A genuinely social business
No other crewing or logistics business in Europe is run as a genuinely social business. So, if you would like to enhance your CSR credentials or you just want to do business with a company created to directly improve opportunities for the homeless and ex-homeless, Connection Crew is the only option.
This approach is not tokenism. As a Community Interest Company, we share the social ambitions of a charity but are distinguished by our strong commercial edge. We are a better business because of this motivation and of course, the calibre of the crew that we supply.
The social aspect of our business plays a key role in our sustainability, not only does it provide us with a moral/business balance, it also gives us more to strive for. We find that commercial success begets success on the social side of our business and vice versa; by diversifying into social operations, a business finds itself and its employees sharing more common goals with extra morale and incentive. Just the nature of the social side of what we do ensures sustainability in a business sense and a social sense outside of the business. The ex-homeless people we employ have all undergone 6 months of rehabilitation and are work ready and work hungry; this means that our operations are always benefitting from a fresh injection of energy, enthusiasm and a will to succeed is always paramount. The benefits for those ex-homeless employees are potentially life-changing: many of them will stay with us for years, integrating into the business as part of a society where nobody is aware of their homeless past, whilst others use their time with us as a conduit back into a society that they have felt distanced from whilst on the streets. We are more than happy either way and are always delighted to regenerate our business with employees who are regenerating their lives.
There are two parts to what we do:
The Crew
Connection Crew employs 25% of its crew through a unique employment support programme. We provide work placements and ultimately employment for ‘work ready’ stable ex-homeless people who have experience in the industry and relevant, transferrable skills. Our Crew are always determined and tremendously motivated to do an outstanding job. By giving opportunities to those who have been socially disadvantaged we enhance the morale and performance of our crews.
The Charity
By company constitution, any profits that Connection Crew makes go directly to The Connection at St. Martin-in-the-Fields charity for the homeless - based just off Trafalgar Square. This money helps to fund the various specialist support services directly benefitting homeless people.
The Connection at St. Martin-in-the-Fields is registered as CHARITY NO 1078201.