In the UK, we invested in local communities around our four largest business locations, the Slough Trading Estate, Trafford Park and Heywood Distribution Park in Manchester and Winnersh Triangle near Reading, as well as in local communities in Birmingham and Farnborough. This benefited charities such as Age Concern, East Berkshire Women’s Aid, Hope and Aid Direct and Slough Homeless Our Concern.
During the year, 228 students from ten schools participated in the SEGRO Young Artists Programme, developing their artistic talents. They benefited from the experience of working with a professional artist as they prepared artworks on a ‘world of work’ theme. These were then exhibited at the RSA in London. In 2010, we will run a national SEGRO Young Artists Programme.
In October 2009, SEGRO was given the go-ahead for the first phase of plans to regenerate the Slough Trading Estate. The 20-year Masterplan is expected to create more than 4,000 new jobs and will contribute £100 million to the local economy each year. We are developing an on-site skills, training and recruitment facility to help local people to benefit from these jobs and to help businesses to find appropriately-skilled employees locally.
At the end of 2009, SEGRO employees chose ActionAid as their Charity of the Year for 2010. They will now carry out a range of fundraising events which we will match-fund up to £50,000 to support India’s street children. ActionAid works with poor and vulnerable people to help them to gain access to food, shelter, work and basic healthcare, as well as a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.
LOCAL INVESTMENT = POSITIVE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
LOCAL TRAINING = FEWER SKILLS GAPS
FOR OCCUPIERS
I thought the world of work didn't sound that great but it's been a really good experience. It's given me loads of different ideas…it's made me think that there might be better jobs out there for me.
A project which has links with a business setting raises the profile of the arts for the school. It also develops links with the community and allows our students easier access and greater opportunities.