Category Archives: Charity & CSR

Charity & CSR, Housing, News, Social Housing

SASC invests £5 million to help national mental health charity Making Space expand its housing services

Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) has made a £5 million investment from its Social and Sustainable Housing Fund (SASH) in Making Space, a UK charity headquartered in Warrington that provides health and social care services.

The charity works with people with mental health problems, age-related issues and dementia. Their services include providing supported housing for those in need and on an individual or personal health budget.

The SASH loan will allow Making Space to buy 26 properties across four or more regions in the UK to grow their overall business and move away from rented properties into owned housing. This will increase their owned property portfolio by more than 40%. They already have three new projects underway in Stockport, Birkenhead and Cambridge.

This is the first time Making Space has used social investment. The SASH loan will give Making Space complete ownership and control over the properties they buy, which means they can ensure continuity of tenure and more stability for their long-term residents.

Making Space has been operating since 1982 and has supported more than 200,000 people across England. They employ over 1000 people and nearly 400 volunteers to deliver their vital services to these clients.

Rachel Peacock, CEO of Making Space said, “At Making Space, we fundamentally believe that the people we support should have a place to call home, and that without somewhere safe and decent to live, we can never achieve our vision of putting wellbeing at the heart of health and social care. As part of our strategic objective to deliver care for the future, we identified a need to explore more agile ways of meeting people’s housing needs.

“We are delighted and extremely thankful to SASC for awarding £5 million to support us in achieving our goals. This funding will give us the ability to be more responsive to providing personalised housing solutions for people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions, in areas where unmet needs have been identified.

“We will continue to support all our beneficiaries through our other housing routes including working with developers to build much needed supported housing accommodation and with registered social landlords as their care provider.”

Ben Rick, Managing Director, SASC said, “We’re delighted to invest in Making Space which will enable them to provide housing for more vulnerable people. This charity has helped many people with care and support needs lead independent and fulfilling lives, and has won awards and commendations for their work.

“Like many charities working in the supported housing sector they are moving away from the renting model to purchasing property. Social investment has enabled them to do this, and to create a more sustainable and secure future for both the charity and their residents.”

This is SASC’s 7th investment from the SASH fund, which has so far deployed over £38m since launching in May 2019. SASH was co-designed with borrower charities whose work with vulnerable people was being hampered through lack of access to safe, stable and appropriate homes.

For more information on SASC visit www.socialandsustainable.com

Charity & CSR, Children and Childcare, Sport

Pembrokeshire man takes on Atlantic Challenge with the support of local fostering agency

Gareth Reynolds from Pembrokeshire is currently taking on the ‘Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge’ across the Atlantic Ocean, on a solo rowing adventure to raise money for the MS Society with support from local fostering agency, Calon Cymru Fostering.

Gareth aged 31 who is a seafarer, has decided to take on the solo trip that will truly test his strength as he battles against the strong winds and high waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Gareth shared: “I enjoy challenging myself in everything I do. But I have never done something to truly test myself, to find my true limits, and discover what I am really capable of.”

Gareth has named the boat after Joshua Gardener, a young fire fighter who died in a tragic accident at the Cleddau waterway last year. They were great friends and had shared lots of adventures together.

Local fostering agency, Calon Cymru Fostering have sponsored Gareth’s quest where he will be departing on December 12th alone for up to 60 days at sea, rowing for an estimated and somewhat impressive 20 hours a day. Gareth mentioned his meals will consist of around 10,000 calories per day to help keep his strength and energy up.

Along with raising awareness for the life changing affects that MS can have on people from a young age, Gareth also wants to help raise awareness and support for those struggling with mental health issues. According to the MS Society, each week in the UK 130 people are diagnosed with MS and Mind Charity reported 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in the UK.

Calon Cymru Fostering supports Gareth’s Row and the cause he is advocating for. As an agency that specialises in supporting and caring for young people who have experienced early trauma, they recognise the vital importance that mental health issues can have on young people. The agency also recognises how they may have been affected by a parent or loved one whose lives have dramatically changed because of MS.

