94 | Southern Enterprise Awards 2022 Founded in 2015 with the aim of providing opportunities to young adults between the ages of 16-25 who had previously encountered barriers to work and education, Commercial Foundation CIC (Commercial Foundation) occupies a unique place in the social value sector. Being both a business with a reputation for providing high quality products, and a philanthropic organisation which offers a second chance to young adults who have hit hard times. The Commercial Foundation’s aim, first and foremost, is to change lives. “The ultimate aim is to give each of our volunteers the foundations to go onto further education, training or work, with more than 85% doing just that,” explains Adam Miller, Commercial Foundation’s Director. “Our unique blend of business experience and education, prepares our interns to attack the next stage of their lives feeling prepared and with great confidence.” The Foundation’s print studio, WE DO. Print, offers high-end and sustainable digital print that delivers real social value for its clients. This is achieved in conjunction with an employability programme for 16-24-year-olds who have previously encountered barriers to work, training, or education. Throughout the eight-week #NoLimits programme, volunteers are able to develop self-esteem, gain practical skills, and gain realtime, on-the-job work experience. “Our partners chose to work with us because we can offer something that no other print business can,” Adam elaborates. “Not only do we provide huge social value returns for our customers, but we also change lives while delivering a quality product. Our sustainable, single-use-plastic-free, digital print helps to generate genuine social change.” They proceeds from WE DO. Print is invested back into the Foundation’s #NoLimits programme, paying for the next set of interns, and it also funds free breakfasts for interns, free travel to the Cheltenham HQ, clothing for interviews, and also for external courses. There is no hiding away from the fact that ever-developing digitisation has seen, and will continue to see, trends move from traditional printed products towards an online platform. In order to survive and thrive, the print world needs to diversify and offer something truly different as a USP, and this is exactly what Commercial Foundation does, and does well. “In a post-Covid world we have seen digital print recover well, but now, more than ever, a wider portfolio of products is needed. We have recognised this and in the last 12 months have invested in an envelope printing machine and a ‘perfect binder’ which allows us to produce NCR pads and booklets. This investment is helping us buck the trend of print industry decline and continue to grow our commercial revenues, despite the current fuel and cost-of-living increase and fear of recession.” A clearly defined internal culture, which is strongly shared with the interns, is encouraged and operated at Commercial Foundation. Adam tells us that the aim of this is to create a safe environment, both within the programme and print studio, where the interns feel they can openly express who they are and who they want to be. “We want every intern to channel their loves and interests into areas that will benefit what they want to achieve,” he enthuses. “Each part of the programme is designed to create a team mentality, through support and collaboration.” Spending time as a whole group building on 10-minute morning huddles and continuing to meet once a month so that the team feels more like a unit or work family, is just one approach that Adam has found leads to better Sep22163 Social Value Enterprise of the Year – South West relationships and collaboration at work, and instils positive vibes which ultimately result in a holistic working environment. Inclusivity is another focus of Commercial Foundation, and it actively embraces individuals, their cultures, learning differences, and various backgrounds to ensure that everyone can feel pride in themselves and what they can achieve. “Everything we do is built on kindness,” Adam continues. “We focus on the fabulous work of Mary Portas and the kindness economy. As a large organisation we need to ensure we are giving back to society and evolve ourselves by reducing our impact on the environment and giving to those in society who need it most.” Recently, as recognition of its dedication and hard work, Commercial Foundation was crowned with the prestigious title of Social Value Enterprise of the Year – South West in the Southern Enterprise Awards 2022. Adam believes that this award is testament to the commitment of the entire team who work together to ensure the success of the entire organisation. “We are strengthening the programme team with the employment of a new apprentice to support our yearly social value audits whilst gaining valuable experience in the running of a social value enterprise. But, most importantly, we will continue to provide opportunities, a chance to build skills and self-esteem and a chance for young adults to get the second chance they perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise had.” With regards to the future, things are looking bright as Adam tells us that it will be very much business as usual and he continues to drive the organisation forward and upward. Contact: Adam Miller Company: Commercial Foundation CIC Web Address: www.commercialfoundation.co.uk Commercial Foundation CIC works with young people who desperately want to turn their lives around in a practical, real working environment. We find out more about this unique organisation in the wake of it gaining recognition in the Southern Enterprise Awards.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY1MjM3