Rural Charter Activity
To sign up to become a Rural Charter Business Champion, simply decide on at least three actions (at least one of them relating to 'Inspiration of others and Promotion of the Rural Charter')

Please make sure you have read and understood the information on how to apply

There are many different types and levels of activity that your business can select. The menu below illustrates the sorts of activities which businesses have already undertaken and found a real business benefit. To decide on those actions which will best suit your company, please feel free to select from the options suggested or specify any other relevant activity you plan to undertake.
It may be that your company is already involved in these sorts of activities which can be counted towards your Rural Charter activity.
Please indicate whether the action of your choice is currently one of your activities or whether it is a targeted activity.
Economic
Take a student from a rural area on work placement.
Provide opportunities for work experience for rural schools
Be a mentor for a rural community enterprise *
Set up or join a group of local rural businesses tackling local issues
Review your procurement policies and use local suppliers wherever possible
Support a rural project which tackles a social issue of relevance to your business *
Commit to recruit locally whenever possible and have an active training programme to develop employee skills *
Develop employee skills through rural community placements which is recognised through the appraisal process *
Develop an equal opportunities and diversity programme *
Develop flexible working practices which are family friendly *
Help unemployed people in rural areas become ready for work by providing work experience, help with practice interviews and help in skill training
Work with local rural schools to support their links with business *
Innovate new ways of delivering services in rural areas
Commit to source more food consumed by your business locally
Other
Please specify

Inspiration of others and promotion of the Rural Charter
Signing up a Rural Charter member
Inspire other companies to adopt the Rural Charter
Being a speaker at a regional business event
Promoting a case study on the Rural Charter website
Inspire other companies to adopt the Rural Charter
Securing news coverage to promote the Rural Charter
Sponsoring publications or events
Hosting a rural event to promote the Rural Charter to other businesses
Host and lead a 'HRH The Prince of Wales' Seeing is Believing visit **
Other
Please specify
Community
Give one hour per week to help a child read in a rural classroom *
Share your management experience with a rural head teacher *
Offer business expertise to a local voluntary rural organisation *
Arrange an employee volunteering challenge event to support a local rural voluntary Project *
Provide gifts in kind to local rural schools and community projects
Volunteer time, talent and resources to local rural projects which tackle key social issues in the community *
Join a rural education-business partnership to raise the aspirations of young people in local schools
Provide learning mentors for rural students
Commit to the new national award for community activity - 'CommunityMark' *
Other
Please specify

Environmental
Take steps to improve the environment outside your business premises
Join with local residents in a clean up day
Recycle redundant equipment
Promote energy conservation and set a target for reducing energy costs
Reduce paper use
Join a waste minimisation scheme
Promote cleaner transport to and from the workplace
Undertake an energy audit of buildings and equipment
Concider the origins of materials and products purchased and increasingly buy from local and sustainable managed sources
Introduce an environmental management policy and report on environmental impact
Purchase green energy
Other
Please specify

* Business in the Community offers support to businesses wishing to develop their community activity, through the 'Community Mark Programme' and membership. Support for the activities marked with an asterix is currently sponsored and can therefore be offered free at present. Please Click Here to find out how Business in the Community can support you to develop your Rural Charter activity,
** Please contact Business In the Community for further details

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