BE’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Julie Tucker, shortlisted for the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards 2023 in the Social Impact Leadership category.
Hot on the heels of achieving Highly Commended in the Sustainability Leader of the Year category at the Business Green UK Green Business Awards, and being shortlisted for the Sustainability Leader of the Year Award in the World Sustainability Awards 2023, Julie has today been announced as a finalist in the prestigious City of London Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards in the category of Social Impact Leadership, the only award which will be given to an individual on the night of the awards ceremony.
Creating meaningful social impact with a limited CSR budget might be considered challenging and yet BE Offices is renowned for its altruism and social value initiatives. Corporate volunteering normally comes with a price tag but, at zero cost, in 2023, Julie increased staff volunteering by 520% over the same period last year through the relationships she developed with charity partners and other organisations.
In 2023 staff have participated in weekly online literacy tutoring sessions with primary school children, beach clean-ups on the Thames foreshore and tree planting on Camden housing estates. Julie has also instigated support for international reforestation projects, planting trees in South America, Africa and Asia. As well as the ecological benefits of these projects they also provide livelihoods for local indigenous populations.
In addition to participating in all these activities herself, Julie volunteers her time (some of it her own) to multiple good causes and lends her support to several London Business Improvements Districts.
Julie is Chair of Aldgate Connect’s Culture and Marketing Steering Group, supported the development of the Culture Mile BID as Co-Chair of the Sustainable Environment Steering Group and works closely with Better Bankside and the Camden Climate Alliance on the Mayor of London’s Business Climate Challenge.
Recently, Julie introduced Charity Super.Mkt to the City of London Corporation’s Destination City team and united the two entities resulting in the innovative retail concept coming the City of London in September as part of the Corporation’s flagship Bartholomew Fair. The Charity Super.Mkt is a concept for social and environmental good activating empty or redundant space, increasing footfall to the benefit of surrounding retailers, raising funds for and the profile of the charities involved, encouraging a sustainable lifestyle, supporting the circular economy, diverting clothes from landfill and creating a destination for Gen Z, bargain hunters and environmentalists. In 6 weeks at the Brent Cross pop-up, Charity Super.Mkt sold 40,000 items, saved 11.36 tonnes of textiles from landfill, 102.32 tonnes of Co2 and 18,191.54 cubic metres of water. It raised £374,454.44 for 10 charities and increased footfall in the centre by 7%. It is anticipated that its involvement in Bartholomew Fair will bring a whole new audience to the City with pop-ups in Paternoster Square, Aldgate and the Leadenhall Building throughout the duration of the Fair.
As a volunteer Air Quality Ambassador for Cross River Partnership, Julie supports the DEFRA-funded Healthy Streets Everyday and Clean Air Villages projects, with a particular focus on air quality inequality. In a quest to raise awareness of the consequences of air pollution and encourage others to take steps to reduce it, Julie spoke recently on the subject as part of Global Action Plan’s Clean Air Day and looks forward to supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Party Street event in September.
Julie is also a volunteer Cancer Campaign’s Ambassador for Cancer Research UK’s policy team, regularly lobbying her MP and supporting various campaigns, and an ambassador for Meningitis Research Foundation, this year celebrating a decade and twelve years respectively in these roles. A volunteer ambassador and mentor for The Youth Group, an ambassador for The Heart of the City and a trustee of EcoJudaism, Julie is also an active supporter of City Giving Day and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
Julie’s award nomination was supported by former Lord Mayor, Alderman Vincent Keaveny, CBE and her local Alderman for the Aldersgate Ward, Christopher Makin.
“I am delighted to support Julie’s nomination for a Dragon Award. Julie brings huge commitment, great energy and good humour to making the City a better place for those who work, live or visit here. Aside from her work as CSR Manager for BE Offices, she has been an active and engaged supporter of the Business Improvement Districts since their introduction in the City and a champion of the City’s Air Quality campaign. She is an Ambassador for the Heart of the City and is a great supporter of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, especially its City Giving Day initiative. I have heard Julie speak at City Giving Day events and seen how her enthusiasm inspires others to commit to take part and to turn CSR ambitions into reality. Despite her business and family commitments, Julie so often makes that extra effort to do something or to support an event that makes a real difference. It would be wonderful to see her contribution to life in the City being recognised in this year’s Awards.” Alderman Vincent Keaveny, CBE, Lord Mayor of London 2021-2022
“I’m delighted that Julie is entering the Dragon Awards. In addition to her job in the City and her most important work as a Mum, she still has, seemingly boundless, energy to support a broad range of worthy initiatives in the Square Mile. This includes its Business Improvement Districts and as a clean air advocate. I support her entry wholeheartedly and trust she will achieve the recognition she very much deserves.” Alderman Christopher Makin
The awards ceremony, celebrating business impact in society, will take place in October in Mansion House, hosted by the current Lord Mayor, Alderman Nicholas Lyons.
