Como launches 'Action Month'
Media
28/08/2009
August saw the launch of Action Month at Como. The initiative was introduced to encourage staff to get involved and make the most of their Mace volunteer day and is part of Como's commitment to corporate social responsibility.
City Action, a volunteer brokerage which concentrates on linking city organisations with appropriate charities in the surrounding boroughs was consulted to find opportunities where Como could help.
Headed by Como CSR coordinators Michelle Budd and Amanda Cox, the first event took place on the 20 August and required involvement in the ‘Working in the City' program run by an independent charity called The Brokerage Citylink. Set up and funded by some of the Square Miles's major financial institutions, the charity aims to provide a bridge between employers in the City and young people living in the most deprived areas of inner London.
As part of the three day ‘Working in the City' programme a group of students aged between 14 and 19 years old spent an afternoon at the Como office. The aim was for the group to experience a live office environment, to hear from some of the Como staff about their working experience and to undergo some basic career training.
Managing director, Steve Root spent time with the group to tell them about Como and to explain what employers look for in potential recruits. Vince Simpson, construction manager and Nick Hoffman, trainee manager, explained how they got to where they are today by outlining their training and work experience before answering a few questions from the students.
The second event took place on the 21 August and involved Como staff getting out of the office and getting their hands dirty. Neil Courtman, Richard Stickland and Candice Blewett spent the day at a woman's centre called Lansbury Lodge based in Poplar, East London and run by charity City Gateway.
With a refurbishment project underway at the centre, Como staff lent a hand, putting their muscles to the test moving cabinets, desks and equipment out of the way before spending a few hours pulling carpet up to make way for new flooring.
Not letting a small thing like a cracked rib stand in the way, Richard Stickland, commercial manager at the FCO project in Milton Keynes commented, ‘It was hard work and we had a few sore muscles at the end of it but we all really enjoyed the day. It was great to break some of the routine of work and spend some time giving back to the community. I'd do it again in a heartbeat and would encourage all Mace staff to make use of their volunteer day!'
