An IT manager who challenges his colleagues to fund raise for charities and a company director determined to invest in her local community have been short-listed for an award sponsored by the Church in Wales.
Either Phil Jones, IT manager of Airbus UK or Rachel Bedgood, director of Complete Background Screening Ltd will receive the Leadership in Social Responsibility Award at the Leading Wales Awards ceremony this week.
The award recognises leaders who make a positive difference to the communities where they work and is one of the eight titles in this year’s Leading Wales Awards. The winner will be announced at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff, on Thursday (May 19).
The Rev Canon Robin Morrison, Bishops’ Adviser on Church and Society , “The Church in Wales supports the Leading Wales Awards as they raise aspirations and highlight achievements across Wales.
“This annual awards ceremony encourages leaders in organisations to do even better and it celebrates their successes. We believe this makes a real difference to the wellbeing and productivity of people in Wales.
“Every sector has a crucial contribution to make and faces similar challenges to transform performance and wellbeing. As a Church we are convinced that there is a spiritual centre to this in the beliefs, values and behaviours of people in the workplace.
“We have great pleasure in sponsoring the category ‘Leadership in Social Responsibility’ to recognise and encourage the many people who contribute so much to the life of their local communities as well as their companies. This makes a huge difference to their own development and fulfilment as well as benefiting others.”
Phil Jones works for Airbus in Broughton. He introduced the Charity Challenge programme more than 20 years ago to underpin the very first attempt at developing a CSR strategy at Airbus. It has raised in excess of £4million for a wide range of local and national charities.
Rachel Bedgood is set up CBS, a pre-employment screening company based in Pontypridd, in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, employing local staff and showing a constant commitment to the local community. She has also initiated a scheme with the University of Glamorgan called Business Opportunities Scheme Scholarship (BOSS), to incentivise those studying business in South Wales to invest their skills and knowledge locally. She also set up a community-based activity centre which has helped hundreds of disadvantaged local children.
This is the third year running for the Church in Wales to sponsor a Leading Wales Award. Last year it sponsored the Business Leader in the Community category which was won by Geraint Lewis, Managing Director of Seven Sisters-based outdoor activity centre, Call Of The Wild.
Leading Wales Awards is an annual event, organised by a consortium of professional institutes, voluntary and public sector as well as private companies.
For more information about Leading Wales Awards, please visit http://www.leadingwalesawards.com/default.aspx
