Giving back to the community
IKEA Birmingham store manager Amy Hutchinson has told how the retailer wants to be a good neighbour to the West Midlands by helping the community financially and socially.
Ms Hutchinson revealed the company’s ideals as it lines up to sponsor the Not-for-Profit Organisation Award at this year’s Birmingham Post Business Awards.
The leading furniture, appliance and accessories retailer also believes that future businesses will benefit by being in the region through Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan, which aims to revitalise Birmingham over the next 20 years.
“At IKEA we want to make a difference to the people and communities we work with – positively contributing to their economic, social and environmental development and forming relationships built on mutu- al trust,” said Ms Hutchinson. “We aim to have a positive impact on local people and to be a good neighbour within our local community.
“We strive to be regarded by our customers and co-workers as an environmentally and socially responsible company.
“As demonstrated through the people and community strand of our ‘People Planet Positive’ strategy, we have great passion for people and because of this we are proud to support this year’s BPBA Not-for-Profit Organisation award and the local businesses nominated.
“We’re very hopeful for the Big City Plan and investment in infrastructure to support and encourage entrepreneurs and new businesses developing and growing in the region as well as improving connectivity and accessibility. Birmingham’s large student population also shows its potential for being a hub for innovation and social and cultural events.”
Ms Hutchinson further revealed how IKEA plans to build on its People Planet Positive strategy by enhancing its environmentally friendly credentials in the future.
“We’re going all-in on things that really matter – from switching our entire lighting range to energy-efficient LED to sourcing all of the cotton we use in our products from more sustainable sources,” she said. “We’re also working towards 100 per cent renewable energy – producing as much as we consume in our operations – and sourcing all of our wood from more sustainable sources by 2020. And the IKEA Group and IKEA Foundation have made new commitments that add up to 1 billion euros for climate action.
“But we’re not done yet. We’re just getting started.”