SPONSORED BY EDUCATION TRAINING COLLECTIVE ( ETC .)
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
FINALIST DURATA
Critical power specialist Durata makes huge efforts to make a meaningful and positive impact beyond its business operations by heading into Tees Valley schools to promote diversity and opportunities in a traditionally male-dominated industry .
As a Middlesbrough-based company operating globally , Durata contributes to the local community and supports charitable initiatives – highlighted by managing director John McGee leading from the front and cycling from Hull to Boro to raise thousands .
And on visits to various colleges and schools , Durata regularly explains why the firm is a massive advocate of encouraging diversity and inclusivity in engineering to the next generation .
Winners – The team at Darlington Building Society received the Community Champions award from Education Training Collective ( Etc .) CEO Grant Glendinning .
WINNER
DARLINGTON BUILDING SOCIETY
A five per cent pledge helped Darlington Building Society win a four-cornered fight for the Tees Business Awards Community Champion trophy .
Since 2018 , the long-established mutual has given away five per cent of its annual profits to local good causes .
And CEO Andrew Craddock believed that may have helped clinch the Community Champions award , sponsored by the Education Training Collective ( Etc .), ahead of fellow finalists Durata , North Riding County Football Association and Save The Woman .
After receiving the trophy from Etc . chief executive and principal Grant Glendenning , Andrew said : “ We ’ re really delighted that the contribution the society makes to the local community has been recognised by the award tonight . It ’ s for the whole team .
“ We pledge to give five per cent of our profits away every year to local good causes , we help local people in the schools with financial education and our staff volunteer in the local community , so it ’ s across every branch and every department .
“ We believe that as a society , we ’ re not here just to make a profit , we ’ re here to support the local community . Social purpose as well as a commercial purpose , that ’ s what we ’ re all about .
“ We believe it ’ s good for the community but it ’ s good for our staff as well – people feel they ’ re supporting their own .”
Andrew said the five per cent pledge is often one of the things that appeals to new recruits to DBS , which currently has around 200 staff .
And he revealed that last year alone , £ 160,000 was shared between 42 local organisations , mainly focused on food poverty and homelessness .
SPONSOR ’ S REFLECTIONS :
Erika Marshall , group marketing director , Education Training Collective “ It was great to sponsor the Community Champions award and we are delighted for Darlington Building Society , the worthy winners . At a time when day-to-day banking is changing rapidly , it is essential to have organisations like Darlington Building Society who go over and above to embed themselves as a vital part of the community .”
FINALIST
NORTH RIDING COUNTY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
The association ’ s Shape the Play ( STP ) project is run across central Stockton and Thornaby , with a focus on reducing some of the huge health inequalities in the area .
By using football-inspired activities to engage with communities that struggle to engage with physical activity , STP is a community project in the truest sense of the word – led by the community and delivered in an inclusive and accessible way , and with all sessions free of charge .
Deeply embedded within the local charitable sector , both at a grassroots level and strategically , the association aims to influence key decision-making around physical activity and health .
FINALIST SAVE THE WOMAN
Founded by Olalekan Odedeyi , Save The Woman ( STW ) is an advocacy and community organisation that supports the African , Asian and Minority Ethnic ( AAME ) community , particularly families of children taken into care .
STW ’ s priority is to support families in a way that is beneficial to the child and society at large . It is passionate about advocacy and empowerment support , giving parents the tools and skills they need .
And feedback forms completed by beneficiaries make it clear the world of difference the programme has made to the lives of families . The programme is also working with Teesside University to improve graduates ’ employment outcomes .
2023 winners : Middlesbrough FC
The voice of business in the Tees region | 139