What was the partnership?
Ten years ago, the family business Westmorland came together with the small local charity the Gloucestershire Gateway Trust to set up a motorway service station like no other. Gloucester Services supports communities close to the M5 that face severe social and economic challenges.
What did it do?
With the support of local colleges, an academy offered free training to unemployed local people: 300 undertook a free two-week course, allowing them to gain qualifications including Food Hygiene, Health and Safety, and Customer Service, and 75 secured employment at the service station. Gloucestershire Gateway, the body created to drive the partnership, gains up to 3p in every pound of non-fuel sales from Gloucester Services, which it invests back into community partners.
Why did it win?
The partnership has created more than 400 jobs, employed about 80 people from target communities and supported more than 130 local producers within a 30-mile radius. In the past 18 months, more than £250,000 has been reinvested in community projects. Local residents help decide how future funding is spent through an annual community survey.
What did the judges say?
"This is a great project with a holistic and pragmatic approach that benefits and works with the whole community," said Wanda Wyporska, executive director at the Equality Trust. "It is an outstanding piece of well thought-out work with huge potential to be replicated elsewhere."
Highly commended
Innocent with Age UK
Finalists
Investec with the Bromley by Bow Centre
Investec Asset Management with Tusk
Lansons with High Tide
Matalan with the NSPCC
Nationwide Building Society with Shelter