Jane Anderton, a Calon Cymru Foster Carer shared “I have known Gareth for a long time.  He is a very inspirational young man and tackles every task with humour and diligence. His affinity with the ocean is hereditary. His father and grandfather, [in fact] the whole family really are very adventurous, and all spend a great deal of time on and in the water; surfing, sailing, power boating and rowing.”

Jane also shared: “I am so proud to know him and know he will be successful and raise the total amount of money he has pledged to MS.”

We are confident, along with Jane and the whole of Calon Cymru Fostering others will support Gareth in his quest. We wish Gareth ‘Fair winds and following seas’ on his journey and will be watching his journey with pride and admiration.

Gareth stated: “I’m very excited about the challenge and could not thank Calon Cymru enough for their sponsorship.”

If you would like to also donate to Gareth’s row then visit www.atlanticdragonrow.com where you can also keep up to date with his progress. To learn more about foster care and how you could support a young person in your local area visit www.caloncymrufostering.co.uk or call 01267 223112/ 029 2081 1173.

Charity & CSR, Food & Drink, News

M&S Food Donates £10,000 to Swansea Charity Matt’s Café to help vulnerable people around Swansea this Christmas

This Christmas, M&S Food is putting charity firmly at its heart. In a year when charity funding has declined almost 25%, M&S Food is proud to donate £10,000 to Swansea-based charity project, Matthew’s House, an initiative of the Hill Church Charity, in recognition of the volunteering efforts of local colleague Suzy Mayhew as part of an overall £2 million donation to good causes for its very special Christmas campaign. A sign at the front of the store will be unveiled on 3rd December, highlighting Suzy and Matthew’s House’s brilliant work to all customers shopping at M&S Mumbles this Christmas.

As well as shining a light on a number of important charities as chosen by nine world-famous actors including Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Julie Walters, Olivia Colman and Tom Hardy, who have added their unmistakable voices to nine brand new Christmas food ads, M&S Food has selected 10 colleagues from across the UK who are its most active charity volunteers, with donations of £10,000 going towards the colleagues’ chosen charities.

Suzy Mayhew, Customer Assistant, who works keeping the in store bakery at M&S Mumbles fully stocked with fresh bread and baked goods, has been chosen by M&S Food for her dedication to the Matthew’s House project. The £10,000 donation will go towards providing hot meals, dignity packs and information brochures to those in need in and around Swansea, as well as to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for over 100 volunteers.  Suzy has volunteered for Matthew’s House for over three years, officially volunteering for the charity two days a week. However, she lends a hand whenever she can and makes an impressive 150 portions of cake every Wednesday for the charity!

Suzy Mayhew, at M&S Mumbles, said; “I am thrilled to have been selected by M&S Food to donate £10,000 to my chosen charity. At M&S we’re proud of the role we play in our local community and it’s fantastic we can donate a monumental amount, especially during these unprecedented times. 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us and we are thrilled to support our brilliant charity partner which help up to 100 vulnerable people in Swansea per day.”

Thom Lynch, Project Manager at Matthew’s House, commented: “Local charities are coming under immense pressure and need support now more than ever during these times. This generous donation from M&S has been an amazing uplift to our volunteers. It is a huge relief as the donation has allowed us to remain focused on supporting people who need us rather than worrying about money. We also want to make Christmas extra special this year, so some of the funding will go towards Christmas meals and gifts. This year our annual fundraisers, such as the sleep out, have not been able to go ahead, so it’s amazing to see the phenomenal support given to us by Suzy Mayhew and the whole team at M&S Mumbles.”

Hannah Jenkins, Store Manager at M&S Mumbles added: “We are very proud of the incredible charity work Suzy Mayhew has done over the years and I am thrilled M&S Food has chosen to donate £10,000 to the Matthew’s House project. The work Matthew’s House does in our local community is incredibly important and we are delighted to have been able to support them during these times.”

In total, the Christmas advertising campaign will donate £1 million to good causes and as part of M&S’s long-term commitment to doing good.  An additional £1million will also be donated across a diverse range of charities including Shelter, Together for Short Lives and the 35 Sparks charities that M&S supports.  Also this Christmas, every time a Sparks customer shops at M&S in-store or online at M&S.com, M&S will donate to their selected charity, from a range of 35 different causes. Through Sparks, M&S has donated £7.3 million since 2015.

