People and community

As a global responsible business with strong values and a rich history, we place huge importance on our cohesive CSR programme. Family values and ethos have been behind the success of OCS since its beginnings in 1900. Today, our business has the scale and commitment to make a significant and positive contribution to the communities in which we work.

We know that someone's social or economic background can have a huge impact on their ability to reach their full potential. That's why we support and deliver programmes that develop the capacity and skills of socially and economically disadvantaged people in the communities in which we work.

The issues we've chosen relate to who we are. OCS employs more than 86,000 people around the world from diverse backgrounds.

Examples of our work across all geographic regions include:

United Kingdom

• Apprenticeships: during the last 18 months we’ve successfully enrolled circa 260 colleagues onto formal learning and development programmes, all of which are supported and funded via the apprenticeship levy. These programmes range between Customer Service Level 3 and 5 management programmes through to more specialist subject areas such as finance.
• Work placements: We continue to promote work placements across all contracts where it's practicable. For example, at Queen Alexander College we provide opportunities to students with visual impairments and other disabilities which help to develop their experience working within catering environments.
• Bromley by Bow Centre (BBBC): In 2014, OCS formed a strategic partnership with the Bromley by Bow Centre in East London. The Centre is a nationally and internationally renowned charity that has built its reputation on an integrated and holistic approach to community regeneration and via its work in community partnership building. Through this partnership, OCS draws on a broad range of expertise to support innovative approaches to CSR and stakeholder engagement, with the BBBC advising on and helping to create integrated community facilities.
• St Basils: In 2017, the OCS Oldbury team, as part of an OCS Foundation initiative, adopted St Basils as its local charity. St Basils helps young homeless (16 to 24-year-olds) across the West Midlands with the aim of breaking the homeless cycle through support, education and opportunity. The team has raised nearly £3,000 since 2017 through various means, including a sleepout in our Oldbury office car park, and also supports the charity with donations of food, clothing, toiletries, bedding and soft furnishings, as well as Easter and Christmas gifts and treats. In 2019, the team plans to continue its fundraising efforts through raffles and local events, in addition to donations of other items. It has forged close links with staff at St Basils' emergency accommodation at Milner Court and now directly supports the team there to meet the needs of young people using its services.

Australia and New Zealand

Job placement programmes: We work with the NZ Ministry of Social Development and Workbridge (a not for profit organisation), primarily in Christchurch. This partnership has a specific focus on securing vocational training and job placement assistance for the long-term unemployed and individuals with mental or physical disabilities.

The Salvation Army partnership: OCS in New Zealand is proud to support The Salvation Army, with a range of initiatives and fund-raisers for the charity in communities around the country.

With more than 4,000 staff working from our 24 branches around New Zealand, we are proud to put our support behind a charity organisation that makes a big difference in each of those communities.

Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre: OCS New Zealand supports iconic Wairarapa wildlife centre, Pukaha Mount Bruce, to sustain their restoration programme which will help to continue to ensure the centre achieves positive outcomes for endangered species including the Kiwi, Kokako and Kaka. We are delighted to support this strong community project in line with our own community values.

OCS First Foundation Scholarship: OCS New Zealand partners with educational trust, First Foundation, to provide tertiary scholarships for underprivileged students. OCS partnered with First Foundation in 2014 to provide a scholarship exclusively for students within the families of our staff.

OCS provides these scholarships for aspiring students within the families of our staff who may not have the opportunity to pursue their aspirations without additional funding. Our scholarship also goes beyond financial support to arm our scholars with the skills and knowledge for a successful career through work experience across the business and a mentor from their field of study.

Kiwi Harvest: In 2015, a rubbish bin audit found New Zealand households were wasting an estimated $872million of food every year. Each month, KiwiHarvest delivers 20,000kgs of food to more than 115 community groups, and this year they aim to collect and distribute more than 360 tonnes of food. OCS New Zealand is now assisting them in this mission, by providing free cleaning, hygiene and pest control services, as well as the expertise of their Health and Safety team to provide a risk assessment of Kiwi Harvest's operation.

South and Southeast Asia

We have a wide range of CSR initiatives across this diverse region. For example, PCS Thailand run classes for children with craniofacial defects, including painting, cooking and craft classes.

OCS Singapore has also continued to remain engaged and active across the island. Significant events during the year included managing cleaning services for aged care homes, providing entertainment options for elderly residents, and coordinating excursions for the Children Aids Society.

In April 2018, PWB Malaysia were part of a team who volunteered to help clean and refresh the Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Aziz Mosque. Using the latest in biotechnology cleaning products and machinery, the Mosque was cleaned top to bottom, inside and out, with everything, including the carpets, returned to their former glory. As well as showing off their cleaning prowess, staff at PWB Malaysia have also organised painting activities at a local orphanage home and other fundraising activities to support natural disaster recovery initiatives in other parts of the world.

In Cambodia OCS has been involved in the ‘Clean the City’ campaign. During the project, we provided general cleaning and garbage collection services throughout downtown Phnom Penh.

In South Asia, PCS Bangladesh continued its support for the Acid Survivors Foundation Hospital. This scheme primarily aims to bridge the gap between acid attack survivors and the general public, as most victims face ostracism and discrimination following such an attack. They also contributed to the local community by donating stationery to orphanage schools and sewing machines to vocational training centres, as well as providing assistance for vulnerable girls.

OCS Group (India) actively donates to underprivileged schools, provides financial assistance to aged care facilities and cleaning support to local orphanages. Ongoing activities include:

• Supporting a girl’s orphanage through housekeeping, washroom and feminine hygiene services;
• Donating clothes to, and celebrating events with, the orphanage;
• Providing employment and training to underprivileged people from rural areas;
• Tree planting and waste recycling drive as part of a "Go Green" project.

Ireland

OCS Ireland's CSR programmes specifically focus on assisting the communities of our workforce. Our business has a significant geographic spread across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with colleagues living throughout each community in which OCS operates. We aim to support local, disadvantaged communities and individuals by working closely with Community Groups and Development Teams assisting those in need, particularly in the area of youth development.

The OCS Foundation

Arising from our desire to take sustainability and CSR further, the OCS Foundation has been established as an agent for positive social, economic and environmental change.

Find out more here.