HMG Paints, the independent surface coatings manufacturer based in Collyhurst, Manchester, has gained an award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Better Working, Better Business Conference, held recently at Lancashire County Cricket Club.

The event was staged by Manchester Enterprises and Greater Manchester Chamber in conjunction with Eurochamber, the organisation that represents Chambers of Commerce in over forty countries, under the opportunity-manchester.org.uk banner.

HMG won the Education award, sponsored by the Government Office North West, and received a record number of five nominations in total. Recently, HMG Paints was also runner-up in the Small and Medium-Sized Employer of the Year category at the Manchester Employer Coalition Awards 2005. This recognised HMG's work with people with severe learning difficulties and its excellent on-the-job support provisions.

The Corporate Social Responsibility conference awards were part of a pan-European campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the potential of CSR and facilitating better knowledge of the relevant tools and practices. Recent research shows that a company's role in the community can directly impact on the bottom line, by helping to strengthen the brand and reputation, boost employee morale, attract and retain talented staff, and engender customer loyalty. CSR in education involves such initiatives as providing work experience opportunities, holding industry open days and raising awareness of career opportunities, by giving presentations to young people.

HMG was particularly praised for its work with the BEST Business & Education Succeed Together initiative, through which the company regularly takes on work experience students and carries out curricular support initiatives; its management team also visits secondary schools in the Manchester area, conducting mock job interviews and sitting on several education steering groups for year 10 and 11 pupils. The paint manufacturing firm additionally takes part in a literacy mentoring scheme and arranges factory tours for schools and colleges, as well as making its riverside conservation site available for classroom sessions to local primary schools.

HMG was also shortlisted in the Arts & Leisure, Community Involvement, Environment and People & Policies categories, again based on case studies submitted to Manchester Enterprises. The Awards evening was presented by Lorraine Worsley MBE, Senior Producer, BBC Action Desk, and Non-Executive Director of the Greater Manchester Health Authority.

Further enquiries to:
HMG Paints
Riverside Works
Collyhurst Road
Manchester
M40 7RU
Telephone 0161 205 7631
email sales@hmgpaint.com