Sponsorship
Taylor Wimpey operates as a local builder within each of its markets. Every individual business in the group is responsible for its own sponsorship and community support programmes, developed to meet their local market needs.
We actively encourage our employees to participate in community and charitable activities, including running fundraising events. In 2008, Taylor Morrison introduced a major new approach to their corporate fundraising by incorporating this as part of an employee development programme.
In 2008, the group donated £230,000 which was distributed between nationwide and smaller local charities. This included £132,000 in the UK and Europe, £83,000 in North America and £15,000 in Ghana.
Community Initiatives
We aim to support the local communities in which we build by being a good neighbour, engaging with local residents and stakeholders, as well as building in a considerate fashion. Examples of our support for local communities through schools programmes and charitable initiatives are outlined below and more fully in our Corporate Responsibility Report.
Our North America Division have been particularly active in 2008. For example, over 100 volunteers from our operations in Phoenix and our corporate office in Scottsdale helped to refurbish three transitional homes for homeless families and tidied up the outdoor space for a block of 30 homes during a charity day for local organisation Save the Family. Taylor Woodrow de España launched the Get Kids Dancing campaign, an initiative to tackle childhood obesity.
Taylor Morrison continued to be closely involved with the Future Builders of America (FBA) initiative in Tampa, Florida during 2008. This initiative helps to introduce high school students to the range of jobs available in housebuilding. We sponsored and chaired an FBA chapter at a local high school and were named Simmons Career Center Business Partner of the Year in recognition of this. In 2008, we worked closely with the school to teach skills, providing training and bringing in our trade partners to teach modules.
Monarch was the first housebuilder to participate in a Toronto District School Board initiative that helps final year students who are undecided about their career choice to experience work in construction. Students undergo safety training then spend time with different trades to learn about their work. Monarch has provided placements for 13 students since 2005.
Our Academy Central development in Barking, East London is an example of how we encourage local employment. At Academy Central we have a target of recruiting local residents to form at least 25% of the workforce on site and have committed to using local suppliers and contractors wherever possible.