Teach First and Experian receive prestigious ‘Big Tick’ education award from Business in the Community
Nottingham based partnership honoured in the UK’s leading responsible business awards.
Nottingham – 24th June 2011 - An innovative Nottingham based education partnership between independent charity Teach First and Experian, the global information services company, has been recognised with a ‘Big Tick’ – a national award that celebrates inspirational business programmes that are having a positive impact on the community, the environment and wider society.
The ‘Big Tick’ award for Education, from national business organisation Business in the Community (BITC), recognises the exceptional work the partnership does to break the link between low family income and poor educational attainment in the East Midlands.
Formed in 2008, the partnership developed when Experian became the founding supporter of Teach First’s expansion into the region. Teach First works to narrow the attainment gap by placing outstanding graduates to teach and lead in schools in challenging circumstances. The charity is creating, equipping and mobilising a movement of leaders committed to raising the achievement, aspiration and access to opportunity of children from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Among the practical and strategic support Experian provides Teach First is:
Experian is currently supporting 64 Teach First teachers in schools throughout the East Midlands. A recent evaluation of Teach First by the University of Manchester found a correlation between the schools in challenging circumstances that have a long-term relationship with Teach First and an improvement in their GCSE results.
Judged by some of the 850 business members of BITC, the awards celebrate companies who are delivering successful responsible business programmes at local, national and international levels.
Matt Sheldon, East Midlands Regional Director for Teach First, said: “The success Teach First has enjoyed in Nottingham and across the East Midlands has been made possible by the support, guidance, amazing foresight and commitment of Experian.
“This award underlines what can be achieved when global organisations think and work locally. The real beneficiaries of this partnership are the children of the East Midlands who will, thanks to this extraordinary collaboration, have access to great teachers and great teaching.”
Jan Barratt, Community Involvement Lead at Experian UK & Ireland, said: “We are committed to making a positive contribution to the local community and the attainment and success of young people in the East Midlands, is key to this. The injection of talented, enthusiastic and inspirational teachers into schools in challenging circumstances in the region is something that we feel honoured to support. We are delighted to receive this Big Tick alongside Teach First.”
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “I congratulate Teach First and Experian on achieving their Big Tick. It is a challenging time for business, but this is a sign that companies are not losing their focus and are transforming their businesses to make a positive impact on people and society and are prepared to lead by example. That’s what Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence are all about – celebrating responsible business, the leadership that makes it happen and the benefits to business and society. Communities and consumers need to see that businesses are proactive, visible and engaged on the big issues of the day, as Experian and Teach First have demonstrated.”
Teach First and Experian were presented with their Big Tick award during a ceremony on 23rd June 2011. The best of the National Big Tick winners will go forward to judging panels to identify an overall Example of Excellence award in each category. The overall winners will be announced in London at the Awards for Excellence Gala Event sponsored by Unilever on 5 July.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Experian: Nishma Shah, PR Manager, Experian, on Tel: 0203 042 4313 / Nishma.shah@uk.experian.com
Teach First: Garfield Myrie in the Teach First press office on: 0203 117 2378 or 07866 436 014. Email: gmyrie@teachfirst.org.uk or Hannah McCullagh on 0203 117 2469 or 07739 147 841 Email: hmccullagh@teachfirst.org.uk
Notes to editors:
About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was US$4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com .
About Teach First
Teach First is an independent charity working to break the link between low family income and poor educational attainment which is greater in the UK than in almost any other developed country. The scale of change needed is so great that it requires a movement of leaders to make a difference at a pupil, school and system level. Teach First is working towards achieving its mission by enabling its participants and ambassadors in the classroom to raise the achievement, aspiration, and access to opportunity of children from low socio-economic backgrounds, whilst developing a network of future leaders with a life-long commitment to ending inequality in education from both inside and outside the classroom
Since launching in 2002, Teach First has recruited and trained increasing numbers of participants – 560 entered the programme in June 2010, more than double the 265 in 2005 – and is working to place 1140 graduates per year by 2013.
