Member Article

Press Ahead pledge 1000 hours for Responsible Business Week

North East communications agency Press Ahead has pledged 1,000 hours of staff volunteering time as part of Responsible Business Week.

The Sunderland-based firm has encouraged its 11 members of staff to participate in chairty initiatives, including mentoring schemes and charity support over the next 12 months.

Managing director Kieron Goldsborough, who is part of the Industrial Liaison Group for the Cleveland College of Art and Design BA (Hons) Graphic Communication, said: “I’m thrilled to have the team’s support in pledging 1000 voluntary hours towards helping to shape a stronger and fairer society.

“We are a business with a social conscience and Responsible Business Week is a great opportunity for us to share our experience while encouraging other businesses to get on board and help make a difference to the North East.

“Year on year, Press Ahead engages in responsible societal and environmental activities and we allocate a specific percentage of our annual turnover to contribute to local good causes, in addition to accommodating staff time to undertake specific ad hoc projects and activities.

“The kind of things that our team like to do includes running and we entered the Marathon of the North relay event and raised over £800 for the children’s ward at James Cook Hospital on Teesside.

“We also operate an ongoing work experience programme with local schools, colleges and universities across a variety of disciplines to offer insight into the industry and have worked with charity The Percy Hedley Foundation on the organising committee for their Alternative Business Awards which are a major biennial fundraiser for the foundation. We have also undertaken pro bono creative and marketing work for the charity which provides services for disabled people and their families.

Mr Goldsborough added: “The impetus behind Press Ahead’s involvement in the initiative is to not only further strengthen the company’s links with the community but to make a valued contribution to the community where we live and work and to encourage other businesses to make corporate social responsibility an item on the boardroom agenda.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .