Author: Futures Supplies

THREE big ticks in a row testify to the community the credentials of Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd.

For the third year in succession, the south London-based independent distributor of washroom cleaning products has received the award of a ‘Big Tick’ in the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence 2008.

The company is acutely aware of the impact its operations can have on the wider community and the environment.

Among other initiatives, it supports disadvantaged young people, providing work experience placements to help them gain confidence and self esteem.

The company has also created a number of permanent jobs for young people as well as helping many others into long-term employment.

Commenting on the company’s success, Mandie Kemp, the managing director, said: “This prestigious award is a real testament to the team at Futures Supplies, who work tirelessly on community and environmental initiatives.

“Our award submission ‘Focusing on the Future’ includes a commitment to the community, charity and the environment through a series of diverse projects including activities intended to help influence and inspire other businesses.”

Futures Supplies is certified to BS EN ISO14001 and is carbon neutral in its business operations. It has demonstrated it is improving its business and its overall impact on society – in the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community.

Now in their eleventh year, the Awards for Excellence are run by Business in the Community, a unique movement of over 800 companies, representing one in five of the country’s private-sector workforce.

The organisation encourages members to measure, continually improve and communicate the benefits they bring to society through community initiatives and business practices. The awards are sponsored by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and run inn association with the Financial Times.

Futures Supplies is an established independent supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products whose objectives are to deliver service, quality, value, reliability and sustainability through continuous improvement. Please visit www.futures-supplies.co.uk for more information.

The Best of Borough Awards (BoBs) is a showcase for the most successful businesses in Croydon. Organised by Croydon Business Ltd to recognise the cream of the Borough’s companies, the black tie event was held at Addington Palace in November and presented by Polar Explora Ben Saunders.

Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd, national trade supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products was announced the winner of ‘Best Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility’. Carbon Neutral, Futures Supplies is very vocal on green issues and heavily involved in diverse projects including work placements for young disadvantaged people, charity fundraising and increasing customer awareness of product impact on the environment.

The judges commented “Complete unwavering commitment from Managing Director Mandie Kemp and her staff. We, the judges, felt the company shows leadership in its industry and in influencing the supply chains. For a small company they have made impressive and relatively costly investments in CSR initiatives.”

Futures Supplies, through its initiatives promoting sustainability and positive CSR to all companies, as well as within its own organisation, has had a proven positive impact on society and local community, inspiring other businesses to get involved.

With its already green credentials, winning formula and proven track record, Futures Supplies has successfully positioned itself in the market place as a company that cares with a strong service ethos, differentiating it from other businesses.

For further details on Futures Supplies’ CSR activities and its award wins, please visit the website www.futures-supplies.co.uk

A glittering evening of food festivities and entertainment brought together South London’s environmental stars to celebrate their outstanding achievements.

Recognising how organisations are reducing costs through energy, water, waste and transport saving by drawing on a network of specialist partners to provide expert advice, Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd, trade suppliers of washroom, janitorial and cleaning products, was delighted to be  recognised by scooping a Gold Envibe Award for the third consecutive year.

Envibe, a government funded organisation, was set up to help businesses improve their environmental efficiency through a network of support organisation and recognises companies through a tiered award scheme to identify environmental excellence and good practice.

To qualify for the Gold award, Futures Supplies had to provide hard evidence of its environmental and community activities, continual improvement as well as undergoing site visits and achieve reduction targets in relation to energy, waste, water and transport usage.

Managing Director of Futures Supplies, Mandie Kemp commented, “To get the balance of a truly informative event mixed with the opportunity to network and share ideas with other likeminded organisations made the evening truly enjoyable. We were delighted to be recognised for yet another year of progress and hard work on our environmental and CSR project with a ‘Gold Award’ for the third consecutive year – truly an outstanding accolade and firm recognition for all the staffs’ efforts”.

Futures Supplies, through its initiatives promoting sustainability and positive CSR to all companies as well as within its own organisation, has had a proven positive impact on society and local community, inspiring other businesses to get involved.