Charity & CSR, News, North of England

Ben Rick: Social and Sustainable Housing fund reaches almost £60 million

Ben Rick, Managing Director, Social and Sustainable Capital

Today we are delighted to announce that we have completed the second round of funding for our award-winning Social and Sustainable Housing fund (SASH).

The Fund now stands at £58m, and remains the only Fund set up to put ownership of social housing in the hands of front-line charities working to solve the homeless crisis.

The Fund has seen increased commitments from CCLA Investment Management, Big Society Capital, Garfield Weston and Tudor Trust, as well as new investment from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Virgin Money Foundation.

We are really pleased that the GMCA has chosen to invest and we hope that we will see more local authorities and other institutional asset managers, foundations and family offices invest in the future.

SASH provides finance to allow high performing social enterprises with a strong track record in the management of social housing to purchase properties.

Our goal is to provide homes for 10,000 people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so, alongside attractive, stable, long-term returns for investors generated from the receipt of government paid housing benefit.

We are making great progress and we are working with some truly inspirational charities and enabling them to help some of society’s most vulnerable people with their housing needs. These include Hull Women’s Network, Active Prospect, Target Housing, Valley House and Baca.

Already over £38.3 million of the fund is earmarked to help vulnerable people find high-quality supported housing.

There are many reasons why SASH is so attractive to charities and has been so well received.

Firstly, the structure offers a unique financial product that is neither a mortgage nor a lease and offers an alternative for social sector organisations to own their own properties. It enables charities to buy safe, stable housing in a risk-free way, as it provides finance to fund 100% of a property purchase plus any associated costs, without requiring fixed term mortgage-like repayments, and includes the option (but not the obligation) for organisations to refinance the portfolio in 10 years’ time at a 15% discount to market prices.

A key benefit for organisations we support is they gain long-term control of their properties so they can provide secure accommodation as well as support for their clients.

Over the past year, it’s been fantastic to see our borrowers using the funds to broaden their services and house and support more people, and broaden their social impact in the areas they operate.

Many of our investees provide transitional supported housing – housing that bridges the gap between homelessness and permanent housing. We recently worked with IPPR North who conducted research and found this sector of housing is largely overlooked by government and others.

The report highlighted that 189,500 people are housed within the transitional supported housing market, but there is little accurate data on it, and it is hugely diverse, complex, and hard to define.

Market challenges include the lack of sustainable funding, a scarcity of quality housing, a lack of clear policy from government and no regulation to ensure landlords provide the high-quality housing people deserve.

We are proud we can support charities in this space and to enable them to become property owners.

We tailor all our social investment solutions to our borrowers and spend a great deal of time understanding their needs and goals, and supporting them through the entire investment process.

Our SASH fund delivers a return on investment and is attracting capital, but this has been balanced always by the need to create an environment in which charities can operate safety, thrive and be financially sustainable.

We encourage charities working in the housing sector who are considering taking on social investment to get in touch. We’ve won several awards for our innovative and ground-breaking approach to social finance, so take a look at what we can offer www.socialandsustainable.com/what-we-offer/.

Charity & CSR, News

Leading Two Person Delivery Specialists Pedal for Pounds

Staff at the leading two-person delivery company ArrowXL are embarking upon a huge cycling challenge in Worcester to raise funds for Children in Need this week. Partnering with ArrowXL, client Apex Rides are supporting the challenge and the Worcester leadership team are overseeing the effort.

Staff will cycle 885km on an Apex Rides exercise bike (the distance around the Worcester out bases) to raise money for Children in Need. The team hopes to complete the challenge across three days. Volunteer cyclists will complete 20—40 minute sessions each in a bid to match the £630 already raised at the recent ArrowXL Worcester Macmillan Coffee Morning.

Charlie Shiels, CEO, said: “The Pedal for Pounds cycle ride is a really impressive fundraising effort. It’s a huge task and one that will be physically demanding on the team. Children in Need is a fantastic charity, and our teams wanted to set a bold and ambitious challenge to acknowledge and support the work of the charity, and their attitude has been inspiring throughout this endeavour.”

