A busy South Norwood business is doing its bit for the planet by adopting a bee hive.
Clapperton Media Associates has signed up for a Bees for Business hive, for the next year at least.
The scheme is part of The Good Life Project, a research and behaviour change programme focusing on health, well-being and nature.
Clapperton Media, which specialises in helping business people make something useful out of media opportunities, sees CSR – corporate social responsibility – as an important part of its business ethos, in this case, through supporting the environment.
“As well as giving me the opportunity to help maintain the bee population, the scheme ensures that I’ll receive benefits in the form of honey from my very own hive, which I can use as gifts for suppliers and top customers. Or just enjoy it,” said director Guy Clapperton.
Guy Clapperton: offering free advice sessions
“The beehive is being kept at the Bees for Business farm and managed by the specialists so I can rest assured that the bees are being well looked after. And I won’t get stung.
“Loads of my colleagues are really excited about this initiative and I’m looking forward to receiving regular updates about how the hive is getting on, learning more about bees, their environment and bee-keeping in general.
“I hope that other micro-businesses will join in with this sort of initiative to ensure that the honey bee population is protected and supported for years to come.
“My accountant told me, when I mentioned the idea, that CSR was mostly associated with larger businesses, but if the bees are in trouble then so are we, and I just don’t accept you need to be a certain size to make a difference.”
From 1million hives in Britain in 1900, the number of bee hives now stands at 270,000; as bees are so vital for crops, maintaining and growing the bee population is essential. Bees for Business adoption packages start at £250 per year.
Meanwhile, Clapperton Media is working on creating a buzz around its clients’ businesses, helping local community groups and charities with their press engagement by offering sessions of coaching on press releases, practice interviews and whatever else fits into a one- or two-hour slot. Guy Clapperton will be devoting a small allocation of hours per month to free one-to-one coaching sessions – if you are involved in a local Community Interest Company or charity and would like to know more, drop him a note on Guy@Clapperton.co.uk to make an appointment.
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