STAFF at IT maintenance company Smart Capital Technology (SCT) are giving back to the community thanks to a new initiative from Managing Director Andy Morgan.
As part of new shared values aimed at improving corporate social responsibility at the Reading company, he has introduced charity days in which every member of the company’s 80 staff are entitled to one paid day off to make a difference locally.
“I wanted the business to give more to charity. I feel that charity alignment is often a personal decision so we wanted to give the employees their own choice of which charity to contribute towards,” he said. “Instead of picking two or three charities to align too we decided to give people a day they can have to volunteer, raise money or support a good cause in any way they feel appropriate if they would like to.”
“This has generated a vibrant community feel within the business with lots of different charities being promoted along with an increase in donations between the employees chosen charities.”
Among the staff who have taken advantage of the offer is contracts co-ordinator Sam Jeffrey who will be doing the London Moonwalk with daughter Emma, 19, on May 20.
Executive assistant Helen Bamber raised money for Cancer Research when she ran the Reading Half Marathon. She said: “Running the half marathon was a big challenge for me as I am not really a runner.
“I wanted to do something that would enable me to give back to the local community in Reading and align myself with an important charity – Cancer Research. It was great to be part of something bigger and I felt privileged to be part of the event.”
Other staff have used their day to volunteer to their clean their church and to give blood.
The introduction of the charity days comes after SCT introduced £100 cost of living crisis payments every month for six months for each member of staff. “We just wanted to recognise that things are tough out there and it is costing more for people to heat their home,” said Mr Morgan. “We want them to be able to do that.”
The company has also signed up to a retail discount scheme which provides an app for all staff to save money on shopping at major retailers, including supermarkets. “We want to support staff whichever way we can and I’ve had some nice private messages from people telling me they appreciate it,” said Mr Morgan.
It provides parts and engineers to replace and repair business-critical networks on behalf of IT suppliers who support an extensive range of organisations – from household brands to industrial businesses – in need of connectivity to networks or servers.
Mr Morgan said he wants staff at SCT to feel valued and to value others. “We have introduced five shared values – positivity, preparation, curiosity, continuous improvement and consideration – because as a group we wanted to generate a more community feel within the business,” he said.
“They are principles I like to operate by and I believe they are great attributes to be associated with. If we are all these things to an employee, customer or supplier that would be go a long way to keeping an upbeat community around the business.”
