Corporate Social Responsibility

There are many things that we are proud to have achieved since we started trading in April 2006. One of these is that we have had a Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy that has meant that as well achieving positive outcomes with our clients we have also been able to support a number of charities including NORCAS, Norwich Lowriders, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Princes Trust.

Here's to the next five years!

US2U Consulting's Kerwin Blackburn on Friday visited Indian non-profit organisation Literacy India and its offshoot social enterprise Indha Craft in Gurgaon, south of New Delhi.

Kerwin is currently spending two weeks in India studying Social Entrepreneurship at IILM Institute for Business & Management as part of a British Council visit, undertaking research for US2U Consulting's corporate social responsibility strategy.

The visit explained Indha Craft's business model as a social enterprise - manufacturing and retailing handcrafted products - as well as its purpose of supporting adjacent NPO Literacy India in its aim of providing basic education to women and children in a socio-cultural environment.

Kerwin also gained an insight into Indha Craft's effective supply chain, from on-site paper recycling department to gift shop via a team of skilled craftswomen. The visit also took in Literacy India's lively classrooms and ethos of "Education, Empowerment and Employment".

After an inspiring tour, Project Director Mr. Satya Prakash also reflected on the challenges facing the two organisations and their strategies to overcome these in line with their 5 year plan. Much to Kerwin's surprise, this includes a desire for visitors to promote Literacy India and Indha Craft in their home countries and provide the organisations with international exposure.

Such was the passionate and upbeat nature of the visit, when asked for his advice for those thinking of entering the social enterprise sector Mr. Prakash's response was, "don't do the same product as us!".

More news of Kerwin's visit to India to follow...

We were proud to attend the Rev Active Awards ceremony with Simon Callender, Director of ABC Taxis, as he was presented with the award as the winner of the Green Product or Process Award.

US2U Consulting brought Rev Active and ABC Taxis together to achieve the environmental goals that we had agreed as part of the ABC Taxis strategic business plan. Established in Norwich in 1994, ABC Taxis received REV ACTIVE grant support to invest in eco‐cars, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and dramatically reducing costs. ABC have gone further though, acting as champions for low carbon business, encouraging their own customers and rebranding themselves from “ABC Taxis: Going to Gold” to “ABC Taxis: Going Greener”. The Company has launched a new low-carbon product and successfully differentiated itself in a competitive market through its exemplary green credentials.

US2U Consulting has supported seven charity balls across the UK during 2018 as part of our corporate social responsibility strategy and was pleased to attend the Nelson's Journey Ball with clients and friends on Saturday 3 November. Nelson's Journey is a great organisation based in the same village as US2U Consulting and provides support for bereaved children.

Rachel Blackburn, Director of US2U Consulting, is pictured with client Thomas Whiskin, Director ASAMS Ltd and Simon Wright, CEO Nelson's Journey. Nelson's Journey has been ASAMS' charity of the year during 2018.

"It was a fun evening with good company, food and entertainment and it's great to be able to help raise money so that the Nelson's Journey team can continue the very important work that they do!" said Rachel.

US2U Consulting Marketing Coordinator Kerwin Blackburn recently spent two weeks in India, studying The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in Creating Scalable and Sustainable Change as part of the British Council's Generation UK-India initiative.

Based at IILM Institute for Business & Management in Gurgaon, south of national capital Delhi, the study and cultural immersion program introduced participants to the growing area of Social Enterprise, with a particular focus on India's economic development, its rural markets and the 'bottom of the pyramid'. The course was delivered through a series of lectures and industry visits - to schools, social enterprises and non-governmental organisations.

As well as providing an opportunity to gain insights on how to enhance US2U Consulting's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, it also provided Kerwin with professional and networking opportunities, including the opportunity to speak on stage at the British High Commission in New Delhi on behalf of the 30 participants on the trip.

"The trip was a unique experience - to get immersed in the upcoming area of Social Enterprise and to see evidence of the social impact it can achieve while also being compatible with the characteristics of the private sector in the 21st Century. I look forward to putting many of the principles learnt into practice and would encourage anyone to explore the sector for themselves!" said Kerwin.

To read about Kerwin's visit to non-profit organisation Literacy India and its offshoot social enterprise Indha Craft, click here.

As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy we are pleased to have been able to support the Charity Dinner at City College Norwich for Leeway and were fortunate to win the raffle drawn by Chloe Smith MP.

Leeway is a specialist domestic abuse charity supporting over 8000 adults, children and young people every year across Norfolk and Suffolk.

US2U Consulting were pleased to attend the opening of The Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia on Thursday 8th October.

The Enterprise Centre comprises a number of carbon-neutral, locally-sourced materials including Thetford timber, Norfolk thatch, hemp and polished concrete, providing a range of economic and environmental benefits to make it one of the most sustainable buildings in Europe.

It is anticipated that the Centre will help foster an increasingly entrepreneurial culture both among UEA students and across the region over the coming years.

The event featured an inspirational talk by guest of honour Lord Bilimoria, a tour of the building and the unveiling of the Sir Brandon Gough lecture theatre.

To celebrate providing ongoing great service to UEA staff and students, and their mutual commitment to a greener environment, Rachel Blackburn arrived in an ABC Taxis Eco Car (pictured).