With its already green credentials, winning formula and proven track record, Futures Supplies has successfully positioned itself in the market place as a company that cares with a strong service ethos differentiating it from other businesses.

Recognising how organisations are moving forward with viable environmental and sustainable technology solutions, Futures Supplies and Support Services Ltd, trade suppliers of washroom, janitorial and cleaning products, was up against some stiff National competition when it successfully scooped the 2007 Environmental and Sustainable Technology ‘Green Marketing Award’.

The 2007 EAST Awards, a black tie Gala Dinner event hosted by Lord & Lady Palmer was held in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords, and were open to entries from both the Private and Public sectors and the event brought together environmental leaders and industry providers of products and services to celebrate their environmental innovation and how organisations are moving forward with viable environmental and sustainable technology solutions.

Judged by a panel of senior industry insiders headed by David Lemon, Environment Industries Commission, Futures Supplies was delighted to collect the ‘Green Marketing Award’ in recognition of its successful marketing influence encouraging not only customers, but also suppliers and their local community in the importance of ‘green’ issues. 

The company successfully illustrated its environmental contribution in enabling its clients to reduce their environmental impact through product availability and performance, in-house environmental auditing and management along with innovation and customer service.

The judges commented that they had a hard time judging the awards this year as there were so many great sustainable entries and judging from a standard criteria they finally arrived at the justified clear winners in each category.

Tracey Holden of Futures Supplies commented, “This award was important to us because it recognises that the company’s influence over others in relation to environmental issues really matters”.

Futures Supplies, through its initiatives promoting sustainability and positive CSR to all companies as well as within its own organisation has had a proven positive impact on society and local community, inspiring other businesses to get involved.

With its already green credentials, winning formula and proven track record, Futures Supplies has successfully positioned itself in the market place as a company that cares with a strong service ethos differentiating it from other businesses.

 

South London Company Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd, not only received a ‘Big Tick’ reaccreditation in this year’s npower ‘Business Impact on Society Award for Small Companies’, but it was also highly commended in the category of ‘Impact on London by a Small Company Award’ sponsored by the LDA.

At the recent London and South East regional champagne reception at City Hall, over 300 high level business attendees saw Futures Supplies, independent trade suppliers of washroom, janitorial and associated cleaning products pick up the coveted awards.

Futures Supplies were short listed as ‘an exemplar company who have had a significant impact in London and South East’ and had to present its application to a high-powered panel of judges. Bringing their entry to life, the company had to provide hard evidence of the impact of its programme and illustrate how its business operations link to BITC’s three commitments.

Dan Hills, Operations Manager, who presented the company’s application and collected the award said, “It is a great achievement and testament to the efforts of the whole company in its collaborative actions to address and support young people through its CRS programme and drive forward its environmental project. To be recognised with these prestigious accolades can only be seen as a great step forward in encouraging and inspiring other businesses to get involved and act in a socially responsible way.”

Now in their tenth year, the awards are run by Business in the Community, a unique movement in the UK of over 750 member companies whose purpose is to inspire, engage, support and challenge business in continually improving its impact in the community.  In association with its Media Partner, the Financial Times, the ‘Big Tick’ awards are the most prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility awards in the UK.

Futures Supplies is an independent supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products who recently launched Ecover ecological products, available on its website www.futures-supplies.co.uk as part of its green initiative. The company believes that its commitment to staff development, CSR and green initiatives have successfully positioned it in the market place as a company who cares.

 

Recent winner of the prestigious South London ‘Business of the Year’ award, Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd is pleased to launch its travel branding for its on-going commitment to transport and travel sustainability and savings.

The same design agency which last year created its new corporate identity being rolled out through all its corporate stationery, brochures and company newsletters has produced the new logo, which will be launched with immediate effect. 

It will be used in conjunction with promoting the company’s travel initiatives through its e-communications and website, www.futures-supplies.co.uk, encouraging more sustainable travel both within Futures Supplies business, its personnel, suppliers, customers, visitors and the community as a whole.

Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd has been working for the past three years with its local transport partner, Seltrans to devise a company travel plan, one of the first companies in Croydon to do so and the new logo will be used as the main promotional tool for the plan. Part of the plan includes car sharing and encouraging staff biking to work by installing a shower in the company premises. 

Out of a small team of staff, over 30% now bike to work following the company purchasing bikes and have also replaced two company vehicles with Toyota Prius Hybrid cars. The Prius was voted Europe’s most eco-friendly vehicle, received best fuel economy award as well as car of the year award in 2005.

The Prius offers a solution to reducing environmental impact by reducing emissions, promoting cleaner fuels and reducing vehicle impact as well as saving money in reduced fuel bills, vehicle licence fees and insurance.  The Prius is also Congestion Charge exempt making it a sound investment for business and the environment.

As part of its on-going commitment to protect the environment, Futures Supplies has become CarbonNeutral by measuring the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with its business, reducing them where possible at source then offsetting unavoidable emissions by supporting sustainable forestry projects and renewable energy through an independently audited and verified process.

Futures Supplies is an independent supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products who recently launched Ecover ecological products, available on its website www.futures-supplies.co.uk as part of its green initiative. The company believes that its commitment to staff development, CSR and green initiatives have successfully positioned it in the market place as a company who cares. 

Futures Supplies continues to lead the way and prove its commitment to the environment by not only gaining certification in all five phases of the environmental standard BS8555 but by also gaining certification to the International Environmental Standard BS.EN.ISO 14001:2004.

Launched in 2003, BS8555, was introduced to help SME’s to achieve ISO14001 by taking a phased approached to implementing an EMS. The phased EMS implementation approach used by BS8555 and piloted through Project Acorn breaks down the process of installing a formal EMS into five levels.

As part of a pilot initiative through the Cleaning and Support Services Association and funded by DEFRA, Futures Supplies attended a number of workshops delivered by environmental consultants, White Young and Green before completing all five phases in a record time.

Subsequently, the independent supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products then completed its certification of ISO14001, therefore making a powerful statement about its environmental credentials and impacts.

Through delivering its targets and objectives set out in its environmental policy, Futures Supplies has been working closely with its customers and suppliers to encourage their Environmental practices, ways of recycling and making sure they are controlling and improving the company’s Environmental performance.  As a result, Futures Supplies now recycles over 73% of its waste and has made considerable financial savings in addition to implementing water, energy and transport saving initiatives.

“I am delighted that Futures Supplies has had the flexibility to work at its own pace to achieve both BS8555 and ISO14001. Everyone in the company has had their part to play in achieving these certifications but all credit goes to the company ‘Green Champion’ Andrew Hills who has worked incredibly hard to ensure these were achieved in an incredible short space of time,” says Mandie Kemp, Managing Director.

Since achieving these certifications, Futures Supplies continues to find innovative ways of tackling sustainability and has launched Ecover ecological products, available on its website www.futures-supplies.co.uk as part of its green initiative.

The company has been trading for over 12 years and believes that its efficient management, strong financial controls, commitment to staff development, CSR and green initiatives have successfully positioned it in the market place as a company who cares and stands out as a thriving, fun to work for business with a strong service ethos differentiating it from other businesses.

Britain is to be the first country in the world to set standards for offsetting schemes aimed at neutralising the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions in order to give consumers confidence that the schemes work.

Through a series of media briefings DEFRA has announced its support of voluntary carbon offset and a ‘consultation’ around the standards that should be applied with a view that voluntary carbon offset is a good thing and should be encouraged.

Managing Director, Mandie Kemp said ‘We are dedicated to protecting the environment and as part of this commitment we have become CarbonNeutral by measuring the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with our business, reducing them where possible at source then offsetting unavoidable emissions by supporting sustainable forestry projects and renewable energy through an independently audited and verified process’.

Sufficient progress can only be made if organisations and individuals decide to ‘own’ the problems associated to climate change and act accordingly. Futures Supplies believes that whilst it is critical it is not enough just to reduce carbon emissions through better energy management and targets. It is a fact that we still have to drive cars and use energy as part of the commercial process and therefore until technology can provide more answers to reduce or eliminate emissions, offsetting offers a responsible best practice model of dealing with unavoidable emissions.

