Nathan Lemon Elior UK has launched a company-wide campaign to deliver 28,835 days of ‘social value’ by 2025.
The caterer’s Lifetime of Enrichment campaign aims to create a lifetime of social value that impacts every stage of life–mirroring its catering business, which spans hospitals, nurseries, education, B&I, stadia, healthcare and care homes.
Elior’s target of 28,835 reflects the average number of days in a lifetime and attempts to quantify the impact of activities that add social value, also extending its existing policy to including environmental value.
Initiatives previous championed by the organisation have included apprenticeship programmes, volunteering, fundraising, and working with social enterprises.
Elior aims to educate every employee about the role they can play in delivering social value, with options including two paid volunteering days every year, and becoming involved in wider company social value activity such as fundraising or supporting other charity initiatives. The caterer’s nominated charity is The Alzheimer’s Society and Elior has pledged to raise £100k by the end of 2024. It will also encourage its employees to get involved in social value activities its clients are hosting.
The company’s leadership team inaugurated the new campaign by volunteered in the dining hall of Refettorio Felix – a drop-in centre and community kitchen serving freshly prepared meals made from surplus food to vulnerable people in Earl’s Court, West London, where they catered for 220 people this month. Elior has been supporting Refettorio Felix since 2015 by supplying kitchen equipment and assisting with menus.
“[W]e now have a way of recording acts of kindness whilst educating and inspiring our colleagues, clients and suppliers…”
Charlotte Wright, Director of CSR & Wellness, says: “The Lifetime of Enrichment campaign defines Elior UK’s coordinated approach to taking account of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of our actions and working together to make a positive difference. Importantly, it aligns everyone in pursuit of one vision.
“There are already many great things going on to support social value; the launch of The Lifetime of Enrichment campaign will mean we now have a way of recording acts of kindness whilst educating and inspiring our colleagues, clients and suppliers to get more involved.”
A dedicated portal has been launched for The Lifetime of Enrichment campaign to allow Elior to track progress in real time and maximise engagement across the business. Accessible via QR code, employees can see the collective progress which is being made in achieving the social value, and their own valuable contribution. A quarterly activity report will also be made available across the organisation.
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