Four reasons to love four years of supporting social enterprises

It’s been four years since we joined forces with Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), and we’ve been proud to work with an incredible collective of individuals who are striving to create healthier, happier, and more sustainable communities.

As we approach the four year milestone, we’re taking a look back at some of the initiatives and businesses we’ve been able to support so far… 

Helping ex-offenders Bounce Back to normality

ISG first started working with charity and social enterprise Bounce Back in 2020. The organisation offers training and employment opportunities to individuals both in and on the verge of leaving prison; in skills such as dry lining, painting and decorating, and scaffolding.

Inspired to support an untapped talent pool, our UK Retail team welcomed individuals from the Bounce Back programme to one of its Big Yellow projects, in Bracknell. Supporting the site team with moving materials, operating equipment, working with concrete and clearing site yards.

Continuing to strengthen this relationship, the Bounce Back team have become regular guests at UK Retail’s internal employee events, running sessions on the training programme, re-offending statistics and the enterprise’s success stories.

Seeing the world through a different lens

Through ISG’s mutual partnership with Nationwide and Social Enterprise UK, young people from homelessness charity, The Foyer Federation, were invited to visit the site of one of ISG’s projects for the building society. Providing an opportunity for the adolescents to learn about career opportunities, as part of ISG and Nationwide’s shared commitments to securing value for communities and attracting new talent into the respective industries.

As an addition to this, ISG supported creative agency and social enterprise, Mediorite, by inviting the agency to film the event. Offering Mediorite trainee and voluntary youth worker, Daniel Attoh, the role of lead videographer.

“Something we’re very proud of is the impact ISG makes in local communities and the genuine social value we provide through the spaces we deliver,” says ISG director, Barry Perkins, “We’re proud that our work on this project (Nationwide) has been able to benefit Daniel and the young people of The Foyer Federation.”

And the award goes to…

Over the course of our partnership, ISG has been delighted to sponsor some prestigious accolades at the annual Social Enterprise UK Awards evening.

ISG first started supporting the awards in 2021 by sponsoring the Education & Training Social Enterprise Award. An award that recognises the best enterprises in the education or employment sectors for demonstrating excellence in vision and strategic direction, and having a positive social, environmental and community impact.

In 2022, we once again delivered sponsorship, this time for the Social Enterprise Women’s Champion Award. Presented by ISG’s head of social value, Carrie-Ann Huelin, the award honours the women embodying excellence in their line of work, who are leading the way in promoting more diverse and inclusive workplaces.

From ISG, with love

Taking a family-friendly approach to supporting employees during parental leave, ISG partnered with ‘From Babies with Love’ in 2022.

The social enterprise donates 100% of its profits to support vulnerable children across the globe with gifts that are ethically, sustainably and organically produced.

As part of ISG’s commitment to be an outstanding employer, the bespoke ISG gift bundle from SEUK partner ‘From Babies with Love’, is given to all employees going on parental leave.

ISG chief human resources officer, Jane Falconer, comments: “We want to be an outstanding employer and more inclusive as a business. But above all, we want to do the right thing to support our employees through every life stage.”

Read more about what makes ISG different.