O2 people win award for their work in the community

A family concern for looking out for those around them proved to be a winning formula for O2 at Preston Brook.

The communications company, which employs more than 1,500 people at its Runcorn offices, was named winner of the Business in the Community award at the prestigious Call North West Awards last week in recognition of its outstanding work in the local community.

Judges said O2 was an ‘excellent example of how building the community into the business strategy can benefit employees, the local community and the organization.’  They went on to say that the organization understood the value of committing time and not just money to its chosen activities.

O2’s family spirit has made a significant difference, said the judges.

Over the past 12 months, O2 people have been engaged in a mix of charity and school engagement work. As part of the It’s Your Community programme, staff voted to support Foxwood Special School in Birchwood and raised £29,000.  The school was nominated by  O2 advisor  Joanne Harris whose son attends the school.

Amongst the other activities, O2 people donated more than 500 hours to working with schools as part of the Young Enterprise and Education Business Partnership programme.  They also supported local events such as the Run the Race in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Local MP Mike Hall visited the centre and met some of the staff who had supported the charity programme to congratulate them.

‘Staff at O2 do a tremendous job year- in, year- out raising funds for excellent causes at the very heart of our communities.  To raise £29,000 to support Foxwood Special School was a magnificent achievement. This donation will help pupils to get the very best out of their education, ‘said Mike.

“I am full of admiration and praise for the staff and O2 for their magnificent contribution to the local community. I know this year’s achievements have set a very high standard and I am sure staff will continue to work hard to raise substantial amounts of money for the good causes they support.”

CallNorthWest is an organization that actively works with the North West call and contact centre sector, to support the critical success factors that drive the sector to achieve excellence. Through the support of the North West Development Agency and hosted by the University of Central Lancashire, CallNorthWest is ensuring that the North West remains a sustainable location for call and contact centres.