Happy Computers´ Impact on Society
In the 2003 Business in the Community Awards, Happy Computers was rated as the best small company in London and runner-up nationwide. This summary discusses some of the activities we're involved in:
Social Responsibility at the Heart
Social responsibility is at the heart of all Happy Computers activities. Although they also work for high profile city institutions as well, their core business is to make charities and housing associations more effective by providing cost effective, high quality ICT training. Support for their staff, the community and the environment has led to the company continuing to grow through difficult times.
Happy Computers is a computer training company based in London employing 42 people. Social responsibility is at the core of everything that Happy Computers does. One of their core values is to 'make a difference in the world' and the company seeks to do this in a variety of ways. Although commitment to the customer is absolutely central Happy Computers will not work with companies whose behaviour or products could be deemed unethical.
Happy Computers feel that there are clear benefits in running a company in the interests of all its stakeholders and seeking to be fully socially responsible. In some areas, such as staff retention and increased business, the benefits can be quantified in financial terms. Other impacts are harder to quantify.
One of top Three IT Training Companies
Happy Computers has been rated one of the top three IT training companies in the country for the last three years. So the 70% of Happy Computers´ students who are from charities or housing associations get access to a high quality course - at a cost-effective price.
Creating a great place to work with motivated and empowered staff, ensuring work/life balance is a key priority for everyone - while limiting their adverse environmental impact - has ensured the company continues to grow.
Happy Computers supports and encourages their staff to work fully paid, one day a month for a charity of their choice and there is a timebank of 100 days which can be claimed for projects that bring 'mutual benefit'.
Key impacts include:
- Increased business as direct result of Happy Computers' reputation for being committed to social responsibility
- Commitment to responsible business practice has helped the company to survive through the worst recession in the history of the IT training industry
- Motivated and committed workforce with staff turnover less than half the average level of their industry - Happy has never lost a trainer to a competitor.
- Increased business: a project that was set up to train, free of charge, a group of homeless and unemployed people (delivered via training agencies) resulted in a further unexpected £63,000 worth of income
- Course materials are available to schools, free of charge. They can be downloaded from the net in the form of high quality IT manuals with no licensing costs
- Trainers set to train basic web design are partnered with an existing charity to ensure they have the practical experience before training - before, they would have created dummy sites.
- Trainers have flown to Uganda to train up a local community centre to itself provide training to the highest standards. It had a big impact locally and was hugely motivating and developmental for the trainers who went.
