8^th October 2018: Teamwork Trust’s business success has been recognised again after the charity scooped ‘Business of the Year’ and two runners up prizes at different high-profile awards ceremonies.

Teamwork Trust  beat off significant competition from some of the county’s most successful organisations to become runners up in ‘Community Business of the Year’ and ‘Employer of the Year’ at the Kettering Awards on Friday 5^th October, and winners of the most sought after ‘Business of the Year’ title at the Corby Awards the following night.

The successes come just three weeks after the charity – which supports vulnerable adults with mental health needs, learning and physical disabilities in Northamptonshire and has centres in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough – won  ‘Employer of the Year’ at Northamptonshire Chamber’s awards.

John Bruce, Teamwork Trust’s strategic director, said: “We are all absolutely delighted to again be recognised by our peers at these highly prestigious business awards in Kettering and Corby. These ceremonies are attended by the crème de la crème of Northamptonshire businesses and are voted for by members of the public and judged by consultants. As a charity to be acknowledged at this level is an incredible demonstration of how we have transformed into a thriving and sustainable organisation, as we strive to improve the lives of vulnerable adults in our communities.”

Teamwork Trust’s business successes which were acknowledged  by judges at the awards included:

• Delivery of successful projects which increase employability skills within learning disability and mental health
• Acting as case studies by key bodies including the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) – an organisation that champions the voluntary and volunteering sectors
• Becoming the only charity in Northamptonshire to receive the Cabinet Office’s Local Sustainability Fund (LSF)
• Engaging and working with special provisions, to offer work experience opportunities to their students aged 14-25 under a Children in Need funded project
• Being awarded Silver Investors In People – one of only a handful of charities to gain the accreditation in Central England
• Generating a number of alternative funding streams and securing community giving grants including a £500,000 award from the Big Lottery Fund
• Building better partnerships between the private and voluntary sector to develop a successful commercial offer
• Being chosen as Charity of the Year by the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Kettering Park Hotel, Corby-based HR specialists Gateway HR and Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

John added: “Our business approach means we are responding to the significant challenges within the charitable sector, as local and national government-led changes threaten to affect our traditional funding streams. We are pioneering new ways for local charities to provide social care services and new members of staff, more volunteering opportunities, greater community involvement and better processes for our service-users and staff to participate in the future planning of our services, are just some of our new approaches in the last two years.

“By winning titles at the Kettering and Corby awards and being continually recognised by key organisations and political influencers on a local and national level like we have been this year, I think it’s fair to say Teamwork Trust is setting new precedents.”