All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group To promote debate and understanding of corporate responsibility in the community, environment, marketplace and workplace Secretariat provided by Patricia Constant, Central Lobby Consultants, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ Tel: 020 7222 1265 Fax: 020 7222 1250 E-mail: patricia.constant@centrallobby.com Website: www.apcrg.org.uk Press release: embargoed until 6am Wednesday 15 June 2016 APCRG National Responsible Business Champion award shortlist announced Jonathan Djanogly MP and Baroness Greengross, Co-Chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group (APCRG) have today (15 June) announced the companies shortlisted for its 2016 National Responsible Business Champion award Under this scheme all MPs are invited to nominate an outstanding business in their constituency as their Constituency Responsible Business Champion on the basis of its local impact The companies nominated by MPs are then considered against each other for the APCRG’s National Responsible Business Champion award This year MPs were told that in selecting the national winner, the Parliamentary judging panel would be looking for companies that are: supporting the local community; investing in healthy workplaces; offering apprenticeships and training to all age groups; promoting equality & diversity in the workplace, including offering older people work opportunities; and monitoring suppliers’ actions on these issues The APCRG National Responsible Business Champion 2016 will be presented with the award by the Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, on July 2016 at a reception in Parliament The APCRG Responsible Business Champions scheme is supported by National Grid plc Baroness Greengross said: “We feel this is a very strong shortlist The overall standard of nominations from MPs this year was higher than last year, which means that some very good companies were not even long-listed for our National Responsible Business Champion award Every company on this shortlist can feel very proud indeed not only to have the endorsement of their local MP as their Constituency Responsible Business Champion, but to be shortlisted in a very strong field for our national award.” Jonathan Djanogly MP said: “I am very pleased that two very small companies made the shortlist this year, which demonstrates that you not have to be a big business to operate responsibly Indeed many SMEs regard treating their staff, customers and suppliers well as just “good business”, which it is These shortlisted companies are distinguished from many others by the very significant contribution that they also make to their local communities, which has been recognised by their local MPs.” Joss Clarke, Head of EU & UK Public Affairs, National Grid said: “National Grid is very pleased to support this Responsible Business Champions award scheme and we are delighted that more and more MPs are supporting it as well Being chosen as an MP’s Constituency Responsible Business Champion is a unique accolade and I’d like to congratulate all the companies who have achieved this in 2016 The APCRG has selected a very strong-short list and we look forward to hearing which of these Constituency Responsible Business Champions is chosen as the National Champion 2016.” This year the 56 Constituency Responsible Business Champions have now been narrowed down to a shortlist of 16 companies: Co-Chairs: Jonathan Djanogly MP & Baroness Greengross OBE; Vice Chairs: Mrs Flick Drummond MP, Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen OBE & Baroness Howe of Idlicote CBE MP's name Robert Buckland Richard Burden Ronnie Campbell Jon Cruddas David TC Davies Jonathan Djanogly Jim Fitzpatrick Roger Gale Patrick Grady Oliver Heald Gerald Howarth Mike Kane Craig Mackinlay Scott Mann Maria Miller Greg Mulholland Ian Murray Justin Tomlinson Constituency Responsible Business Champion Zurich Insurance adi Group Ltd Port of Blyth West & Coe Funeral Directors Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd Anglian Water Services Limited Canary Wharf Group plc Speciality Breads Ltd Kelvin Hair Johnson Matthey plc Fluor UK Manchester Airport Speciality Breads Ltd DS Smith Packaging - Launceston Marks & Spencer plc (Basingstoke) Xiros Limited Standard Life plc Zurich Insurance Constituency South Swindon Birmingham, Northfield Blyth Valley Dagenham & Rainham Monmouth Huntingdon Poplar & Limehouse North Thanet Glasgow North North East Hertfordshire Aldershot Wythenshawe & Sale East South Thanet North Cornwall Basingstoke Leeds North West Edinburgh South North Swindon Robert Buckland MP and Justin Tomlinson MP described the “fantastic work” that Zurich Insurance does in Swindon through the Zurich Community Trust and set out very strong evidence of its work to promote a healthy workplace and to encourage diversity and equality Richard Burden MP particularly commended adi Group Ltd’s partnerships with a range of charitable and community organisations and its Apprenticeship Academy which “supports budding engineers and ensures that the skills of long-serving staff are passed on to the next generation.” Ronnie Campbell MP nominated Port of Blyth for a second time, providing more information this year about its community work and training programmes, as well as its work with suppliers to encourage responsible business practice Jon Cruddas MP told us about the sensitive and very generous support which West & Coe – Dagenham’s oldest business – provides for the local community, which includes not just a counselling and befriending service, but generous support for local sporting activities, the Queen’s theatre in Hornchurch and the local hospice David TC Davies MP commended Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd’s record against all the criteria we set and we were particularly struck by the fact that the age range of the company’s workforce extends from 16 to 81 years of age, with many employees working into their 70s Anglian Water Company was nominated by Jonathan Djanogly MP for its strong commitment to sustainable development, including promoting wellbeing in the workplace, a field in which it is recognised for its leadership Jim Fitzpatrick MP drew our attention to the “deep social investment made in the local community” by Canary Wharf Group plc highlighting its work to help students with the transition from education to employment, its work to create local supply chains and its support for local charities and community organisations Both Roger Gale MP and Craig Mackinlay MP nominated Speciality Breads, commending its supplier monitoring, traceability, training and better work practises, as well as its commitment to reducing food miles wherever possible Patrick Grady MP nominated Kelvin Hair as an “outstanding local community champion” emphasising its “excellent contribution” to the local community; its commitment to fair working practices; and its support for training and other local SMEs Mike Kane MP, nominated Manchester Airport, focussing on its the work with local schools and in providing important apprenticeship opportunities Johnson Matthey plc was nominated by Sir Oliver Heald MP, who commended its commitment to sustainable development, its support for local charities and community organisations; and its work through schools, university and its employee ambassadors to promote STEM subjects and careers Sir Gerald Howarth MP nominated Fluor Ltd providing detailed evidence of its strong commitment to education, training and investing in a healthy workplace; and its firm support for a diverse workforce DS Smith Packaging - Launceston nominated by Scott Mann MP who highlighted its investment in a healthy workplace, its commitment to employing and training all age groups and its support for the local community Maria Miller MP nominated Marks & Spencer plc (Basingstoke) for its “pivotal” role in the success of the Basingstoke inclusion Zone, a new scheme which seeks to ensure that disabled people are given a fair chance in the recruitment process and have the necessary support in the workplace Xiros Limited was nominated by Greg Mulholland MP who highlighted its commitment to employee fulfilment and wellbeing, including its strong support for training and flexible working practices Ian Murray MP nominated Standard Life plc, particularly commending its work to break down barriers to employment both as an employer and through community programmes and partnerships Editors’ Note: The APCRG judging panel consists of: Lord Aberdare, Baroness Greengross, Jonathan Djanogly MP, Flick Drummond MP and Baroness Howe of Idlicote APCRG certificates endorsing companies as Constituency Responsible Business Champions are being sent to nominating MPs to present to the companies locally Further information about the APCRG is available on its website (www.apcrg.org.uk) More information about National Grid is available at: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/Responsibility/ Contact details: APCRG Co-Chair: Baroness Greengross - 07836 219007 APCRG Co-Chair: Jonathan Djanogly MP - 020 7219 2367 or 01480 437840 APCRG Secretariat: Patricia Constant 020 7222 1265