Following the first-ever June edition of the Glee exhibition, the show’s organisers have added a new initiative as part of its ‘Power of One’ campaign, introducing the Glee ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Initiative Award. This new award celebrates those brands that are taking great strides to positively impact these three critical areas of their business, with this year’s winner confirmed as Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC.

Visitors to Glee 2022 would have seen Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC in Hall 7, where the UK-based community interest company showcased its full range of boxes and houses for hedgehogs, owls, bats, small animals, tortoise, bugs, bees and nesting birds, as well as its seed ball offering.

What stood out to the Glee team when selecting their 2022 ESG Initiative Award winner was the fact that not only is the company dedicated to caring for nature, but it is also dedicated to caring for people. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the company’s factory is filled with skilled joiners and wildlife-loving young adults with learning difficulties. Members of the Recovery Project team work together to design and construct wooden wildlife products, which help protect vulnerable species whilst offering employment for young people with learning difficulties and also the chance to be part of a vital conversation project - a topic which is close to the heart of Wildlife and Birdcare’s Managing Director, Sammy Holman. Autistic herself, Sammy has launched a special programme called “WoW – World of Work”, designed to help young adults who struggle to gain their first foot on the working ladder. Sammy said “We are over the moon to have been awarded the Glee ESG Initiative Award. It just proves that with a lot of hard graft and a great deal of enthusiasm amazing things can be achieved!

“Looking ahead we want to actively engage with companies, trusts, charities, and retailers to introduce the Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project. We are currently working to raise over £1.5million towards a new, larger site where we can benefit so many more young adults and provide even more employment opportunities.  We intend to raise these funds through contractual production work including joinery, product development, manufacturing, greeting card printing, giftware, and gardening gifts. We’re so excited for what the future holds.”

To hand over the inaugural ESG Initiative Award, Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, travelled to the Wildlife and Birdcare headquarters. Talking on the day, he said: “Most inspirational day yet! This company truly live their value and approach to sustainability, whilst also developing 20 young students with learning difficulties - most with autism – to get them into the workplace. It is so amazing to see. It is a vibrant work environment built on giving these young people a purpose. It was really very humbling to witness. I nearly couldn’t get my words out when I presented the award to them. They were so happy.”

To find out more about the work the Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC undertakes, please visit www.wildlifeandbirdcare.co.uk

The Glee ESG Initiative Award

The all-new ESG Initiative Award, part of the Power of One’ campaign is demonstrative of Glee’s mission to support and celebrate best practices within the garden retail sector, and to showcase the many ways brands and retailers are making a positive difference. This specialist award will focus on three key areas:

1) Environmental – looks at how a company safeguards the environment, including corporate policies addressing climate change.
2) Social - examines how businesses manage relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates.
3) Governance – dives deeper into a business’ leadership.

Find out more at https://www.gleebirmingham.com/giving-at-glee

Find out more 

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focussing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.