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Boots UK is recognised in Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards 2016

19 April 2016
News Brand

Boots UK has been recognised in the 2016 Responsible Business Awards for inspiring young people from all communities to experience the world of work, helping improve their confidence and career opportunities.

Every year, HRH The Prince of Wales’ Responsible Business Network,  Business in the Community, ‘reaccredits’ a number of companies who are able to demonstrate the continual positive impact of a programme that has previously received an award accolade.  Boots UK was initially recognised in 2014 for the Inspiring Young Talent Award for its ‘Let’s Inspire’ programme, as it continues its work to tackle high youth unemployment by boosting the skills, aspirations and confidence of young people. Boots UK was also the national winner in the ‘Work Inspiration’ category in 2012.

Boots UK remains a committed ambassador for delivering high quality work experience, running a Work Inspiration programme for over 200 students every year. In September 2015, Boots UK also launched a brand new Healthcare Colleague Apprenticeship programme, which is a one year apprenticeship accredited by Pearson, helping young people into careers in community healthcare. This will sit alongside its other important apprenticeship and graduate programmes which have seen continued positive societal impact.

The 2016 Responsible Business Awards celebrate inspiring examples of businesses that are making a significant difference by taking action to improve their local communities, create more inclusive workplaces and tackle environmental challenges.

Stephanie May,Apprenticeship and Access to Work Programme Manager at Boots UK, said: “We strongly believe that we have an important role to play in improving the lives of young people; and helping improve access to work and employment is crucial to this. These initiatives help us to connect with young people in and around our local communities providing work experience opportunities and further education through our apprenticeship schemes. We are honoured to have our Big Tick award re-endorsed this year for our “Let’s inspire” initiatives.”

Boots UK also works with other businesses, actively sharing learnings and good practice to encourage more apprenticeship and experience opportunities for young people across the UK.

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “We know that every day businesses contribute towards more resilient communities, stimulate local economies, help to create skilled and healthy workforces and tackle environmental challenges. But more companies need to share these ideas and actions to grow the responsible business movement in the UK and abroad – which is why we launched Responsible Business Week. 

“The companies recognised in the Responsible Business Awards today, represent the very best of business. Celebrating their stories helps to raise awareness of business as a powerful force for good.”

The announcement of the 2016 Responsible Business Awards re-accreditations coincides with Responsible Business Week (18 – 22 April 2016) an annual initiative to increase awareness of the positive contribution of business in society.

Now in its nineteenth year, the Responsible Business Awards are open to companies of all sizes, from SMEs to multi-nationals, and across all sectors. Categories cover a wide range of positive business activities, from investing in the health and wellbeing of employees, nurturing young people to develop skills, supporting rural communities and more disadvantaged members of society, to helping the resilience of communities in the face of international disasters.

For more information on the Awards, visit www.bitc.org.uk/awards and follow @BITC on Twitter #BITCawards.

 

ENDS         

Image captions:

  • The Boots UK team behind Work Inspiration (from L-R): Sarah Orridge, Assistant Learning and Development Manager for Access to Work, Sarah Staley- Healthcare Apprenticeship Co-ordinator, Rowan Pickles- Design and Delivery Assistant (and current Future Leader Apprentice), Amanda Rowbottom, Recruitment Co-ordinator.
  • Apprentices at Boots UK: Team of current and previous apprentices at Boots UK

For more information about Boots UK please contact:

Bethan Simmons T: 0115 959 1188 EBethan.simmons@boots.co.uk

For more information about Business in the Community or the Responsible Business Awards contact:

Alex Delaney T: 020 7566 8694  M: 07766 161419 E: alex.delaney@bitc.org.uk

Ochuko Adekoya T: 020 7566 8758   M: 07921 941 536  Eochuko.adekoya@bitc.org.uk

 

 Notes to Editors

 

About Boots UK

Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.  With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.

*As at 31 August 2015 excluding equity method investments

 

The Responsible Business Awards

Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards brings to life how businesses are creating innovative and sustainable solutions to our most pressing challenges, inspiring thousands of others to make a lasting difference and adding value back to their own business.

Now in its 19th year, the awards, rigorously assessed by independent business peers, are widely acknowledged as one of the most respected endorsements of responsible business in the UK and abroad. Open to companies of any size, sector or scale, a wide range of businesses enter, demonstrating the breadth and depth of responsible business.

Each year, over 250 business peers assess the entries, endorsement planters are used by companies to profile their achievement, and over 4,000 people attend our Responsible Business Galas across the UK, inspiring thousands of people to be a motivated part of the Prince’s Responsible Business Network.

In 2016, Business in the Community received 297 entries for the Responsible Business Awards, shortlisted 103 and re-accredited a further 82 entries for demonstrating continual impact in their responsible business programme. 

News

What’s new at Boots? Find out the latest updates from the UK’s largest pharmacy-led health and beauty chain – from new products and services to important business developments.

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Features

Take a closer look at our team members and the work they do, learn more about our corporate social responsibility initiatives and see how we work behind the scenes.

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and 2,100 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 30 November 2023