UBS Global Wealth Management in Jersey today announced a successful volunteering day at Acorn, the social enterprise of local charity, the Jersey Employment Trust (JET), as part of their local social impact commitment.
JET works with individuals in Jersey with a disability or long-term health condition, to secure and sustain employment through work placements, vocational training and on-going support. They also provide employer guidance to enable them to successfully recruit, support and retrain staff with enduring health conditions. Acorn also offers training and employment to help their clients gain additional skills and build confidence prior to entering a new workplace or volunteering in the community.
UBS has recently funded local training to help clients of JET gain the skills and qualifications they need to find fulfilling, paid work and reach their full potential. UBS employees have also provided support through strategic advice and volunteering to help with mock interviews, gaining work experience and other employment activities. Today, the team at UBS spent the day at Acorn volunteering, helping them with tasks both in the Woodshack workshop and on the Acorn Reuse shop floor.
“We are excited to work with a business that shares our values, supporting the local community with skills and learning and breaking down barriers to employment”, said Penny Shurmer, Executive Officer at JET. “Their staff have already immersed themselves in the activities of JET and Acorn, learning about our work, and engaged practically with volunteering days at Acorn. We are looking forward to a productive relationship”.
Earlier this year, UBS Global Wealth Management in Jersey announced that, alongside JET, they would also be supporting Beresford Street Kitchen (BSK) as part of their local social impact commitment. BSK provides structured education, training, and employment programmes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism through BSK Academy. Those trained then go on to work within one of the social enterprises three main arms: Beresford Street Kitchen, BSK Catering or BSK Print Works. Both JET and BSK are united by a shared vision for an inclusive and diverse workforce, ensuring that those with disabilities have access to quality education, training and employment opportunities. UBS will strategically engage with both JET and BSK throughout the year on several local initiatives, including volunteering efforts and at select client events.
“At UBS, creating a positive social impact is deeply embedded in our culture. We’re committed to supporting the communities in which we operate – empowering both our clients and employees to support causes that matter most to them. said Tobias Wehrli, Country Head Jersey at UBS Global Wealth Management, who led the team of volunteers at Acorn. “I am proud to support meaningful local initiatives here in Jersey and through our collaboration with JET and BSK we can help break down barriers faced by individuals with disabilities to foster a more inclusive society.”
Through its Social Impact and Philanthropy offering, UBS helps to drive social and commercial outcomes by funding and collaborating with high potential nonprofits across the globe to drive impact at scale. The firm’s clients benefit from UBS’s unmatched global footprint and ability to tailor solutions to specific local needs, and its philanthropy team have helped over 10,000 clients to date use their wealth for good.
UBS’s strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, enables thousands of employees each year to contribute to causes that matter most to them, through local volunteering opportunities in the communities in which they do business.