C-19 Business Pledge and Facebook team up to tackle COVID-19
Businesses across the UK, indeed the world, are mobilising to help steer a path through the biggest crisis for generations. C-19 Business Pledge co-founder, Rt Hon Justine Greening and Facebook VP for Northern Europe, Steve Hatch explain why Facebook has teamed up with the C-19 Business Pledge.
In difficult times, now is the hour for businesses to step up and play their part.
These are incredibly tough times for employers, with many teetering on the brink.
But those that have worked hard to get their house in some form of order – protecting the jobs that they can – are now looking beyond their four walls.
What can they contribute to the national effort to help Britain in its biggest crisis for generations?
Last month, the C-19 Business Pledge put out a call to employers to commit to doing more to help Britain through the crisis. Since then, over 200 organisations representing more than two million employees and students have signed up.
And today we can announce that Facebook and the C-19 Business Pledge are working together to ensure that Britain bounces back stronger than ever.
We call on all businesses to join the national effort to turn the tide on COVID-19 by taking three simple steps, beginning by signing the C-19 Business Pledge.
Businesses that do so will join hundreds of others that have committed to going the extra mile for staff, customers and communities across the UK.
It means helping people to overcome both the immediate challenges of coronavirus, but also in the long haul to recovery for months to come.
Already signatories include Asda, Everton Football Club, Nestlé, PwC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sainsbury’s, Shell, TSB and Unilever.
Higher education providers are doing their bit too, with over 20 universities spanning the UK, including Strathclyde, Staffordshire, York St John, Middlesex and Plymouth, also signing up.
Others committed to the C-19 Business Pledge include BP, True Potential, Barratt Developments, BT Group, Co-op Group, DLA Piper, SSE, Persimmon and Tarmac.
They have agreed to meet three main objectives. Firstly, to support their own staff throughout this challenging time. Next, to publish clear and simple advice for customers. Many have implemented specialist teams dedicated to supporting vulnerable customers if they are having problems. Finally – and this is perhaps the biggest commitment – they are identifying ways to help their local communities through the epidemic.
Through this C-19 Business Pledge and Facebook partnership, we hope many more businesses will sign the Pledge and demonstrate yet again that business is a huge force for good.
Britain needs that now more than ever.
You can find out more and see how other companies are responding by visiting www.c19businesspledge.org
Steve Hatch
VP for Northern Europe, Facebook
Rt Hon Justine Greening
Founder, C-19 Business Pledge
Former Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Women and Equalities, Secretary of State for International Development, Secretary of State for Transport, Economic Secretary to the Treasury