The Business in the Community award is sponsored by AVT Connect, and recognises businesses that have transformed people’s lives and the community
Brighton-based financial services company Family Investments has more than 35 years’ experience helping families invest for their future.
It looks after £4.5 billion for approximately 1.8 million people in the UK.
Last year the business donated 1,565 hours to support the local community, and in June, it received a ‘Big Tick’ as recognition for its work with local schools and colleges.
The business has managed to build sustainable partnerships with schools in Sussex.
The firm runs a programme providing literacy and numeracy support in St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Brighton, and employment skills training in Blatchington Mill Secondary School and Sixth Form in Hove.
Simon Hartshorn, savings and investments manager, said: “Family Investments has been heavily involved in supporting the local community for many years now and I am tremendously proud of what we have achieved.
“Through our education initiatives we focused on improving literacy, numeracy, attendance and personal development at St Bartholomew’s Primary School. And since 2009 we have helped over 90 schoolchildren with English and maths.
“We have been working in partnership with Blatchington Mill for over 13 years to give students an insight into the world of work.
“Over that time we have supported nearly 1,300 students, providing careers advice and helping them develop their interview techniques and employability skills.”
Stephen Howard, Business in the Community’s chief executive, said: “I congratulate Family Investments for its Big Tick, which recognises that it is part of amovement of companies creating value by living their values.
“We hope their example will inspire many more businesses to put responsible behaviour at the heart of how they do business.”
Business in the Community – 2012
Last year’s winner of the award was the Plough Inn.
The local is a huge favourite with residents and has become an institution in the community.
Under the management of Declan Mongey and Karl Baker, The Plough Inn became a staunch supporter of all types of charities.
The pub walls are adorned with cheques presented over the past 18 months, totalling more than £15,000.
In December last year the pub suffered a blow when Mr Mongey was found dead near Saltdean Lido.
Leo Day, of the Golden Lion Group, which runs The Plough Inn, said: “There is still quite a lot of shock. Declan had done such an amazing job building up the pub’s profile within the community.”
Mr Baker has continued to embrace the Rottingdean social scene by running regular meat raffles to support many events, including ‘Smugglers Night’ celebrations as well as village fairs and torchlight processions.
Tell us about your inspirational teachers, carers, volunteers and pupils.
We want to know which charity deserves recognition along with the most deserving business in the community, event, school, local hero and many more.
There are a number of ways you can have your say. You can simply fill out the online entry form.
You can also send your suggestion by email to ben.james@theargus.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here