University expertise giving the world a chance
The School of Management's Professor Simon Lilley with Rama Bhalla.
Leicester-based social enterprise Giving World Online is ready to expand its operations across the UK, bringing relief to thousands more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities thanks to technical expertise, advice and contacts provided by the University of Leicester.
The founders of Giving World, sisters Rama and Sujata Bhalla, are passionate about helping vulnerable people and saving the planet at the same time. Over the next six months, the recycling and distribution of unwanted surplus company stock to charities and community groups will roll out across the East Midlands, West Midlands and the Greater London area as a direct result of this ethos and the University’s marketing and computing expertise.
The Department of Computer Science's Dr Tom Ridge and the School of Management's Dr Matthew Higgins provided their assistance through two Innovation Partnerships, organised through the Enterprise and Business Development Office.
The innovative organisation has also created three new jobs having won Lottery funding to develop its work and a University contact recently led to the donation of 244 pallets of domestic cleaning products which might otherwise have gone to landfill. The two sisters said that had they not involved the University of Leicester in this way they would not be in their current position, achieving a significant impact and reducing the number of people in need.
The University is very pleased and excited about this project as well. Not only does it provide a first rate example of what can be achieved by the Higher Education, commercial and third sectors working together, but also articulates one of the University’s core values in working to a more sustainable future.
