Leicester joins UK drive to support businesses and communities through COVID-19 crisis

The University of Leicester joined businesses from across the UK in an initiative to help Britain and its most vulnerable citizens to pull through the coronavirus crisis.

Former Cabinet Minister the Rt Hon Justine Greening has launched the COVID-19 Business Pledge with entrepreneur David Harrison, to encourage employers to pledge to help their employees, customers and communities through the current crisis. So far, she has received a huge response from both businesses and universities.

The initiative seeks to target both the immediate challenges of coronavirus and the challenges of recovery. 

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Nishan Canagarajah said “During this time of pandemic crisis, it is beholden on all of us to do whatever we can to help. By doing so we can ease the collective burden on society and contribute to efforts to help others.

“As Citizens of Change, it is part of our ethos to make a difference to the lives of others and to be able to offer vital assistance at a time of national need is key to our mission. There are numerous examples of individual contributions by staff and students, as well as collective efforts, to make a difference. Together and united we can bring about transformative change.”

Employers who sign up to the pledge give their backing to three main objectives focusing on employees, customers and communities:

• To support their own employees throughout and beyond this challenging time;
• To publish clear and simple advice for customers;
• Doing what they can to help communities across the UK through the epidemic.

The Rt Hon. Justine Greening said: “With the future of many employers hanging in the balance and incredibly tough times unfolding in sectors across the UK, businesses face many incredibly difficult decisions. But those organisations who are able to, can have a huge role in battling the impact of coronavirus and make a real difference in these uniquely challenging times.

“In spite of everything, lots of employers have already shown amazing initiative and commitment to helping people affected by coronavirus. The C-19 Business Pledge is all about encouraging as many businesses and universities as possible to get involved and then helping them do that faster and better by sharing all the great work that’s already been done. The early response has been incredible and I’ll do everything I can to help to connect up British business to play its role.”