Collaboration Wins National Schools Award

Responsible Business Awards – run by the Prince of Wales’s charity Business in the Community (BITC) – showcases inspiring initiatives which give back to the community.

Ryder, as the only architect involved in the high profile awards, was a founding member alongside Esh Group, Arup and Turner and Townsend.  Their joint programme Building My Skills, won BITC’s National Schools Partnership Award.

Described as the Oscars for responsible businesses, BITC helps transform communities and drive corporate responsibility forward.  At the Royal Albert Hall, Building My Skills saw off stiff competition from leading UK businesses including BBC, Deloitte LLP, DWF, Manchester Airport and Pinsent Masons LLP.

Building My Skills brought together 65 businesses and 49 schools across 23 local authorities in the north of England to provide a dynamic workshop programme, which saw up to 7,000 young people benefit from CV writing, mock interviews, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities.

Prime Minister David Cameron said “On behalf of the whole country, I want to say thank you to all of you, for what you are doing to show that responsible business is good business and something we should all be very proud of.”

Ryder’s managing partner Mark Thompson said “We are delighted all the hard work of everyone involved in this programme has been acknowledged, from the business partners, to the schools, to the children who punctually attended the workshop interviews and work experience.  Having the opportunity to help young people build invaluable skills for the future of work is such a rewarding thing in itself.”

Over 1,200 senior guests, from SME owners to the CEOs of global brands attended the Responsible Business Gala which was sponsored by 2014 Responsible Business of the Year, National Grid.  The event, a culmination of a series of regional awards run by BITC across the country, recognises innovative ways that businesses are addressing social and environmental issues and transforming communities.

Liz Needleman, BITC’s England East area director, said “It is tremendous to see Building My Skills acknowledged on a national level for its great work within schools and communities. Inspiring initiatives such as these provide a leading example for fellow UK businesses to make a difference.”