Community
We recognise the importance of our relationship with the communities in which we operate. Over time we have been shifting our community focus away from more passive philanthropic activities, such as simple cash donations, to more active engagement, looking to bring our expertise to bear in how we serve the communities in which we operate.
Our focus and energy is now in areas where we believe we can make a significant contribution, particularly our flagship NGO Events, which allow us to harness our resources and the expertise of our employees to make a real difference.
We offer complimentary or discounted services to not-for-profit entities – for example, during 2010:
- PR Newswire offered free services for NGOs and corporations offering relief services during the Haiti earthquake, worth US$1.2m.
- PR Newswire also provided complimentary news releases to all NGOs declaring commitments at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Conference, worth US$70,000.
- We donated Events stands to NGOs to enable them to get closer to specific industries.
UBM employees are encouraged to undertake volunteering activities and are given time off each year, with pay, to volunteer.
We operate a matched giving scheme through which fundraising efforts by UBM’s employees are matched by the Company, together with a payroll giving scheme in the UK, whereby regular donations by employees are matched.
The allocation of cash donations is based either on proposals generated by employees, or by reference to the level of volunteer work undertaken by employees.During 2010 we donated £437,971 (2009: £564,200) to over 75 charities, which represents cash donations only and does not include donations-in-kind such as the NGO Events, employees’ time or services offered on a pro bono basis, nor does it include the donation of equipment such as computers.
