing business at the heart of meeting I look forward to working with David over the coming year to build on this success and do even more to transform our South East communities by placing business at the heart of meeting the very real social needs we face.’’