Aberdeen Foyer Scoops Second National CSR Award

Aberdeen Foyer Scoops Second National CSR Award

31.05.07

Claiming its second Company of the Year award in two consecutive years, Foyer Enterprise was voted Social Enterprise of the Year by judges at the fifth annual Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) Company of the Year Awards in Edinburgh yesterday (31 May).

Foyer Enterprise, the trading arm of Aberdeen Foyer, was classed by judges as an exemplary business model in the social sector. Through its four key business areas – Foyer Gallery & Restaurant; Foyer Drive; Foyer Graphics and Ben & Jerry’s Partnershop – the limited company generates income to support the work of the charity and, in the last financial year (2006/7), recorded a turnover of £759,400.

In 2006, Foyer chief, Ken Milroy, collected the Marks & Spencer Sieff Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership in collaborating with local businesses to benefit society.

Presented with the Social Enterprise of the Year award at SBC’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary dinner, which was hosted by SBC president, HRH Prince Charles, Edel Harris, Deputy Chief Executive of Aberdeen Foyer, said: “Aberdeen Foyer has been leading the way in taking a business approach to the development of income-generating activities and we’ve had enormous fun seizing opportunities and solving some of the challenges presented by the young people we work with. I hope this award inspires other social enterprises and businesses to think creatively and demonstrates that with the right people and partnerships anything is possible.”

Despite Scotland now boasting the lowest unemployment rate in the UK with 5.2%1 of the population out of work, the second highest unemployed group remains among the 16-24 year-old demographic, with 203,0002 young people economically inactive.

Aberdeen Foyer undertakes to better the employability of young people in the community by offering housing, community learning, education, training and health activities. Since the first accommodation site opened in 1998, Aberdeen Foyer has housed and supported over 1,000 young people.

Judges called the company a ‘sector beacon’ and a ‘ground-breaking company which is delivering good solid business with canny marketing while changing the world at the same time.’

A further three companies received Company of the Year Awards with ScottishPower voted Large Company of the Year; Macphie of Glenbervie, SME of the Year and Des Ryan succeeding Ken Milroy in collecting the Sieff Award. Standard Life chief executive, Sandy Crombie, was also announced as the new Prince’s Ambassador, replacing Sir Robert Smith, chairman of the Weir Group, in the role.

In celebration of SBC’s 25th anniversary, two Jubilee Awards were handed out to companies who have delivered a long-term positive impact on communities. ScottishPower collected the first for its ScottishPower Learning initiative with Cunninghame Housing Association in Ayrshire picking up the second.

The UK Awards for Excellence are produced in Scotland by SBC with support from Communities Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. All applications are evaluated in London by a team of trained assessors from around the UK, representing the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Source: Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce