NNUH re-accredited in Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards 2016

L-R Julia Watling, Patrick Mallon, Annie Cook and Jamie Allison accredited at the 2015 awards

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) has been re-accredited in the 2016 Responsible Business Awards for the second year running in the Inspiring Young Talent category.

The Responsible Business Awards, the most prestigious awards championing responsible business at home, run by Business in the Community has re-accredited the hospital for demonstrating the continual positive impact of its Young Talent scheme which encourages apprenticeships, pre-Apprenticeships and a range of Access to Work programmes.

Careers Development Co-ordinator Annie Cook said: “We believe improving service delivery as well as supporting our local community is key to a sustainable business. During the last year we have worked in partnership with Norfolk County Council, Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support, and local social care settings to offer an ‘Integrated Health and Social Care Assistant’ apprenticeship. The Government drive is to promote more integration across Health and Social Care, and this pilot project was developed as a collaborative approach to recruiting apprentices into the care sector. Radically rethinking the way care is provided enables the best possible outcomes for our patients and residents, and develops a workforce that is fit for the future.”

Jeremy Over, NNUH Director of Workforce said: “We are passionately committed to ‘Growing Our Own’ workforce and investing in the local community by developing Apprenticeships and Access to Work programmes such as The Prince’s Trust, Pre-Apprenticeships and Traineeships. We are fortunate in being able to offer a very wide range of career options for young people. From a business perspective these programmes enable us to ensure that we are giving young people with potential the opportunity to develop, ensuring we have a committed well trained and sustainable workforce to serve our patients. ”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “The Responsible Business Awards shortlist represents the very best of business. Celebrating their stories helps raise awareness of business as a powerful force for good.”

Now in its 19th year, the Responsible Business Awards are open to companies of all sizes, from SMEs to multi-nationals, and across all sectors. Categories cover a wide range of positive business activities, from investing in the health and wellbeing of employees, nurturing young people to develop skills, supporting rural communities and more disadvantaged members of society, to helping the resilience of communities in the face of international disasters.

The Award Winners are announced at BITC’s Annual Responsible Business Gala at the O2 in London on 11 July, hosted by Fujitsu (2015 Responsible Business of the Year) where the NNUH team will receive their trophy.

For more information on the Awards, visit www.bitc.org.uk/awardstories and follow @BITC on Twitter #BITCawards