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29 MAY 2008
City-based financial firm UBS has been given a Big Tick by Business in the Community for its partnership with The Bridge Academy in Hackney.
This prestigious award rewards responsible business practice and UBS demonstrated excellence under the “Community Impact” category.
The partnership has also been short listed for The Merrill Lynch Education Award supported by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF). This recognises “company community programmes that raise the achievement of young people through building sustainable partnerships with schools to the benefit of pupils aged 5-19 years in the UK”.
UBS’s support of The Bridge Academy, which started in 2004, came about as an extension of UBS’s successful Community Affairs Programme. The city firm has worked with schools in Hackney for twenty years and the relationship with The Bridge Academy is a major element of that commitment to education in East London.
It has involved providing £2 million in sponsorship, (£1m from a private client), senior management expertise and the commitment of many of UBS’s staff who have volunteered their time working with Bridge Academy staff and students. The Academy moves into its brand new home on Laburnum Street in September this year after operating from temporary accommodation in its first year.
Nick Wright, Regional Head of Community Affairs at UBS, said: 'We are delighted to have been given a Big Tick by Business in the Community. Our commitment to The Bridge Academy is the realisation of a shared ambition to help raise educational standards in Hackney. It is tremendous that this partnership has been recognised and is a tribute to the many dedicated hours of time given by UBS staff.'
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: 'I congratulate all the winners of a Big Tick this year. It is fantastic to see so many strong examples of responsible business practice. The Big Tick is now recognised as both a valuable and difficult award to achieve.'
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