24th November 2010
Private sector enters sustainable partnership with Social Firms
Social Firms UK are very pleased to announce that Sims Recycling Solutions, the world’s largest electrical and electronic equipment recovery and recycling company, has joined as a Corporate Member.
Sims has a long history of working with social enterprises and supported businesses in the UK and believes that a strategic partnership with Social Firms UK will create significant business opportunities underpinned by social gain. The expertise that each party brings to the table could provide a blueprint for commercial and social enterprise collaboration, whilst enabling more disadvantaged people to gain employment in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly fashion.
Sims Recycling Solutions has been at the forefront of the Green IT agenda for over a decade, developing specialist technologies for the asset management, recovery and recycling of ICT equipment.
Social Firms UK is a membership organisation which supports the development and sustainability of one type of social enterprise, Social Firms, whose specific social aim is to create jobs for people furthest away from the labour market.
Jon Godfrey, Sims’ Product Director for ICT Asset Recovery, commented “Sims Recycling Solutions exists to find economically viable solutions to sustain the use of our planet’s finite resources. Our service achieves this through the recovery, reuse and recycling of IT and Communications equipment. The impact our business has on the economy, environment and our society are of a prime concern and we will be developing and improving in all of these areas of impact including our most valuable resource, people.”
Sims Recycling Solutions’ UK operations are in Newport , Manchester , Ellesmere Port and Dumfries . The company has recently expanded its presence in the UK electronics recycling market with the acquisition of the business assets of Wincanton PLC’s recycling division, adding sites in Widnes, Harlow , Billingham and Daventry to its portfolio.
Sims have an impressive commitment to sustainability, earning them a host of standards and awards globally - parent company Sims Metal Management Ltd was named one of the top 100 most sustainable corporations at the 2010 World Economic Forum. Meanwhile, in the UK , Sims has just achieved the Carbon Trust Standard.
Social Firms UK recently launched the Just Buy campaign to encourage everyone to scrutinise their supply chain in order to try and embed more social value in their purchasing decisions.
For more information please contact Social Firms UK .
Tel: 01737 231360, email: info@socialfirmsuk.co.uk or www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk
Notes to Editors
1. Sims Recycling Solutions has over 40 operations on five continents it processes over 475,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment each year and refurbishing, redeploying and reselling over a million units of IT assets.
2. Social Firms UK is the national support agency for one type of social enterprise committed to employing people at greatest disadvantage in the labour market.
3. At least 25% of a Social Firm’s workforce is severely disadvantaged because, for example, they have a learning disability, mental health problem, a prison record or a history of homelessness or drug or alcohol misuse.
4. Social Firms are market-led companies that generate at least 50% of its income through trade, reinvesting its profits to create more jobs. Social Firms operate in a wide range of commercial sectors; see www.justbuy.org.uk for details. Since 1999 the number of Social Firms has increased from 5 to over 180 and collectively they now employ over 2000 people, 51% of whom face major labour market disadvantage.
5. Social Firms UK has estimated that the sector helps to save over £40m a year in welfare benefits and around £8m in health care costs.
Kind Regards
Temi Odesanya
Marketing Assistant
T: +44 (0)1737 231363
E: todesanya@socialfirmsuk.co.uk
W: socialfirmsuk.co.uk
Social Firms seek to create good quality jobs for severely disadvantaged people within supportive and successful enterprises
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Head Office: Suite 2 , Victoria House, 10 Brighton Road , Redhill, Surrey , RH1 6QZ . T: +44 (0)1737 231360
Social Firms UK registered as a charity in Scotland No. SC030949. Company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. 214915.
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