Provident Czech, part of the IPF Group, has been named as one of the country’s most responsible companies in the annual recognition programme run by Business in the Community (BITC).
Provident has been participating in the award programme since 2006 and this year saw the company achieve its highest placement. In the ‘most generous company donation’ category the business was ranked fifth for its commitment to the wider community, and its proactive stance as a good corporate citizen. This put it just below globally recognised brands such as Johnson & Johnson, KPMG and GlaxoSmithKline, but above organisations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Vodafone, Telefonica and CETELEM.
When it came to evaluating the business on its net contribution to help solving social issues as a proportion of revenue, the business was ranked ninth overall.
Since the first award in 2004 the ‘BITC Most Responsible Company’ has become the main national, independent and established award for sustainable business practices both for large and small companies.
Russell Johnsen, Country Manager for Provident Czech and Slovakia was delighted with the accolade. He said: “I am extremely proud that Provident Czech has done so well in the BITC responsible companies’ award.
“We are a major employer in the Czech Republic, but to be ranked alongside globally recognised multinationals is a tribute to the considerable effort we have put into our CSR and sustainability programmes, which are orientated towards helping people in the local communities where we work.
“As an example, our ABC Family Finance programme runs training programmes to help the general public improve their budgeting skills. Importantly it is endorsed by the Ministry of Finance and supporting partners include the Financial Arbitrator of the Czech Republic, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Czech Consumer Association.
“Elsewhere our Financial Compass initiative is an educational programme designed for consultants at the Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) who help people that have financial difficulties. To date our programme has trained CAB advisors across 74 regional offices – a truly significant contribution that has helped thousands of people.”
For further information contact:
Nick Jones +44 (0) 113 285 6815
Head of Communications nick.jones@ipfin.co.uk
