CommunityMark BITC

The CommunityMark is the UK’s national standard recognising leadership and excellence in community investment.

It challenges companies to minimise their negative and maximise their positive impact on society by taking a holistic approach to community investment, which means they are good from the inside, out.

The CommunityMark highlights how organisations are transforming their business by integrating responsible business practices and transforming the communities in which they operate, creating positive impacts for society.

Open to companies in the UK of all sizes and sectors, this national standard has been developed by Business in the Community in consultation with the private, public and voluntary sector bodies. The CommunityMark challenges companies to minimise their negative and maximise their positive impact on society through an assessment processthat recognises milestones on the way to achieving long term sustainable benefits to both business and the community.

Benefits of achieving the CommunityMark

The primary purpose of the CommunityMark is to recognise and reward excellence. Benefits related to this include:

• Improved employee and customer loyalty

• Development of an integrated approach and common language across your business and community investment strategy

• External validation and recognition from an independent third party

• Raised profile and recognition of community investment within the company

• Enhanced corporate reputation among peers, media, government and other stakeholders as part of a cohort of companies leading the Community Investment agenda

• Support for the ongoing internal business case for employee volunteering and employee engagement

• Provision of leadership platforms and opportunities to showcase best practise to peers and key stakeholder groups