Edinburgh boutique hotel group The Town House Collection, has exceeded expectations and become one of 21 UK-based businesses to be achieve the CommunityMark, a UK-wide standard which was unveiled to ministers and business leaders this week.
The CommunityMark, developed by Business in the Community (BITC), is only awarded to companies that demonstrate a relevant, managed and measured approach to their work within the community. This month the THC, who support surplus food distribution charity FareShare, exceeded their fundraising target for 2008 by raising £20k in just six months.
John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said: “The skills, strengths and sustainability of British business have never been so important to society. If the CommunityMark helps to bring about more effective partnerships between business and community groups, it holds out tremendous potential to deliver long-term sustainable solutions that will benefit us all.”
So far, CommunityMark businesses have raised over £600m in the community, through employee time, funding and other contributions. The THC’s support of FareShare, enables the charity to distribute to 43 projects in the Edinburgh area, supplying vulnerable people with the surplus food from supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.
Peter Taylor, owner and Chairman of the THC, said: “FareShare makes such a difference to people’s lives. It is great to see all the fresh food being used so positively and not thrown away. The project is a success and demonstrates so vividly the opportunity for the corporate world to work along with the charity sector to make a real difference in our communities.”
Other businesses that have achieved the CommunityMark, include BT, J. Sainsbury PLC, M&S, Blackburn Rovers Football Club and GlaxoSmithKline.
For more information on how to apply for the CommunityMark, visit www.bitc.org.uk/communitymark.