Corporate Social Responsibility
It is very tempting for so-called ‘Middle Market' companies to put off doing anything on recycling or managing its carbon footprint, or supporting the local community, until all of the other challenges of running a successful business and competing on the world stage, have been successfully met. Long ago we decided that not being able to do everything that we would like to do, should not stop us from doing what we can when we can. We are proud of what we have already done and keener than ever to do more.
Carbon Neutral Goal
Illumine has announced a new project to investigate how to become fully carbon neutral by 2010. Project Leader Cathy Coughlan has been tasked with finding ways to ensure that the company meets its goal. She commented "Everyone is firmly behind this goal but we are under no illusions that this will be straightforward. The whole area is a minefield - different ways to measure carbon consumption, schemes to offset, the fact that public transport is often more expensive and more time-consuming than using a car - to name just a few of the challenges. We already make use of web conferencing to keep travel down, but we are a people business and that involves meeting people as well as delivering face to face training in the UK and beyond."
Recycled Paper, Eco-friendly Printing and Office Recycling
Our clients naturally expect a comprehensive manual to support their Illumine training courses. Our general office paper, manuals and course materials are printed on sustainable paper. Our manual printers have one of only a handful of carbon positive printing presses in the UK.
In addition, the paper used for marketing material is now 100% from sustainable sources. Marketing Manager, Richard Evans is not stopping there though, "I am determined to get to the point, hopefully by the middle of 2009, where nearly 100% of our materials are from sustainable sources, that includes our pens and pencils."
As a business we also recycle everythign we can from within the office that includes paper, packaging, our lunch cans and teabags (they go to the local allotment).
Developing Staff's Skills
There is a lot of talk about the UK's Skills' Shortage and there is no doubt that it is real. We are fully accredited as an ‘Investors in People' company and take staff development very seriously. As HR Manager, Cathy Coughlan put it, "As a training company we believe that training should be life-long - none of is the "finished article" and as the world is changing at an ever faster pace, everyone needs to be able to refresh their skills and knowledge. We spend most of our time here, helping other companies build skills that enable them to do this and we think it is vital that our team here are continually helped to do their jobs better by building their skills."
Illumine sponsors local rowing club
When Eton Excelsior Rowing Club approached Illumine's Managing Director about sponsorship, the Captain of Boats made it clear that the most pressing need was for a Single Scull that would be used exclusively by up and coming juniors. Managing Director, Clive Lewis, a keen sculler himself, was keen to get involved. The boat, purchased with Illumine's sponsorship, was named ‘Illumination' - the same name as Illumine's flagship creativity programme. As Lewis commented, "Effective creativity requires companies and individuals to work hard and to have moments of insight and illumination as well. Rowing is a sport that requires enormous dedication and hard work, but also requires moments of inspiration, of illumination, as well! I am sure that the young rowers who get to train and compete in Illumination will do exceptionally well and I wish them every success."
Supporting Local Schools
Being based in Windsor, we have two secondary schools - Windsor Boys' and Windsor Girls'. Both are very good schools and when they have asked for help we have been very pleased to run sessions on Mind Mapping for both students and teachers at both schools on a pro bono basis. These have always been very well received by staff and students and we are looking forward to the opportunity of doing more in the future.
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