We all have different interests and social causes that we wish to support outside of our work at Berkeley. As a company, we want to empower our people to help their communities flourish and we provide a number of routes to enable this.
We offer each individual the opportunity to dedicate up to five working days per year to provide pro-bono support assisting their own chosen causes or the firm’s charities, applying the skills and capabilities they have developed through working at Berkeley. This includes activities such as strategy development, organisational design, operating model definition, technology strategy, programme planning and executive coaching. We also have people as trustees on the boards of charities and not-for-profits, and acting mentors for people across the development sector. We regularly host events and workshops to support these organisations.
We provide a Give as You Earn (GAYE) scheme that is open to all, but also undertake many fundraising activities – always with a great sense of fun. Berkeley teams have participated in Tough Mudder and walked the Three Peaks Challenge. The ‘Berkeley Beatles’ play fundraising concerts, and most recently, we enjoyed an evening of ‘Through the Keyhole’ in support of both US and UK charities.
Support in action
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a high-profile major UK-based charity, working to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. It is best known for its annual televised Red Nose Day fundraising appeal, which began in 1988. The charity partners with various projects and organisations to make a difference across the UK and around the world.
Berkeley is working with Comic Relief on a pro-bono basis to shape its strategy, design its target operating model, and develop a roadmap for delivery – ensuring the organisation can increase its effectiveness and deliver maximum impact.
It’s important to ensure our work is as effective and efficient as possible so that we can continue to help millions of vulnerable people. With Berkeley’s support, Comic Relief work will go from strength to strength."
Samir Patel, CEO, Comic Relief
House of St. Barnabas
The House of St. Barnabas’ vision is to create a future where lasting employment is a reality for those affected by homelessness. They support London’s homeless people in getting back to work through their Employment Academy, integrated with a flourishing private members club in the heart of Soho.
Berkeley first became involved with the charity in 2006, and since then, through our pro-bono support, we have helped it transform into a fantastic, self-funding social enterprise creating a positive impact within the community.
Toast Ale
Formed in 2016, Toast Ale uses unsold loaves to brew their award-winning beer, putting a slice of surplus fresh bread in every bottle, and donating 100% of the profit to Feedback, a charity combating food waste around the world. They sell UK-wide and have made an exciting drive to take their beer to a global audience, with brewery collaborations regularly happening in New York already.
Berkeley provided pro-bono support to Toast Ale, helping them in selecting systems to support their ambitious growth plans. Our support helped them to progress with new systems for CRM, supply chain, EDI and integration with their finance system.
Berkeley’s insight and support has been invaluable at a critical time at Toast. They’ve really helped in shaping our thinking about how we can grow with our brand."
Rob Wilson, Chief Toaster
UK Youth
UK Youth is a leading national youth work charity offering support, advice and training to equip young people via a network of youth organisations across the UK.
Berkeley has helped UK Youth in a variety of ways since 2009: facilitating board-level meetings, helping with strategy development and organisational design, providing networking opportunities, and executive coaching.
Robin Hood
For more than 30 years, Robin Hood have been fighting poverty in New York City. They work with over 250 non-profits to provide food, housing, education, and more to people living in poverty across all five boroughs of the city.
Berkeley undertakes pro-bono coaching work with Robin Hood to strengthen leadership within the non-profits they work with, enabling leaders to improve their organisations by solving issues and driving positive change.
HeadStart
Launched in 2014, HeadStart is a part of Family Action, supporting young people and local communities in the UK through volunteering and employability workshops. The charity places young people in volunteering positions with their corporate partners, who in return, provide invaluable interview experience and potential job opportunities.
The Berkeley Partnership supported HeadStart’s 2021 summer employability programme by providing volunteers to conduct mock interviews with the young people, providing feedback and support to help preparing them ahead of their real world interviews.
Support in action
Comic Relief is a high-profile major UK-based charity, working to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. It is best known for its annual televised Red Nose Day fundraising appeal, which began in 1988. The charity partners with various projects and organisations to make a difference across the UK and around the world.
Berkeley is working with Comic Relief on a pro-bono basis to shape its strategy, design its target operating model, and develop a roadmap for delivery – ensuring the organisation can increase its effectiveness and deliver maximum impact.
It’s important to ensure our work is as effective and efficient as possible so that we can continue to help millions of vulnerable people. With Berkeley’s support, Comic Relief work will go from strength to strength."”
Samir Patel, CEO, Comic Relief
The House of St. Barnabas’ vision is to create a future where lasting employment is a reality for those affected by homelessness. They support London’s homeless people in getting back to work through their Employment Academy, integrated with a flourishing private members club in the heart of Soho.
Berkeley first became involved with the charity in 2006, and since then, through our pro-bono support, we have helped it transform into a fantastic, self-funding social enterprise creating a positive impact within the community.
Formed in 2016, Toast Ale uses unsold loaves to brew their award-winning beer, putting a slice of surplus fresh bread in every bottle, and donating 100% of the profit to Feedback, a charity combating food waste around the world. They sell UK-wide and have made an exciting drive to take their beer to a global audience, with brewery collaborations regularly happening in New York already.
Berkeley provided pro-bono support to Toast Ale, helping them in selecting systems to support their ambitious growth plans. Our support helped them to progress with new systems for CRM, supply chain, EDI and integration with their finance system.
Berkeley’s insight and support has been invaluable at a critical time at Toast. They’ve really helped in shaping our thinking about how we can grow with our brand."”
Rob Wilson, Chief Toaster
UK Youth is a leading national youth work charity offering support, advice and training to equip young people via a network of youth organisations across the UK.
Berkeley has helped UK Youth in a variety of ways since 2009: facilitating board-level meetings, helping with strategy development and organisational design, providing networking opportunities, and executive coaching.
Robin Hood
For more than 30 years, Robin Hood have been fighting poverty in New York City. They work with over 250 non-profits to provide food, housing, education, and more to people living in poverty across all five boroughs of the city.
Berkeley undertakes pro-bono coaching work with Robin Hood to strengthen leadership within the non-profits they work with, enabling leaders to improve their organisations by solving issues and driving positive change.
HeadStart
Launched in 2014, HeadStart is a part of Family Action, supporting young people and local communities in the UK through volunteering and employability workshops. The charity places young people in volunteering positions with their corporate partners, who in return, provide invaluable interview experience and potential job opportunities.
The Berkeley Partnership supported HeadStart’s 2021 summer employability programme by providing volunteers to conduct mock interviews with the young people, providing feedback and support to help preparing them ahead of their real world interviews.