Pedal for Pounds is just one of the charity fundraising initiatives ArrowXL Worcester has launched this week alongside car washes, tombola and fancy dress competitions.
If you’d like to donate to Children in Need, you can visit the team’s donation page: https://lnkd.in/dGByxtT

Charity & CSR, News

Homeless Charity Emmaus Announces Partnership with Hermes UK

National homelessness charity Emmaus has announced that Hermes UK, the leading consumer delivery company, has become a corporate partner, supporting its aim to give its companions a home, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.

The funds raised by Hermes will be used across the UK to expand the services the charity is able to offer. Unlike many homelessness charities, Emmaus provides a home for as long as it is needed, along with the stability and self-esteem that comes from having meaningful work to do every day. With support from Hermes, Emmaus hopes to increase the number of people they can support in the UK and improve training and development opportunities that companions can access.

Hermes will aim to raise a minimum of £100k for the charity through fundraising activities with clients and employees. The business is also exploring other ways to support the charity, including providing valuable work experience and work placements, running technology and interview training workshops and donating items for companions.

Simon Grange, CEO at Emmaus, said: “The issue of homelessness was already extremely challenging before Covid-19 and we can only see this situation getting worse as more and more people face an uncertain future. The virus and lockdown have presented many challenges for us, not only affecting our income from our shops and social enterprises, but also taking away the meaningful work that is such an important part of supporting our companions. This partnership comes at a great time as we work to overcome the challenges presented by the virus. We are extremely excited to be working with Hermes and look forward building a true partnership that both organisations can benefit from.”

Martijn de Lange, CEO at Hermes UK, said: “We’re seeing the impact of the pandemic first hand when it comes to the volume of people looking for work and applying for roles, and unfortunately a severe consequence of rising unemployment is that the UK’s homelessness crisis is being further exacerbated. There is an additional financial strain on local services, which makes charities such as Emmaus even more important now. We’re pleased to be able to support this crucial cause by giving people the tools to help them succeed, both now and in the future.”

Charity & CSR, News, Tech

Former child refugee helps connect digitally excluded elderly, refugees and homeless in Lockdown through free laptops scheme

Former refugee Peter Paduh, whose life was transformed when he received a free computer as a child, has been helping hundreds of people stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Laptops for the Homeless and Elderly Initiative has seen 1,000 people receive a free laptop or tablet since its launch, as Peter Paduh’s social enterprise SocialBox.Biz has been working with charities to serve those in need. Charities include Age UK London, the British Red Cross and Centrepoint.

SocialBox.Biz founder Peter Paduh, who now lives in London, said: “I was there once, as a refugee from the Balkans in England, with no way to contact people or even speak the language. I want to help people who have nothing by providing them with access to the internet. That way, they can contact relatives, register for apartments, and even apply for jobs.”

As the UK heads into a second nationwide lockdown, SocialBox.Biz and the charities involved are calling on more companies and individuals to step up and start donating their old unused technology.

The lockdown has highlighted the issue of digital exclusion more than ever, as the country has relied on technology to stay connected with loved ones, and the vulnerable ordered food and medication online.

Certain groups of people, such as the elderly, the homeless and refugees, do not have readily available access to technology though. For example, according to Age UK, more than half (51%) of digitally excluded people are over the age of 65.

Emma Blair, Senior Bursary Coordinator, Centrepoint said: “Many of the homeless young people Centrepoint support rely on visiting their place of education to gain access to technology and complete their work. That’s not been possible for a lot of this year, as lockdowns and social distancing laws have meant they have been unable to attend college or university.

“We are so grateful to Peter and SocialBox.Biz for their free laptops. Thanks to them, and despite the uncertain future ahead, the young people can use these laptops to ensure they’re able to go on learning and getting ready for university and the world of work.”

Ember Hibbert, Young Refugee Services Manager at British Red Cross said: “The laptop and tablet donations we’ve had from SocialBox.Biz have literally been a life changer for many of the young people we support. For unaccompanied children, a social group that already faces isolation, who are without family or social and support networks in the UK, the lockdown restrictions really exacerbated this separation and loneliness even further.

“Having access to these devices enables young people to get online so they can access education like college and school classes, as well as appointments for health and legal support. Really importantly, it means the young people can take part in support groups, including the British Red Cross Life skills workshops, and be in touch with friends and family. It allows these young people to rebuild their lives, and continue to pursue their dreams.”

The free laptops scheme has also received the backing of business leaders, with the CBI recently calling for an overhaul of procurement policies to help deliver social value.

Felicity Burch, Director of Innovation and Digital at the CBI said: “The crisis has shone a light on the digital divide in the UK. Access to technology is vital for supporting vulnerable communities and business has a crucial role to play.”

Most companies simply sell their old technology for scrap or export markets, which then gets shipped around the world and adds to the UK’s carbon footprint.

Peter Paduh said: “With so many corporations that don’t need their outdated laptops anymore, it only makes sense that we work to connect the dots by helping organisations meet their sustainability goals while giving those who have nothing.

“We believe that a small ongoing shift in procurement policies for old technology can make a huge impact and reduce digital exclusion. Reusing old technology locally would also mean a reduction in emissions. This is a real opportunity for businesses as it is proven that CSR can also boost share price and customer loyalty.

“Regular social interaction is fundamental to our mental and physical health, and for many people on their own in lockdown the only way to do that safely is online.”

SocialBox.Biz is currently looking for new organisations to partner with. More information can be found at https://www.socialbox.biz/.

Charity & CSR, News

UK charity Astriid triples its fundraising target with virtual challenge

An army of global supporters swam, cycled, walked, and ran the distance from London Bridge to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to raise over £75,000 for UK charity Astriid.

The 52 teams, which included people from across the UK, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, covered an individual distance of 196 miles in five days, to help Astriid smash its £25,000 target by 200%.

Astriid supports people with long-term health issues and their caregivers to find meaningful work, through its dynamic professional matchmaking platform.

“We were blown away not only by the amount raised, but also by the excitement and buzz generated by our virtual London to Paris event. It has really shone a spotlight on the charity and this much-needed money will be used to support our over 1,000 candidates throughout the whole journey to finding meaningful employment. From reviewing their CV and preparing for interviews to identifying the right opportunities and connecting them with employers,” says Steve Shutts, CEO of Astriid.

“For those living with a long-term health condition, employment is about more than just wages. Working can provide routine, normality and promote a positive mental attitude – as well as helping employers address the skills gap by providing them with highly skilled professionals”, adds Steve.

Joining the virtual event was Jill Sanger-Smith, a success director at global cloud-based software company Salesforce. As part of the ‘Swedish Zwift Riders’, Jill and her team covered over 400km in just one day and raised over £10,000 for the cause.

“I did the London to Paris event last year and I was due to do the physical event again this year”, Jill, an avid cyclist, explains. “When COVID halted that from happening, I really wanted to be involved again, particularly as I had personal experience of how chronic illness can negatively affect a person’s worth with my dad recently being diagnosed with prostate cancer. It brought to life the vulnerability that Astriid members must feel and I know from my dad how important working and having a sense of purpose is.

“During the 400km ride, people virtually joined me on legs of the trip to show their support – I found the whole experience very emotional but rewarding. It also made me extra committed to help Astriid and the important work they do. It is an invaluable platform for supporting people, allowing them to retain their sense of pride while helping match them to jobs that fit their skills.”

Arun Sharma, event director at The Fundraising Agency (TFA), managed the event. He said: “We all thought £25k would be a tall order, so we’re ecstatic by the support received. The success of this year’s virtual event has also meant that next year we’re planning a hybrid one. Anyone who cannot make it along to the physical London to Paris ride can still participate, but from the convenience of their own location. We have already seen the first signups for next year’s event, which is now open via https://www.astriid-l2p.org/.”

Charity & CSR, News

UK charity Astriid’s virtual event goes global and triples its fundraising target

An army of global supporters swam, cycled, walked, and ran the distance from London Bridge to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to raise over £75,000 for UK charity Astriid.

The 52 teams, which included people from across the UK, Europe, North America, South America and Asia, covered an individual distance of 196 miles in five days, to help Astriid smash its £25,000 target by 200%.

Astriid supports people with long-term health issues and their caregivers to find meaningful work, through its dynamic professional matchmaking platform.

“We were blown away not only by the amount raised, but also by the excitement and buzz generated by our virtual London to Paris event. It has really shone a spotlight on the charity and this much-needed money will be used to support our over 1,000 candidates throughout the whole journey to finding meaningful employment. From reviewing their CV and preparing for interviews to identifying the right opportunities and connecting them with employers,” says Steve Shutts, CEO of Astriid.

“For those living with a long-term health condition, employment is about more than just wages. Working can provide routine, normality and promote a positive mental attitude – as well as helping employers address the skills gap by providing them with highly skilled professionals”, adds Steve.

Joining the virtual event was Jill Sanger-Smith, a success director at global cloud-based software company Salesforce. As part of the ‘Swedish Zwift Riders’, Jill and her team covered over 400km in just one day and raised over £10,000 for the cause.

“I did the London to Paris event last year and I was due to do the physical event again this year”, Jill, an avid cyclist, explains. “When COVID halted that from happening, I really wanted to be involved again, particularly as I had personal experience of how chronic illness can negatively affect a person’s worth with my dad recently being diagnosed with prostate cancer. It brought to life the vulnerability that Astriid members must feel and I know from my dad how important working and having a sense of purpose is.

“During the 400km ride, people virtually joined me on legs of the trip to show their support – I found the whole experience very emotional but rewarding. It also made me extra committed to help Astriid and the important work they do. It is an invaluable platform for supporting people, allowing them to retain their sense of pride while helping match them to jobs that fit their skills.”

Arun Sharma, event director at The Fundraising Agency (TFA), managed the event. He said: “We all thought £25k would be a tall order, so we’re ecstatic by the support received. The success of this year’s virtual event has also meant that next year we’re planning a hybrid one. Anyone who cannot make it along to the physical London to Paris ride can still participate, but from the convenience of their own location. We have already seen the first signups for next year’s event, which is now open via https://www.astriid-l2p.org/.”

Astriid is a UK-based charity founded in 2018. It works with companies to support individuals living with long-term health issues find meaningful employment or volunteering opportunities. The charity has a talent pool of over 1,000 individuals, has partnered with some 230 companies, and it has enjoyed the support of over 100 volunteers since its inception.

To learn more, visit https://www.astriid.org.uk/s/

 

Charity & CSR, News, Recruitment

It’s ‘Go-vember’ for Smart Solutions

Image: Smart Solutions team’s Snowdon climb in 2019

Staff from one of the UK’s largest recruitment agencies, Smart Solutions, are showing the true meaning of giving this month by declaring November ‘Go-vember’, as they take on their latest fitness challenge to raise money for Age Cymru.

Teams from all 80 hubs and on-site locations throughout the UK are donning their trainers and walking boots, aiming to travel as far as possible, all in the name of a very good cause. For every 1000km staff cover, Smart Solutions will be donating £100 to Age Cymru, their official charity partner.

Age Cymru is the largest charity working with and for older people in Wales. Their vision is to create an age friendly Wales through providing information and advice for older people and their families, enabling independence by promoting physical activity, as well as helping to combat loneliness through a number of initiatives.

Rob Webb, CEO of Smart Solutions, said: “It is a worrying statistic that 70% of older people had difficulty accessing health services during the coronavirus pandemic so far, with 44% saying they found the situation mentally and emotionally challenging. It has never been more important for us to step up our charity work as a company even further and raise vital funds for the excellent work that Age Cymru does.

“At Smart, we empower our teams to explore ways to support their own wider community and gift a day a year to their chosen project. It may include volunteering in a charity, spending time with residents at a local care home or working in partnership with an initiative close to their hearts.

“Although we’re only early on in November, I’ve been hearing some great stories of our teams across the country really embracing ‘Go-vember’ and getting in some serious steps. We’re looking forward to seeing just how far we can go and how much money we can raise for this great cause.”

Staff from Smart Solutions are no strangers to taking on challenges in the name of charity. This time last year, staff were preparing to climb Snowdon in aid of Age Cymru and Gemma’s Pink Army (founded by a Smart team member), for which they raised £4,000, completing the climb in an impressive four hours. Teams across the country are able to take one paid ‘CSR’ day a year to work with Age Cymru and also to take part in beach cleans in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society. Previously Smart have also completed numerous other initiatives for charities such as NSPCC, Bobath, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan.

Established in 2007, Smart Solutions is a pan European recruitment firm that provides large-scale workforce solutions.