In July, it was lovely to join Ruislip Waitrose Store Manager, Jenna Arm, alongside Ruislip Cllr Philip Corthorne in Parliament for the Responsible Business Champion Awards.

The John Lewis Partnership has an outstanding reputation of being excellent community partners. However, it was fantastic to hear how partners at the Ruislip branch of Waitrose go above and beyond the high corporate benchmark to support the community and how this led to their position as an award finalist.

For example, Ruislip Waitrose support local partners, notably Hillingdon Council, to promote and host events on policing, community safety and crime prevention. They also work alongside the council to promote food waste recycling and assist with their sustainability objectives.

On the topic of food waste and environmental sustainability, Waitrose also donate to a foodbank in Yiewsley and I am told that night shift partners also donate items which can be consumed legally but are not legally saleable to local care homes, resulting in the store putting minimal food waste into landfill. 

The store also focuses on diversity and training development, including effective apprenticeship schemes being run in store and support for work experience placements.

Furthermore, the partners have helped engender a fundraising culture within store, which goes above and beyond the Partnership’s corporate responsibility, including a local initiative of setting up a drop-off point for Ukraine donations.

Following this visit to Parliament, I was pleased to join Philip Corthorne in presenting the certificate in-branch to Jenna and the team. I am proud that the hard work being carried out in our community has been recognised and am grateful to all those involved.