Client Community
Over the last four years SCB has spent over $250,000 and substantial amounts of time and effort supporting and sponsoring biodiesel, bioethanol and biomass conferences and congresses around the world. Our motivation is to promote understanding of the products in order to boost usage and transparency.
A variety of different SCB staff members have given over 30 presentations at conferences, in addition to television and newspaper interviews with the same goal of promoting the growth and development of the bio markets.
SCB also arranges client events where opposite numbers can meet and get a better understanding of the issues different parties have in the market place. Guest speakers often add further insight to the discussions.
Left: Bob Geldof who met with SCB clients in Brussels to discuss biofuels adoption in rural communities, rock music and the world in general.
Center: Alain Prost who in addition to being four times Formula 1 World Championship winner was an advisor on biofuels for the French government, met with clients of SCB in Geneva to discuss biofuels and his career.
Right: Nick Leeson, who gave a presentation to clients of SCB in Amsterdam about the ups and downs of trading.
Corporate Social Initiative
The employees of SCB believe that the firm should engage with the
wider community as part of a CSI.
This initiative is linked to our core value of respect and reflects the
importance we place on opportunity, effort and determination.
The focused areas of support are firstly the disadvantaged and secondly
education. It’s our view that given the chance almost all people wish to
do the best they can, but, in some cases there are impediments such as
poverty or lack of skills or in some countries, gender. We support moves
to equality of opportunity, not outcome.
Several academics have estimated that not more
than 3% to 5% of all charitable foundation money goes to organizations
serving the poor, people of color, women and children at risk,
gays/lesbians, disabled and troubled youth. We wish to ensure that at
least 50% of our donations touch people in these groupings.
The bulk of the remainder of the funds will be earmarked for education,
in any form. Ideally we are looking for educational projects in which we
can have some sort of operational involvement and preferably within the
biofuels or sustainability sectors.
Our objective is to support projects in the
vicinity of the SCB office network, so Geneva, Chicago, London,
Rotterdam and soon New York, Singapore and Africa.
In the past SCB has split its resources between simple
charitable giving and supporting volunteering. However, going forward
our entire focus will move towards supporting volunteering. SCB has
supported two charities though volunteering with some financial support
where necessary.
www.peaksfoundation.org
Peaks
organize global mountain challenges for women who seek adventure, a
sense of personal achievement, and an opportunity to make a positive
difference in the world. Peaks support and empower women and girls in
communities where the challenges take place, through initiatives such as
education, maternal healthcare and community-led conservation.
Chicago Jokers: http://www.eteamz.com/ChicagoJokers/albums/
SCB assists financially and with coaching for the Chicago Jokes, an inner city football team for 6 and 7 year olds.
Previous to these charities SCB has
supported three others financially and in addition a number of education
projects have been completed in Switzerland.
Case Study: Peaks Foundation and SCB
Companies work best when there is a balance of experiences, cultures
and knowledge on which to draw. A balance of gender in the workplace is
just as vital. We believe mono-gender work environments breed sub
optimal results and successful companies need a good gender balance.
The
commodities industry is seen as male dominated. Broking in general is
seen as male dominated. Broking in the commodities industry, do we need
to say it. SCB is committed to getting a gender balance in all roles
within the firm. We battle the perceptions of the industry and
profession and need to impress on potential applicants our gender
balance goals.
Peaks Foundation came to our attention
in 2010. It has two mandates. Firstly Peaks arranges difficult mountain
climbing challenges across the globe for women to empower and breed
confidence in an activity traditionally seen as male dominated. Secondly
Peaks climbs raise money to support and empower women and girls in far
flung communities through initiatives in education, maternal healthcare
and community-led conservation.
We could not have
designed a Charity more suited to both our corporate goals of promotion
to potential female employees and our CSI goals of helping disadvantaged
minority groups gain some opportunity through commerce or education.
The
Board of SCB agreed to provide Peaks financial support as soon as the
presentation was finished. SCB quickly incorporated an entitlement to
participate in a Peaks climb for all female employees of more than two
years standing. Thus far three women have taken part. SCB covers the
climb costs and grants Social Enterprise Leave which is paid and not
holiday. We asked the three staff climbers to feedback to us how the
Peaks event impacted their life and view of SCB. Some of the comments
are shown below.
One of the employees who joined a
climb has gone on to do accounting work for Peaks in her spare time. A
SCB Board Directors has joined the Board of Peaks to assist the
foundation think more like a commercial enterprise and avoid thinking
like a charity.
For its 2012 client calendar SCB put an image of a Peaks climber on
the front cover. SCB received more positive comments from clients on
this calendar than the previous 5 years put together.
In 2012 The Board of SCB granted a further direct financial donation to Peaks Foundation.
SCB staff comments after completing their sponsored climb:
“We
were a team of nine women of different ages and backgrounds who walked
five days through rain, fog and mist for the same purpose. It was
teamwork, friendship, compassion and the focus on a common goal that
gave us the necessary energy to reach Lukla. These values are an asset
to any company!”
“I would say that the experience
changed the way I do my job. I think it gave me a sense of “of course I
can do that, I just climbed a mountain! And if I’m unsure, I’ll find a
way.””
“Women
are only starting to get management positions for the past 20 years.
The concept of empowering woman through a personal adventure challenge
is, in my eyes, extremely effective and definitely innovative. I am
proud to work for an open minded successful company that taps into a
pioneer and visionary future. In the past, companies have sent me to
seminars and conferences…”
“The support that SCB has
given to Peaks and the encouragement that employees are given to go out
and get involved (through Peaks and Social Enterprise Leave) in
non-profit related activities has transformed my opinion of the
company.”
“Commodity Broking is a male dominated field.
I think this softens the image and helps to promote women on a number
of levels…..Everyone in the office is aware of our trip”
“Peaks
has expanded my horizons. It gives me more confidence, a stronger
desire to network and makes me more complete as a person. It has
certainly strengthened my commitment to SCB and has made me an advocate
for the Company.”
“The commodity industry has a lot of
reputational risks. I think that building a positive reputation through
initiatives such as Peaks will only reap benefits down the line.”
Case Study: Peaks Foundation and The Chicago Jokers
The
Chicago Jokers Youth Football and Cheerleading serves as a healthy and
safe organization for boys and girls in Chicago’s West Side. Through its
membership in the Pop Warner Football organization, players and
cheerleaders not only stay active and learn the sports of football and
cheerleading, but are provided an opportunity to participate in a
positive activity that keeps them far from the gangs and drugs that can
destroy the lives of youths in Chicago’s inner city communities.
Not
only has the program been successful keeping players active and out of
trouble, it has also been competitively successful giving the
participants a sense of pride in themselves and their team. Players have
gone on to receive scholarships to some of the more esteemed high
school programs in Chicago and some have even gone on to star at the
collegiate level.
In 2011, two of our employees volunteered their time to coach the 5-7 year old division for the Jokers.