Teach First operates in six regions across England: London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber, North West or the North East.
The charity has expanded to work in the primary sector with the first cohort of Teach First primary teachers entering classrooms in September in London, the East and West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber
Teach First is raising the quality and profile of the teaching profession and has made teaching in a challenging school one of the most prestigious options for top graduates. In 2010, Teach First was ranked 7th in the coveted league of Times Top 100 Graduate Employers. Interest in the programme continues to grow amongst top graduates, with the number of applicants rising from 3,000 in 2009 to over 5,000 in 2011.
Teach First primary schools must have more than 50% of their pupils living in the lowest 30% of the IDACI*, prioritising those schools with higher levels of deprivation.
Teach First secondary schools must have one of the following:
• A first criterion based on the IDACI - Teach First works in schools that have more than 50% of their pupils living in the lowest 30% of the IDACI, prioritising those schools with higher levels of deprivation;
• A second criterion based on attainment - Teach First prioritises schools with low attainment in regards to the 5+ A*-C (English & Maths) GCSE measure. Teach First works in schools whose results fall below the lowest 30% of the national distribution;
• Teach First also works in schools that have a Challenge status: either National Challenge or City Challenge.
*Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/TeachFirst
Awards for Excellence
Business in the Community Awards for Excellence identify and celebrates companies having a positive impact on the community, environment, marketplace and workplace.
The Big Tick winners demonstrate significant impact and high quality management of their responsible business practices and can show a positive impact both on society and on the business. Now in their 14th year, they are the UK’s leading awards for responsible business practice. BITC received over 370 entries for the national Awards for Excellence.
Business in the Community stands for responsible business.
We are a business-led charity with a growing membership of 850 companies, from large multinational household names to small local businesses and public sector organisations.
We advise, support and challenge our members to create a sustainable future for society and to improve business performance.
Our members work with us to define what responsibility looks like in the workplace, marketplace, community and the environment - and we share what we learn about driving performance through responsible business practice.
The Award Categories
Company of the Year Award in association with Tomorrow's Company Recognising companies that demonstrate holistic and long term stewardship of their company and have aligned their values and business strategy with the future needs of society and the planet.
Small Company of the Year Award in association with the Institute of Directors
For SMEs that through leadership and integration of corporate responsibility are improving their business and their overall impact on society - in the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community.
Bupa Workwell Award
Recognising companies that are improving the wellness and engagement of their employees.
Skills in the Workplace Award
Recognising employers that are addressing the talent challenge by meeting the current and future skills needs of their business and their people.
The Work Inspiration Award
Recognising and rewarding employers that are addressing the talent challenge by turning work experience into Work Inspiration, to bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Climate Change Award in association with The Prince’s Mayday Network
For businesses taking steps along the journey towards a low carbon economy.
Asda Environmental Leadership Award
For companies demonstrating leadership in sustainability by embedding environmental strategy into core business processes.
Ways2work Award in association with The Prince’s Mayday Network
For companies who have inspired better ways of working and have developed a sustainable approach to commuting and business travel.
Education Award supported by Nationwide
Recognising education employer programmes that raise the attainment and aspirations of young people through building sustainable partnerships with schools for the benefit of pupils aged 5-19 years in the UK.
Norse Commercial Services Work Inclusion Award
Recognising companies that have supported people from excluded groups into employment and / or increased their employability skills.
Jaguar Land Rover Building Stronger Communities Award
Recognising companies that are investing in the communities in which they operate and those in greatest need, achieving sustainable impact on key social issues in these areas.
Anglo American Responsible Supply Chain Award
Recognising companies that can demonstrate innovation and positive impact across their supply chain.
Dairy Crest Rural Action Award
For companies who support rural communities.
Coffey International Award
Recognising company programmes that can demonstrate positive impact against one or more of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
The Prince’s Ambassador Award
For individuals whose leadership and commitment to responsible business has resulted in changes and improvements inside their own company and who have also inspired other organisations to take action.