25 Nov 2015
• National Grid's Nathan Winyard has been working as a Business Connector in Reading to assist vital work in the community
• Part of a pioneering scheme, run by charity Business in the Community, to enable the skills and talent from business to benefit local communities
• Scheme backed by David Cameron and Prince Charles
Voluntary organisations and charities in Reading have been enjoying a boost over the past six months after National Grid placed a full time Business Connector in the area.
Nathan Winyard left his day job as a National Grid System Operator Assurance Manager six months ago to take on a unique matchmaking role to link up charities and voluntary groups in Reading with businesses who can help them.
Backed by HRH the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister David Cameron, the Business Connectors programme is run by the charity Business in the Community.
Part of a £4.8m Big Lottery funded scheme, the programme takes talented individuals from the business world and places them in communities where they can use their time, networks and expertise to connect local needs with business resources in the area.
Talking about his work, Nathan said: 'I'm delighted to be the Business Connector for Reading and am grateful that National Grid gave me the opportunity to do this role. I believe business has a vital role to play in supporting and working with the voluntary sector. In my six months on the ground, I've seen this work out in a number of ways.
'For example we've arranged for 365 ITMS, an IT support company based in Risely, to give mentoring support to Christian Community Action and adult learning service New Directions.'
Steve Ellis, Managing Director of 365 ITMS says, 'Nathan approached us about participating in a mentoring support initiative and we were delighted to help. We are always looking at ways to give something back to our local community and this initiative is a 'win win' as far as we are concerned. The ability to share knowledge, expertise and experience is an enriching and rewarding experience both for the mentor and mentee'.
'We've also seen further matches made with marketing support being given by a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing to the 3Cs community cafe in Caversham, and another match where Waitrose have provided mentoring to The Mustard Tree Foundation which runs projects that work with those on the fringes of society.'
Nathan, who is due to complete his matchmaking secondment in April 2016, added: ' It's very much like being a matchmaker putting together business and community groups for the benefit of the town and the organisations and companies matched creating a truly win win situation.'
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said: 'Business Connectors is based on the proven impact of taking business resource, skills and time into the heart of communities where vital community services are under pressure to do more with less. Three years into the programme it is clear they are having a powerful impact, but there is still so much more to be done.
'We're delighted that National Grid has placed Nathan Winyard to work in this community. We hope others are inspired by the leadership shown by National Grid and all the other organisations that support the programme, to also take a stand to build sustainable cohesive communities at this critical time.'
For further information visit: http://www.bitc.org.uk/programmes/business-connectors