A base line assessment of Futures Supplies carbon footprint, carried out by CarbonNeutral has been aligned with the company’s strategy, that through a combination of direct emission reduction and indirect offsetting the net greenhouse gas emissions associated with their business are ZERO.

Enterprising business, Futures Supplies swept the board at the recent South London Business Awards collecting not one, but three prestigious awards.  At the ceremony held in a giant marquee on the pitch at Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace Football Club, the company walked away with not only the Customer Service and Small Business Award.  It was also awarded the overall winner of night as ‘South London Company of the Year’.

The unique and inspiring evening representing the cream of South London businesses and attended by over 400 leading business people was hosted by Capital Gold DJ David Jensen who announced the winners in a total of eight award categories.

 The winners were selected by a high-powered panel of judges headed by Phil Walker, Director of the Royal Bank of Scotland who commented, “Mandie Kemp is an excellent ambassador for South London business. Her company, Futures Supplies & Support Services impressed the judges and she has been awarded three trophies including South London Company of The Year, the highest accolade proving that excellence can be achieved in all areas of business.”

Office Supervisor, Andrew Hills who collected the awards said, “We knew we were finalists in three award categories before the event but to collect not one but three awards including the main accolade on the night was a total surprise.”

Futures Supplies is an independent supplier of washroom, cleaning and janitorial products who recently launched Ecover ecological products, available on its website www.futures-supplies.co.uk as part of its green initiative.

The company has been trading for 12 years and believes that its efficient management, strong financial controls, commitment to staff development, CSR and green initiatives have successfully positioned it in the market place as a company who cares and stands out as a thriving, fun to work for business with a strong service ethos differentiating it from other businesses.

 

With an ethos to deliver service, quality, value and reliability through innovation and technology whilst tackling long-term sustainability, Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd, independent distributors of washroom and cleaning products, has recently added Ecover products to its range.

Recognising the trend towards minimising pollution and more awareness of the impact of how cleaning products impact on individuals and our surrounding, Futures has listened to its customers who want a sparkling washroom but don’t want to fill the environment with petrochemicals and chlorine to achieve that gleam.

Ecover are the world’s leading manufacturer of ecological cleaning products with over 25 years of experience using innovative formulations to tackle the toughest problems.  It is the UK’s and the world’s biggest selling ecological cleaning brand with more than 100 solutions for a diversity of cleaning applications from every day cleaning, offices, schools, caterers and local authorities.

Developing and producing efficient cleaning products in the world’s first ecological factory built in 1992 in Belgium, Ecover is the leader in the ecological cleaning sector in over 20 countries worldwide. The range of products, all of which have 100% recyclable packaging have been developed to minimise pollution and environmental impact and are based on plant and mineral ingredients from nature. Unlike many petrochemicals based products they do not contain toxic, allergenic, mutagenic or carcinogenic ingredients, which make them safer for cleaning staff, office staff, customers and the environment.

Futures Supplies is offering a selection of products from Ecover’s Consumer, Techno and Professional range all of which are available to purchase through Futures 24/7 online shopping website www.futures-supplies.co.uk. Ecological products from an ecological factory delivered by a responsible company committed to the protection of the environment and future generations and to delivering natural products for people who care.

“The products are truly competitive, priced against the major brands and showing a responsibility of our business to customers and staff alike. Ecover products offer a real alternative to other conventional brands”, says Mandie Kemp, Managing Director, Futures Supplies & Support Services Ltd.

“I am delighted that Ecover and Futures will be working in partnership and leading the way to bring a more natural alternative in cleaning products to the business world.” says Steve Mitchell, Sales Manager at Ecover UK Ltd.

Futures Supplies, a CarbonNeutral company, has recently received a host of ‘green’ awards and recognition for its commitment to tackling sustainability and has been recognised for its customer service excellence by achieving CHSA ‘National Distributor Service Excellence Awards’ consistently since 1997. It is BS EN ISO 9001:2000 and BS EN ISO 14001 certified.