Wates picked up the People Power award at The Princes Trust Corporate Employee Awards in London in recognition of the efforts of its employees to generate funds to support young people and for its commitment to improving employability.
One of more than 50 corporate partners shortlisted, Wates has been a corporate partner of the Trust since 2014, and in that time employees have raised £280,000 for the Trust far beyond the companys original target of £200,000 for the duration of the partnership.
The judges were impressed not only with Wates fundraising, but also that the company had truly embedded support for the Trust across every part of the business, and across the UK. Special mention was made of employees creativity in fundraising, which events this year including a hike across Hadrians Wall, which raised over £24,000, a football tournament raising over £11,000 and the Palace to Palace bike ride, raising nearly £12,000.
Su Pickerill, Community Investment Manager at Wates Group, commented:
“We are thrilled to have been honoured with this award from the Princes Trust. When we began our partnership with the Princes Trust four years ago we did so because it perfectly matched our own values, of providing a positive legacy for the communities in which we work, and helping to improve the life chances of young people.
Its a cause about which our people are passionate, and earlier this year we were proud to announce a one year extension of our partnership with the Princes Trust so that we can do more to help the Trusts fantastic work in providing opportunities for young people to gain skills, training and employment opportunities.”
Wates partnership with The Princes Trust will continue until July 2018, with the company aiming for a more ambitious fundraising target of £350,000 for the duration of the partnership. The impact of employees’ activities has also be increased by significant levels of match-funding from Wates Giving, the charitable programme of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.
Disclaimer: Wates Giving awards have been renamed Wates Family Enterprise awards (March 2022)