UBM in the Community
We recognise the importance of our relationship with the communities in which we operate. As a media and information group our range of charitable and community initiatives focus on projects which promote education, literacy and communications, particularly amongst disadvantaged communities, as well as, more broadly, assisting in relieving poverty and homelessness, and promoting healthcare. As we grow our business geographically we are particularly keen to support the local communities into which we are expanding.
Core principle
Encourage employee engagement in the community.
Objectives
Promote Give As You Earn in the UK and develop similar model
for overseas.
Promote/implement volunteering programme and develop mechanism for measuring and costing volunteering time.
Review charitable donations policy to ensure best use of funds.
Seek to develop relationships with charities which complement our business activities.
At UBM we are harnessing our business expertise and resources to make a real difference. In December 2009 we ran the first ever NGO Conference-Expo, in São Paulo, Brazil, which offered free stands and conference sessions to 270 NGO exhibitors and 2,500 visitors to promote the interests of NGOs operating in Brazil. The conference was a huge success with very positive feedback from the NGOs who were able to be the centre of an event and network with other NGOs and CR people on a large scale for the first time. We will be seeking out similar opportunities to utilise our expertise for the benefit of the community during 2010, and aim to roll-out this format in two new countries.
We also offer complimentary or discounted services to not-for-profit entities. At our Food Ingredients Europe show in Frankfurt we donated a stand to Oxfam, enabling them to get closer to the food chains that lead to people living in poverty and offer a platform for their messaging. At the Fashion Access Show in Hong Kong, UBM Asia introduced ‘Sustainable World’, dedicated to sustainable fashion, and hosted the first ‘Sustainable Fashion Forum’.
Our news distribution division, PR Newswire, supports corporations and non-profits by extending special pricing during major catastrophes, most recently offering free services for NGOs, and corporations offering relief services, during the Haiti earthquake, as well as by sponsoring various sustainability and CR conferences. For example, PR Newswire provided complimentary news releases to all NGOs declaring commitments at the annual Clinton Global Initiative Conference in September 2009. In addition PR Newswire, via its partnership with CSRwire, provides its members with expanded distribution to media, analysts and stakeholders that specifically have elected to track and follow the sustainability and CR market.
UBM Asia were nominated for Caring Company Award organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for its work offering training and work experience to mentally and physically handicapped trainees. Everything Channel in the US coordinates with venues and local non-for-profit agencies to organise food donations from events to local soup kitchens and support centres.
Employees are encouraged to undertake volunteering activities and are given time off each year, with pay, to volunteer. We operate a matched giving scheme through which fundraising efforts by UBM’s employees are matched by the Company, together with a payroll giving scheme in the UK, whereby regular donations by employees are matched. The allocation of cash donations is based either on proposals generated by employees, or by reference to the level of volunteer work undertaken by employees.
During 2009 we donated £564,200 (2008: £503,023) to over 100 charities, which represents cash donations only and does not include donations-in-kind such as employees’ time or services offered on a pro bono basis, nor does it include the donation of equipment such as computers. The number of UK employees donating via GAYE, and having their donations matched by UBM, rose to 9.3% from 8.4% in 2008 and these were directed towards 70 charitable organisations.
