Press Room

BPCC wins Major European Award for Partnership and Stakeholder Development

(Date: 2010-03-27) The BPCC, Poland’s leading international voice of business wins new European award for Partnership Development demonstrating outstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable business development opportunity.

At a packed annual awards ceremony yesterday evening (23rd March) in London’s Pall Mall the BPCC was recognized for outstanding achievement in Partnership and Stakeholder Development. This new, highly prestigious award is conferred for excellence in working with partners and developing business networks to create sustainable business.

The BPCC beat off strong competition from Chambers from over 25 countries demonstrating leadership in networking and network development.

“I am absolutely thrilled by this award. Partnership development is the raison d’etre of the Chamber. Creating opportunity networks for our members is a fundamental activity of the international Chamber movement – this is more than ever true in the current economic environment. I am extremely proud that the BPCC has been recognized for its excellent leadership in Europe with this new award” enthused David Thomas who was in London to receive the award.

The BPCC was awarded for its portfolio of activity in the following areas:

BPCC Policy Groups – Partnerships for Policy Change

With the specific aim of supporting the strategic development of our membership and offering added value the BPCC has an active policy team which co-ordinate a number of key policy reform groups. The goal of the groups is to work with government in shaping key policy decisions and reforms which will create a more business friendly environment:

  • Infrastructure
  • Healthcare
  • SME & micro enterprise
  • Human Capital
  • Finance & Tax Reform
  • Climate Change & the Environment.

BPCC Enterprise 2012 Partnership

The BPCC via its Foundation FIT is a nominated partner of the Prince’s Youth Business International (YBI) and Business in the Community (BITC). Under the partnership platform of BPCC Enterprise 2012 and together with a number of strategic partners, the BPCC is actively engaged in the following activity:

  • ILM management and leadership training championed by BPCC member Sysco Polska; Polish language ILM accredited training
  • Supporting business start ups  – approve business concept; provide access to a professional mentor and secure funding
  • Regional programme to set up and upskill 90 micro and small to medium enterprises.

BPCC Action 4 Employment Partnership

The BPCC takes a keen focus on employment creation. In 2009 the Chamber worked with its Patron company A4E to launch a network of employment and skills centres across Poland. These centres enable Poland’s long term unemployed to actively engage in work. The BPCC has played an instrumental role in shaping policy, developing NGO partnerships and implementing the programme which is being delivered in a number of hardship areas across Poland. So far as a result over 1000 previously long-term unemployed people moved into active employment.

BPCC Integrate

There are over 5 million disabled people in Poland with 70% of them having no employment or real access to society. During 2009 the BPCC actively engaged in a partnership with the British Embassy, Integracja, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and PFRON which is focused on legislation change, adopting best practice in social welfare reform from the UK and the integration of disabled people into society.

“In today’s environment more than ever the BPCC needs to be at the forefront of building partnership networks for change. Such networks are the catalyst for sustainability, wealth and employment creation. I am honoured to lead an organization which is working at the forefront of CSR and business opportunity creation. This award is dedicated to all our member companies who have so actively participated in supporting the BPCC in 2009. Sustainable partnerships and corporate citizenship are the light at the end of the tunnel in the current economic environment”, commented Martin Oxley, BPCC CEO.

For further information:
Wioletta Rodak-Slabuszewska, BPCC
e-mail: wioletta.rodak@bpcc.org.pl

British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC)

Established in 1992 the BPCC has grown to become Poland’s leading international voice of business. It is a not for profit membership comprising 500 member companies which represent 25% of the total foreign direct investment in Poland since 1990. The BPCC’s mission is to promote international business, cultural relations and leadership in sustainable business. The BPCC is a recognized public voice on British Polish bilateral relations working closely with business and government to create a better business environment. A key goal of the organization is to promote corporate social responsibility and sustainable economic development.

Fundacja Inkubator Technologiczny (FIT) and Youth Business Poland

Fundacja Inkubator Technologiczny (FIT) was established by the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) in 2005 to promote and support the development of business start ups. It is designed to be a network of networks aimed at enabling young Polish business. The Foundation has been engaged in a number of pioneering programs including BPCC Academy; GrowEnterprise, a program focused on promoting innovation based business start ups in Malopolska; Youth Business Poland (YBP), a member of the global Prince’s Youth Business International (YBI); South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) International Mentoring and the Academic Incubator Network (AIP), the largest student business incubator network in Poland and one of the largest in Europe.

British Polish Chamber Of Commerce

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