Blakemore voted top responsible business in the UK

AF Blakemore & Son was crowned national winner at the Responsible Business Awards 2019, run by Business in the Community, by virtue of its ‘Branching Out’ schools volunteering programme.

Left to right: Amanda Mackenzie, Business in the Community chief executive; Clare Knowles, Blakemore corporate affairs manager; and Elizabeth Blakemore, HR business partner at Blakemore.

The prize was presented at London’s Royal Albert Hall at an event attended by nearly 1,000 business leaders.

The wholesaler’s ‘Branching Out’ programme inspires young people into the world of work by improving their employability skills and supporting the recruitment and development of future talent.

Since the initiative was established two years ago, 693 employee volunteers have donated almost 4,000 hours engaging with 3,312 students across 63 primary and secondary schools.

HR business partner Elizabeth Blakemore said: “We are overjoyed to have won this award, and to be recognised in this arena is a phenomenal achievement.”

Business in the Community chief executive Amanda Mackenzie commented: “AF Blakemore & Son has shown determination and ambition to keep pushing the responsible business agenda through real, tangible action.”

AF Blakemore & Son (01902) 366066