Adderstone Group's founder CEO Ian Baggett has agreed to chair HMP Northumberland's employment advisory board.
Lindsay Blackmore, deputy director at HMP Northumberland, advocates strongly for rehabilitation and is a firm believer that employment is key to long term desistance from crime. Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) link prisons with the business networks in their region, helping prison-leavers secure paid work and helping businesses grow their workforce.
Mr Baggett said: "Recruiting ex-offenders might not be a classic HR strategy but the evidence does stack up. Everyone needs a job and a purpose in life.
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"Our day job is regenerating and enhancing built environments, so why wouldn't we do our bit to help safeguard communities too? It's unbelievably rewarding to watch someone thrive on the back of a second chance. I'd encourage employers across the region to get involved and not just out of social responsibility. The vast majority of ex-offenders are extremely loyal, productive and hardworking so it makes great business sense."
GT3 Architects, Tilbury Douglas Construction and Teesside University all struck gold for the North East at the national Constructing Excellence Awards.
Regional winners from across the 海角视频 came together at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, to acknowledge outstanding projects, organisations and individuals.
A project at Wolsingham Sewage Treatment Works Growth Improvement won the innovation category and was led by Tilbury Douglas Construction, alongside Northumbrian Water Ltd, Wood PLC, Sirius, Aquardia, Seppex and JHT.
GT3 Architects took the People Development Award and was praised by the judges for its strong culture, which is embedded throughout the company.
Teesside University, nominated by Wates Construction, won Client of the Year.
A number of North East organisations also scooped highly commended. Catriona Lingwood, chief executive at Constructing Excellence in the North East, said: 鈥淐ongratulations to all award winners and regional finalists, what a great night we had in London representing the North East in the national awards. The fact we came home with a number of awards, across varying categories, highlights the calibre of work taking place throughout the region.鈥
Depot teams at bus company Go North East have chosen a charity to support at each company location, following nominations from colleagues.
To launch the new charity partnerships, 拢30,000 in donations has been shared across them, with donations including 拢10,000 for Great North Air Ambulance, 拢5,000 for Tiny Lives, 拢5,000 for Washington Community Food Project, 拢5,000 for Riley鈥檚 Therapy Journey and 拢5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The donations follow on from 拢12,000 donated to foodbanks across the region earlier in the pandemic.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: 鈥淲e know it鈥檚 been a difficult time for everyone these last two years, so we want to make sure we鈥檙e doing our bit by making sure the money is given back to the community.
鈥淥ur colleagues have chosen each charity, adopting them as their 鈥榙epot charity of the year鈥 and will be doing further work to raise funds for these important causes over the coming months.
鈥淥ur hardworking team have an excellent track record in support charities across the region, raising well over 拢10,000 during the pandemic with a series of activities including sponsored runs, walks, fancy dress days, collecting items for the NHS, and a whole lot more.鈥
International fair trade finance organisation Shared Interest has been recognised for its track record in sustainable development by receiving a Queen鈥檚 Award for Enterprise at an official ceremony attended by Her Majesty鈥檚 Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield.
Staff and stakeholders of the organisation gathered at Spanish City in North Tyneside, for a formal presentation of what is the most prestigious 海角视频 award for outstanding business performance. Shared Interest鈥檚 overseas team joined the event virtually from Costa Rica, Ghana, Kenya and Peru.
Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Susan Winfield said: 鈥淚t was a pleasure to present Shared Interest with their Queen鈥檚 Award for Enterprise. It is worthy recognition of the organisation鈥檚 continued ethical and social motivation to alleviate poverty by enabling people in remote and disadvantaged communities to trade and earn a living. My congratulations to all members of the team who have achieved this award.鈥欌
Shared Interest Society uses investment from over 10,000 海角视频 individuals to provide trade finance to fair trade businesses in 49 countries. It is the third time that the social lender has received the coveted Queen鈥檚 Award in the Sustainable Development category.
Managing director Patricia Alexander said: 鈥淏eing awarded a Queen鈥檚 Award for Enterprise for the third time makes this a very special honour. Having received an award in the Sustainable Development category in 2008, and 2013, we felt that recognition again in 2020, in our 30th anniversary year, was an exceptional achievement. We have since become an advocate of the awards, as a Queen鈥檚 Awards for Enterprise Champion."
Software giant Sage has pledged to match funding donations to support the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, up to a value of 拢300,000.
The company鈥檚 Sage Foundation sees its staff support communities and programs through volunteering and fundraising efforts, with its colleagues giving 120,000 working days through volunteering programs over the last five years.
The foundation has now launched a Sage Ukraine Match Funding page, in which it is matching donations made to its charity partners. This site is open to all, whether they are Sage customers or not.
The match funding pledge comes soon after North East challenger bank Atom announced it is stepping in to support the people of Ukraine by making a 拢100,000 donation to humanitarian organisations on the ground.
The firm announced the significant donation on its website and social media channels, where it also invited others to make donations.
Edward Twiddy, chief customer officer of the County Durham-based bank, said: 鈥淓very day the people of Ukraine are being faced with the horror of war, the torment of being separated from family, friends and home, and the pain of uncertainty and fear. Our support for the UNHCR, UNICEF and the International Rescue Committee is for them.
鈥淭he Ukrainian people deserve our every support as they face this torment. Atom believes in action, and for us this means funding the agencies that are on the ground now.鈥
This week Yorkshire Building Society also announced it is making a 拢50,000 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee鈥檚 (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
