Human Resources: Doing It For The Kids - BI Demonstrates How Seriously It Takes Corporate Responsibility

Milton Keynes, UK, 23 August 2007 – BI, the Communication and Motivation Company, took time out from usual business on Friday 13th July 2007 to enable its employees to put something back into the local community. The project was run to transform a local school which required substantial investment to improve the environment for both pupils and teachers.

Last year BI conducted an employee survey in which associates made it clear that they wanted to be given the opportunity to give something back to the local community. Inspired by this, BI set about looking for a project that would really make a difference to the local community. It chose Southwood School, a long-established school for seven to 11 year olds, situated just five miles from BI’s offices. The school is very under-funded and was in great need of a face lift and teaching resources. As part of its commitment to corporate responsibility, BI donated £15,000 and, more importantly, the time and skills of its 120 employees. In just one day, teams set about completing twelve different projects, which included: painting classrooms, re-vamping gardens and making a nature trial. Some of the funds were used to re-fit the school’s library; the kitchen used for home economics; and to provide a new stage.

The projects were those identified by the school as being high priority. Through conversations with the teachers, and pupils, and site visits by BI employees over a period of six weeks tasks gradually came together. Armed with just £1,000 and their own skills each team got to work contacting friends, family and local suppliers to source the necessary resources and man-power needed for the day. Associates were given the additional challenge of trying to spend as little of their project budgets as possible; any money the teams did not spend was given directly back to the school, and at the end of day BI presented the school with a cheque for £2,250.

From the very beginning the pupils had explained what they wanted done at the school, and teams wanted to get the children involved in the projects where possible. With the help of the teachers, the children had the opportunity to paint stones for the gardens, decorate the curtain for the stage garden with their hand prints and put forward their ideas and designs for the mural.

Richard Bandell, BI’s managing director, comments: “This project has not only made a lasting difference to the lives of the children, it has responded to the feedback of our people, which is infinitely more motivational than getting them to do something that management think they would enjoy. In addition to being in line with our corporate responsibility policy, it was a valuable business exercise. In business everyone needs to collaborate and co-operate in order for us all to succeed, and during this project associates came together from many different departments to work together to achieve a common goal. The project has provided BI and its associates with a lasting legacy and created a long-term relationship with the school. It has promoted teamwork, driven moral and confidence, and given everyone involved a feel-good factor – you can’t put a value on that.”

About BI
BI produces measurable business improvement by positively influencing the behaviour of people through communication and motivation. Its solutions help companies acquire retain and grow business with their customers by keeping employees and channels motivated and focused on delivering exceptional results. This is achieved through BI’s core services: events and performance improvement programmes. These are supported by BI’s dedicated in-house creative and technology solutions teams.

BI works with a wide range of blue-chip clients, including: Peugeot, Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBoS), Vodafone, Aston Martin, Roche, Shell, the AA, BMW and HP. Part of the $400 million, US-based firm Schoeneckers Inc, BI employs more than 1000 associates throughout Europe and North America. From its European base in Milton Keynes, BI's creative and results-driven approach has earned the company a reputation for delivering outstanding service to its clients.

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Email: claire.tunnicliffe[at]eu.biworldwide.com
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