At Cotton Court we believe that everyone, including commercial businesses such as ourselves, have an obligation to undertake a social agenda in their local area – improving the environment; the local economy; and society.
We have built a unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to reflect this attitude. We want our name to be synonymous with strong core values and unswerving integrity. Corporate Social Responsibility is becoming increasingly important to customers and consumers, we have a vision of working together to improve the standard of life in their local communities and boost the economy, without sacrificing their social, ethical and environmental standards.
To mark the 150 year anniversary of Barnardo’s, Robert and his team designed and delivered an innovative campaign to get 150 Lancashire companies to pledge their support to the charity. The hugely successful campaign encouraged businesses to pledge not only financially, but by offering work placements, mentoring, expertise, services in kind, and much more. We more than doubled the initial target of 150 businesses, and their efforts were rewarded with an invitation to Buckingham Palace to join the other friends of Barnardo’s at the Royal Garden Party.
As a thriving business community ourselves, we understand the importance of community. Below are just some of the organisations and programmes we are involved with,
In November 2019, a team of Cotton Court staff and customers took part in the Big Sleepout, in aid of the Foxton Centre. The initiative was organised by our friends at Blog Preston to raise £50000 to buy a house for Preston’s rough sleepers under the Housing First Initiative.
Cotton Court supports University based leadership and entrepreneurship programmes, including UCLan’s Launchpad programme and the Entrepreneurship scheme at UTC Media City. The support is in the form of discounted room hire for Business Simulation activities, plus free mentoring support to the next generation of entrepreneurs, offered by director Robert Binns and his network. Students are also presented with opportunities for work experience and internship schemes, giving budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to work on new and exciting projects at both an operational and strategic level.
Cotton Court also allows other charities and faith groups to utilise the training facilities at a discounted rate. Director, Robert Binns, is a Non Executive Director of a not-for-profit housing company and a Community Interest Company working in the heart of Preston’s multicultural community, aiming to empower communities through celebrating diversity and improving cohesion.
As an organisation, we are passionate about initiatives that drive local economic and social growth. Robert also sits on the board of Preston Partnership, an independent partnership of businesses and organisations that are passionate about the city and contributing towards the continued growth and development of Preston. And in 2018 we were proud to be recognised as partners of the Northern Powerhouse Programme.
Numerous free business support programmes operate from the centre, including an initiative whereby complimentary use of the desk space is offered to a high growth local business each year. Cotton Court offers free workshops and seminars for our clients, featuring experts from different sectors who will provide advice that encompasses the core essentials for business strategy and entrepreneurship. The business centre also facilitates formal and informal mentoring sessions for new businesses, with proven business experts, offering their advice and guidance.
