Rolls-Royce community initiatives get Big Tick
Thursday, 10 June 2010Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been awarded a ‘National Big Tick’ by Business in the Community (BITC) for its community projects initiative.
The awards are now in their 13th year and recognise businesses that have shown innovation, creativity and sustained commitment to corporate responsibility. Rolls-Royce has been recognised in the Building Stronger Communities category of the BITC’s National Awards for Excellence 2010.
Last year, more than 5,000 Rolls-Royce employees participated in community projects and team-building activities across the UK. The time contributed delivered many benefits to local communities equated to an estimated value of £1.5 million.
Helen Bishop, Rolls-Royce, Head of Community Relations, said: “Our community programmes help us to attract new talent and to engage with the communities in which we work. Rolls-Royce benefits from the wide range of skills and experience that our employees gain from taking part in community projects and I am delighted that their hard work has been recognised with this award.”
Rolls-Royce apprentices and graduates worked on a variety of community projects that contributed to the BITC award. These included working with the Rosliston Forestry Centre in Derbyshire to design an outdoor classroom enabling an expansion of its education programme. In Bristol, trainees utilised their knowledge of science and technology to work with local shoolkids on the ‘FanTastic Challenge’ - a project to design and make the fastest, most efficient electrically driven fan-powered vehicles.
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “I congratulate Rolls-Royce. It has been a difficult 12 months for business, but this is a sign that companies are not losing their focus on making a positive impact on people and planet, and are prepared to lead by example.
“That’s what Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence are all about - celebrating responsible business, the leadership that makes it happen, and the benefits to the business and society of doing so. Consumers need to see that businesses are proactive, visible and engaged on the big issues of the day, as Rolls-Royce has demonstrated.”
- Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
- As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce today has a broad customer base comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
- Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment, and to further developing employee skills.
- In 2009, Rolls-Royce invested £864 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products, in particular the reduction of emissions.
- Annual underlying revenues were £10.1 billion in 2009, of which about half came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book stood at £58.3 billion at 31 December 2009, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
- Business in the Community mobilises business for good. Members commit to take action on the key issues - be they people or planet - and to integrate, collaborate and communicate responsible business.
- The Big Tick winners demonstrate significant impact and high quality management of their responsible business practices and can show a positive impact both on society and on the business. Now in their 13th year, they are the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice.
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