Scotland’s biggest corporate volunteering event gets underway

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is preparing to embark on what will be the biggest one-day volunteering project undertaken by a single company in Scotland.

Around 600 employees - from senior partners to new graduates – from the firm’s three offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow will take part in the event on Wednesday 8^th October at Dunkeld in Perthshire. 

The event is part of the firm’s ‘All Scotland Day’ which aims to give employees the chance to learn more about the company’s vision for the future, whilst reinforcing its strong culture of team work and corporate responsibility, and core values of excellence through leadership, client focus and staff development. 

Frank Blin, executive chairman, Scotland for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP said:

“As a firm we know that the continuing prosperity of the Scottish economy on which we rely is dependent on the ongoing success of our clients, and much of our day will focus on how we can support them through what will undoubtedly be challenging times ahead.

“But it is not just businesses that are being impacted by the credit crunch and the economic downturn - charitable organisations, vulnerable people and social enterprises are becoming silent victims of this current climate.

“We have a very active corporate responsibility programme, with over 60% of our employees now involved in voluntary work, and want to try and make a genuine difference to some of these really worthwhile organisations. We would like our people to enjoy and be motivated by this event and put something back into the communities we serve. Over time it is my hope that PricewaterhouseCoopers makes an enduring impact.”

The volunteering element of the one-day event is being supported by Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), the charity dedicated to promoting responsible practice across Scotland. SBC helps companies engage with communities through its CARES programme (Employee Supported Volunteering).

James Tindell, SBC’s CARES programme manager, said:

“Volunteering is a fantastic way for businesses to have a positive impact in communities and on the environment, as well as having business benefits in terms of, team building, development, staff recruitment and retention. PricewaterhouseCoopers have a fantastic track record and the All Scotland Strategy Day on the 8^th of October is an ambitious undertaking, that’s different to a lot of volunteering both in scale and by ensuring the activities have lasting impacts.

“By working with social enterprise in developing their skills and business models, and by supporting organisations like The Children’s Orchard, New Caledonian Woodlands and CHAS, PricewaterhouseCoopers are supporting projects that have sustainability built in.”

Employees have been able to select from a number of projects carefully chosen to reflect staff interests, the firm’s areas of expertise and experience and to deliver long-term benefits to the business, the community and the environment.  These include: 

• Evolve – skill sharing workshops with social enterprises from across Scotland, organised in partnership with Firstport, Scotland's leading social enterprise support agency.
• CHAS – Assisting the children’s charity to organise its Christmas stock.
• Environment – a number of community-led outdoor projects focusing on bio-diversity, health and education.

ENDS

Media are invited to send a reporter/photographer. Case studies and interviews are available.

Location: Dunkeld Hilton Hotel

Date: Wednesday 8^th October

Time: Between 14.00 and 15.00pm

Contacts:

PwC: Lynn Hunter, PR manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Tel: +44 (0)141 245 2152, Mobile: 07841 570487, Email: lynn.m.hunter@uk.pwc.com

SBC: Lisa Dransfield LisaDransfield@sbcscot.com /Caryn Robertson CarynRobertson@sbcscot.com

Tel: 0131 451 1100 Mobile: 07717817779 / 07920234642