Member Article

Roberts Bakery recognised in Responsible Business Awards

Northwich-based Roberts Bakery has been recognised by the 2016 North West Responsible Business Awards, run by Business in the Community (BITC).

The family baking business was ‘highly commended’ in the North West Business in the Community New Member Award category, sponsored by DWF.

The award identifies and rewards new members of Business in the Community that have made a demonstrable progression on their responsible business journey.

Lindsay Occleston, a member of the Roberts family, who leads the company’s responsibility programme, received the accolade at a gala dinner hosted at Gorton Monastery this week and spoke of the firm’s approach.

“We are delighted to win this recognition from BITC,” she said. “It rewards many individuals who are involved in leading our engagement work in the community, which has had far-reaching benefits for the whole company.”

Since joining BITC the company has used an innovative, experiential community programme to engage employees.

Lindsay again: “We have given people the chance to make a difference in our local community and it has achieved one of the biggest ever changes in engagement generally across the business.”

Roberts has developed partnerships with local charities under the scheme – CAFT, the Joshua Tree and St Luke’s Hospice – where employees have been involved in raising money, donating products and giving up time in support. The company has committed 100 days of employee time to do so and feedback from volunteers has been hugely positive.

As a breast cancer survivor Lindsay has a long association with Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention, the only charity dedicated to predicting and ultimately preventing the disease. This year the business has supported the fund-raising with an on-pack Use Your Loaf promotion across five million wholemeal loaves.

The target £50K will provide funding for pioneering research to help get a better understanding of the gene fragments that predispose certain women to an increased risk of getting breast cancer. The initiative supports the charity’s ultimate goal of creating a breast cancer-free future, playing a key role in a wider research project which could revolutionise breast screening programmes across the UK.

The company also runs a regional primary school programme which runs twice weekly during school term. Lindsay again: “This is where local children can learn about modern bread making with a practical bread making session. Every child has the opportunity to make a loaf to take home. Being a staple food source we felt it was essential to educate local schools on the importance of bread.”

Raksha Pattni, Area Director West, Business in the Community commented: “At Business in the Community, we firmly believe that responsible business is not just a better way to do business but it is the only way to do business and I’d like to congratulate all those who have achieved success in our 2016 Responsible Business Awards and the recipients of our North West Local Recognition Awards.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .