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 87,000 people around the world from diverse backgrounds.
Examples of our work across all geographic regions include:
United Kingdom
- Apprenticeships: In 12 months we’ve recruited more than 200 apprentices throughout the UK to work in a range of businesses from NHS hospitals to large financial institutions.
- Work placements: We continue to promote work placements on our contracts. For example, at Queen Alexander College we provide opportunities to students with visual impairments and other disabilities, to gain experience working within our onsite catering outlet.
- 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.
- Blackpool Food Partnership: This coalition of voluntary, public and private sector partners works to address food poverty and related issues in Blackpool, one of the UK’s most deprived areas. Supermarkets and local farms donate food which is then distributed to community groups or used in a food parcel scheme (the local equivalent of food banks). Currently 38 organisations (including children’s centres, hostels and community kitchens) benefit from the distributions. OCS has provided five fridges, two fridge-freezers and two insectocutors, as well as food hygiene training for BFP’s volunteers. This has enabled BFP to accept donations of fresh fruit and vegetables for the first time – food that would otherwise go to landfill or fuel. The fresh produce is also enabling a new initiative to teach people to cook inexpensive, healthy meals.