NORTHAMPTON: Travis Perkins has been commended at the 2012 Charity Business Awards for its outstanding support of charitable causes throughout the organisation.
The Travis Perkins team took home two awards at the annual event run by Third Sector magazine, which recognises companies that have successfully developed a culture of fundraising whilst acknowledging employees that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support a worthy cause.
Battling competition from four other finalists, Travis Perkins took home the top title of Business of the Year due to its support of Breast Cancer Campaign and Together for Short Lives over the past three years. The judges also recognised the leading merchant for its success in embedding a culture of supporting charitable causes from trade counter level up to senior management.
The driving force behind a number of charity initiatives, including the bright pink delivery trucks which raise awareness and donations for the charities, it was no surprise that Ian Church was named the Business Charity Champion. As managing director of Travis Perkins in the Midlands, and chairman of the Travis Perkins Charity Committee, Mr Church used his position in the company, his business contacts, and his considerable powers of persuasion to lead the fundraising charge; fully understanding its power as a vehicle for driving the engagement of Travis Perkins colleagues and customers. Mr Church is now managing director of Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), which is also part of the Travis Perkins Group.
Andrew Craig, the branch manager of Travis Perkins in Caernarfon Peblig, was also highly commended in the ‘outstanding employee’ category for his staggering achievement of climbing Mount Snowdon every week for a year for the merchant’s two partner charities.
Current Travis Perkins Charity Committee chairman Norman Watson, said: “Travis Perkins is incredibly proactive in its support of its two main charities; Breast Cancer Campaign and Together for Short Lives. By running our charity partnerships at business level rather than centrally, we have seen a huge increase in employee engagement and funds raised (£1.9 million Group-wide in 2011 alone). This approach has been so successful that it has influenced our wider business operations and the delivery of key communications.
“It’s fantastic to receive these awards on behalf of our colleagues that have achieved amazing things at branches and regional offices across the country. We have succeeded in establishing a mutually beneficial partnership with two charities and evolved our culture of giving across the business.
“Supporting charitable causes is integral to the strength of the Travis Perkins team, the position of the company as a leader in its marketplace and a major UK employer.”
Travis Perkins has raised more than £820,000 since appointing Breast Cancer Campaign and Together for Short Lives as its sponsored charities in 2009, a four-fold increase on the original target.
