AXA UK partners with Business in the Community to help communities tackle coronavirus

6 April 2020

Posted in Community

  • Insurer commits £1 million to Business in the Community’s new initiative, The National Business Response Network, set up to meet urgent community needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic
  • The network focuses its activity on helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic by matching them with businesses who can offer support
  • The donation marks the start of the partnership, with AXA joining Business in the Community’s Board of Trustees

AXA UK is donating £1 million to Business in the Community (BITC) as part of its response to the coronavirus epidemic and support for the charity’s recently formed National Business Response Network.

The donation marks the start of the partnership between the insurer and Business in the Community, a charity and The Prince’s Responsible Business Network, with AXA joining Business in the Community’s Board of Trustees and becoming a founding partner of The National Business Response Network

Organised as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, the National Business Response Network connects national and local community groups, businesses, local authorities and charities with businesses who can offer support; ensuring resources are delivered to the right place, at the right time.

Over the coming months, AXA will also be providing help in the form of volunteering (both on the ground or virtual). The partnership will allow colleagues from across the country to contribute, using their skills and time to support local communities.

The network focuses its activity on four key areas helping communities navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Food: Ensuring people have continued access to food
  • Technology: Support to enable children to continue learning, and older people to stay connected to families
  • Community support: Support to vulnerable groups and older people to enable continued access to food, healthcare, social interaction and other essentials
  • Small businesses: Creating resources with advice and practical tools specifically for small businesses; providing business continuity and wellbeing support through mentoring for small businesses

The network is supported by over 300 business leaders, committed and ready to take action by mobilising their thousands of employees, supply chains and partners in their local community.

The business resources the National Business Resource Network matches to community needs are:

  • Professional support: Using the resources and goodwill of member companies to provide support for national and local businesses throughout the UK
  • Lending/donating resources: Lending or donating resources to organisations and people to meet need
  • Logistics: Transportation of resources, goods and services

During this crisis, it is vital that our communities receive much needed support from businesses that have the capacity to help. The National Business Response Network utilises the resources and expertise of companies across the UK to support communities and businesses up and down the country. AXA is proud to play its part as a founding partner of the network; offering our support not just during this pandemic, but for the future as well.

Claudio Gienal, Chief Executive Officer at AXA UK & Ireland

With AXA’s £1 million investment as a founding partner to develop and build the capacity of the National Business Response Network, we will be able to match large business offers of support to local community needs. Put simply, this support will save lives and provide a springboard to help our communities across the UK bounce back and recover as fast as possible. Through our National Business Response Network and with AXA's support, we can provide lifelines to people and communities affected by the pandemic.

Amanda Mackenzie OBE, Chief Executive at Business in the Community

Community organisations in need of help and businesses wanting to offer their support can visit the National Business Response Network online board of needs and offers.