Elliot Oliver Goes for Gold and Helps the Planet
Cheltenham-based estate agency Elliot Oliver recently became the first Gloucestershire business to receive a Gold Standard award from the Organisation for Responsible Business (ORB).
The ORB is a business membership organisation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that aims to promote social and environmental responsibility among small businesses. Elliot Oliver picked up the award last month for its dedication to social responsibility.
Management at Elliot Oliver make social responsibility one of the company’s core values and so each year the agency chooses several local charities to support. This year’s beneficiaries are the learning disability charity The Brandon Trust, skin disease charity DEBRA and the Cheltenham Animal Shelter.
“We take care of our clients and go that extra mile, but we also take care of our colleagues, our local community and the environment,” says Oliver Bishop, director at Elliot Oliver. “Being a responsible business means caring for people and the planet, and we strive to be good employers, be kind to the environment and to support local people in need. For us, charity begins at home!”
One of the friendlier estate agencies around, Elliot Oliver encourages passers-by to drop into its Promenade offices to see its new “Giving Corner” and to vote for the causes they think the agency should support.
Supporting the local area means buying locally and Elliot Oliver always aims to look locally first, as well as to be environmentally friendly whenever possible. The office uses energy-efficient light bulbs and also smart meters to monitor and control its energy consumption.
Gloucester-based corporate social responsibility consultant Lacey Thayers CIC worked with Elliot Oliver on its CSR programme and is delighted to see the recognition.
“We hope that it will encourage other businesses to follow their lead,” says Drewe Lacey, director at Lacey Thayers. “Doing good is good for business.”
