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Boots announced as finalist for the 2019 Responsible Business Awards

29 April 2019
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Colleagues from Boots are celebrating after being named as a finalist in Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards, the UK’s longest running and most prestigious awards programme, championing responsible business in the UK and abroad.  

The awards champion the most inspiring businesses who are making a difference by taking action to build more inclusive workplaces, stronger communities and tackle our biggest environmental challenges. 

Boots has been named as a finalist for the Responsible Business of the Year category for its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. The company has raised £16.6m for Macmillan Cancer Support and £12.5m for BBC Children in Need. Boots, working with Macmillan Cancer Support, has also increased accessibility of trusted information and support for people living with cancer through Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists and Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisers. Over 25,000 Boots UK colleagues are Dementia Friends, supporting people living with the condition and the company has helped over 10,000 young people with workplace readiness through a partnership with WE. In addition, Boots has continued to make investment in Nottingham, where it has been based for 170 years, taking the lead in local community and economic initiatives.

Sebastian James,Senior Vice President and President and Managing Director Boots UK, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Responsible Business of the Year Award. At Boots, we are immensely proud of our corporate social responsibility credentials.  With more than 90 per cent of the UK population living within 10 minutes of a Boots store, our role is deeper and richer than retail and pharmacy. From community partnerships to environmental and social activism, it’s in our DNA to care deeply about the communities we serve. For 170 years, corporate responsibility has flowed through our thoughts and actions, especially but not exclusively in our founder’s home of Nottingham.

“Purposeful leadership in CSR is integral to the sustainability of our business. The energy and enthusiasm of our truly amazing colleagues bring it to life. We don’t play lip service to CSR, we live and breathe it. It is afforded the same rigour as our commercial activities, driving our decisions and helping us attract and retain great talent.  The more companies that combine commercial and CSR activities, the greater impact business can have as a global force for good. Purpose beyond profit and profit through purpose.”

Amanda Mackenzie, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: “Organisations which acknowledge their responsibility to society by evolving their business to be a sustainable one for the long term should be recognised and celebrated. We are proud of Boots UK who have been selected as a Responsible Business Awards 2019 finalist. Together, all the finalists are helping to make the UK the world leader in responsible business.” 

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and around 1,900 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 31 May 2024