Long term support that creates a sustainable impact
We believe that continuity is essential to create a sustainable impact. That is why we seek to establish long term relationships with organisations in our local communities. We focus on education, well-being and environmental protection, areas that are closely aligned to our sustainability pillars and where the benefits extend far into the future.
Governance
Our Benchmark for Better (B4B) Committee is responsible for evaluating proposals for projects and donations following the Group guidelines developed by Benchmark’s Sustainability Committee. We carry out due diligence and review the impact of our programmes.
Global Reach
We currently support projects in Thailand, Colombia, Mexico, UK and Belgium. In addition, in the past year we have made donations to charitable causes in Norway, Ukraine, the UK and India. Projects and donations are driven by the direct participation of our people
Our B4B Projects
Institución Educativa Arroyo de Piedra (IEAP)
Colombia
Since 2019
CSR Activities
Thailand
Since 2005
Our Advanced Nutrition team in Thailand have an active Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, maintaining a longstanding relationship with Wang Mok Pittayakom School over the past 18 years, providing support based on the most pressing needs including scholarships and donation of equipment. In 2023 we donated 15 fire extinguishers and provided fire safety training. We also support the local community donating equipment to the nearby hospital, university, police station and to other local schools as well as helping to protect the local environment by restoring Laman canal, community tree planting and encouraging waste separation.
El Rio Foundation
Colombia
Since 2023
Info Latinos
UK
Since 2023
Info Latinos supports disadvantaged Latin American immigrants in the UK including refugees by providing coaching and mentoring sessions to improve their employability, facilitate integration and help develop vital support networks so they can reach their full potential. Sessions teach goal setting, overcoming internal and external hurdles, and applying for jobs, enhancing career prospects.
UK Challenge
2022 & 2023
2023 was our second year taking part in UK Challenge where our Benchmark Team spent a week of problem solving and physical challenges in the Peak District to raise money for charity. We supported the team by undertaking a company-wide “Around the World in 30 Days” challenge where employees ran, cycled, swam and walked, covering 6,438 miles. We matched this pounds for miles to support the Beefy Foundation, which funds causes including Blood Cancer UK, Batten’s Disease and Juvenile Diabetes.
Telebachillerato Comunitario High School
Mexico
Since 2023
We are promoting education in a rural community in La Guasima through funding the construction of a multi-purpose outdoor space for pupils of Telebachillerato Comunitario high school in Mexico. The 60 students now benefit from an outdoor space for eating lunch, outdoor educational activities and graduation ceremonies. We have donated trees and plants for the school to improve the surroundings and we will be running beach cleaning and recycling activities with the children.
Volunteering
Everyone who works at Benchmark is eligible to take two paid volunteering days a year, to help a charity enabling our people to make a positive impact in their community, and share skills, knowledge and time.
Our employees volunteer for causes across the globe. We celebrate International Volunteering Day encouraging our employees to share their volunteering experiences. These included organised team beach cleans in Norway and UK, organised bake sale in UK for Macmillan Cancer Support, local tree planting across the business for world tree day and individual volunteering for both local and international charitable organisations such as Inspiring Girls International and Red Cross.
