At Hyve, we’re committed to using our events as platforms for progress to create a positive impact on the world around us.
One of the four key pillars of our ESG strategy is empowering communities. Our market-leading events are catalysts for change for individuals, businesses, and communities but we’re determined to expand that ambition to drive further impact in the local communities in and around our offices, and where we host our events.
So, to achieve just that, last year we introduced our Community Investment Programme – a pledge to invest 1% of profits into two community projects. And the best bit – we asked our global colleagues to put forward community projects which meant something to them.
We chose to support a female refugee empowerment programme in Hong Kong, which brings together entrepreneurial refugee women to learn and develop new skills. A proposal put forward by Executive Assistant, Edith Tze.
And we built a school in a township in Cape Town led by Senior Operations Manager, Bethany O’Connor in partnership with Breadline Africa - which opened last month and provided 76 children with dignified and safe school facilities using carbon-negative building technology.
One of the best parts of this programme is that our global colleagues are driving the change by proposing community projects that mean something to them.Building on the success of last year, we’re thrilled to announce that for 2024 we will be investing into two new community projects.
Investing in sustaining the waterfront development for Camp Homeward Bound in New York
One of our chosen projects this year is to support the Coalition for the Homeless – a New York based organisation that launched “Camp Homeward Bound” - a summer camp for homeless children. Each year they are joined by up to 360 campers and it offers a place where children can learn, grow and just be kids again.
The heart of the camp is the waterfront, which is used by the campers daily, but the waterfront and beach are starting to disappear due to erosion. Hyve will partner with Coalition of the Homeless to invest in their waterfront development project by helping them to preserve the waterfront and beach area through the installation of a retaining wall and other erosion control efforts. This project will help to preserve the beach for future generations, all while tackling sustainable coastal development.
Upon hearing the news that her project was chosen, Karen Puddy, Director of Event Operations in New York said, “To be part of an organisation that really values giving back to local communities is unheard of, and I am so proud of this investment. So, I want to thank Hyve for giving me and the Hyve family an opportunity to support such a worthy cause. I can’t wait to get started!”
Helping to bridge the digital divide
We'll also be supporting 2econd Chance, a not-for-profit computer recycling charity providing work-based training that supports people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and those with social, emotional, and mental health needs. The computers that are refurbished through the training are given a second chance and passed on to those in need, helping to bridge the digital divide.
The proposal was put forward by Bett’s Senior Content Producer, Anna Bailey.
Anna first met 2econd Chance through Hyve’s Bett show in 2022, an event that 2econd Chance’s Developer, Adam Goodman said has delivered game changing results for the organisation:
The Bett show was a game changer for us. At the Bett event we connected with the British Computing Society, who we have since partnered with to accredit our courses.At Hyve, one of our core values is building rich connections, and as such we are constantly considering how we can positively impact our colleagues, customers, and communities. We’re driven by a shared ambition to make a positive contribution to the world around us, and this programme is just one way we are making that goal a reality.
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