Community Development Ideas

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

TOP TIPS: Transitioning from charity to community investment at Marks & Spencer

In April this year Marks & Spencer celebrated the first anniversary of Marks & Start, which is the UK’s biggest company-led work experience program. It is part of the UK retailer’s plan to make its community giving more strategic. In addition to giving disadvantaged people in the community a chance to work for two weeks at a Marks & Spencer store, it also involves employees. Around 1,000 employees have acted as mentors, known as “buddies” to the people doing work experience. Here are four lessons organizers learned from developing the program.

1. Getting the quality of the programs right is critical, much more than the number of people that pass through the program.

2. Partner with organizations that are experts in specific areas to ensure seamless delivery. Marks & Spencer partners with the Prince’s Trust, DisabledGo, Business Action on Homelessness, One Parent Families and Parentline Plus.

3. Gain support from all levels of the business, from stores up to the board of directors

4. Keep elements of the program flexible to ensure suitability to the placements, but stay focused on end results and business benefits.

Adapted from “Transitioning from charity to community investment at Marks & Spencer” in the current issue of Corporate Responsibility Management.

Blogged on 7:28 PM by Upay

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