Corporate social responsibility has long past the stage in which it is in add-on, a nice thing to do, a philanthropic good. In the past few years, CSR, corporate sponsorship and corporate partnerships have increasingly focused on the mutual benefit to all participatory organisations.

The Corporate Engagement Awards has, since 2011, recognised excellent partnerships, sponsorships and CSR programmes built upon a foundation of mutual benefit; of effecting good in a company’s community or environment for both the best interests of the company and its partners. The 2014 Corporate Engagement Awards programme is poised to honour its most competitive class of entries yet.

The shortlist this year features international heavyweights like EY, KPMG, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola and national household names from the ranks of Marks & Spencer, Morrison’s, O2 and Lloyds Bank, among some of the top non-profit and charity organisations including Cancer Research UK, the National Literacy Trust, Oxfam and Fairtrade. Those prominent names, however are not alone. Strong entries made it onto the shortlist from the likes of regional, international and local organisations that were able to effectively fulfill the remit of the programme and meet the judges’ scrutiny.

Past winners of the Corporate Engagement Awards include Intuit and Startup Britain, the 2013 Grand Prix winners. The project allowed startups to use Intuit’s new payment software, enabling them to take card payments. The partnership gave Intuit a ready-made test audience for a novel service. The 2012 winner was a collaboration between Wickes, A4e, Pimlico Plumbers, London Youth and vinspired. The Volunteer It Yourself project allowed out-of-work youths to gain experience and apprenticeships while renovating a youth centre and taking skills courses.

Brittany Golob, editor of Communicate magazine, says, “Partnerships, sponsorships and CSR programmes with an integrated strategy have a true benefit and strengthen the company culture and reputation of all the organisations involved. The Corporate Engagement Awards is proud to honour these continuing and innovative partnerships and the work they do in and for their communities.”

To attend the 2014 Corporate Engagement Awards on 28 October at the Brewery in London, click here.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Best arts and culture programme

Eifman Ballet and VTB Capital

HighTide Festival Theatre and Lansons

Tate and EY

Best charity, NGO or NFP programme

Centre for Environment and Development, Pallesiri and Raghu Charitable Trust Kakinada

Dyslexia Action, The National Literacy Trust, Shelter and KPMG

Wells Sports Foundation and various partners

Best pro bono work for a charitable, social and ethical cause

BNY Mellon and MHP Communications

Dyslexia Action, The National Literacy Trust, Shelter and KPMG

Housing For Women and MerchantCantos

Wells Sports Foundation and various partners

WPP

Best educational programme

EDF Energy and EdComs

Keepmoat, Mears, Cospa, London Youth and other partners

National Apprenticeship Service and PRCA

National Grid, City Year UK and Grayling

Telefónica UK O2 and Young Enterprise

Best environmental and sustainable programme

O2 and Hope&Glory PR

Olswang LLP and Project Dirt Ltd.

Marks & Spencer and Oxfam

PleaseCycle and Dentsu Aegis Network

PT Bank Mandiri and Universitas Gadjah Mada

Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Portland Communications

Best sports and leisure programme

British Council, the Brazilian Social Services for Industry and Premiership Rugby

Wells Sport Foundation and various partners

Best combined programme

BT Sport's Supporters Club, Public Health England and Premiership Rugby

Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Council and The Greater London Authority

Keepmoat, Mears, Cospa, London Youth and other partners

School of Social Entrepreneurs and Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland 

TIME

Most effective short term programme

Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Council and The Greater London Authority

Dyslexia Action, The National Literacy Trust, Shelter and KPMG

KCOM Group and Sparks

O2 and Hope&Glory PR

PT Bank Mandiri and Universitas Gadjah Mada

Most effective long term programme

EDF Energy and British Energy

Fairtrade, Restless Development and Child Helpline International and KPMG

HighTide Festival Theatre and Lansons

School for Social Entrepreneurs, Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland

NYA, UK Youth and Telefónica O2 UK

SPONSORSHIP

Best sponsorship activity to raise brand awareness

Sony Mobile and CP+B Scandinavia

Best alignment of brand values through a sponsorship activity

Coca-Cola Great Britain, StreetGames and FIFA

vInspired and RBS Early Careers

Most innovative sponsorship activity

Calvert 22 and VTB Capital

Cancer Research UK and ScottishPower

Sony Mobile and CP+B Scandinavia C

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Best alignment of brand value during a CSR programme

BT and The Lord's Taverners

O2 and Hope&Glory PR

Best community involvement during a CSR programme

Astellas Pharma and various partners

Barclays, Land Rover and Premiership Rugby

Coastal Community and KPGroup Philippines

Keepmoat, Mears, Cospa, London Youth and other partners

Michelin and Bright Consultancy

Royal Bank of Scotland RugbyForce, Natwest and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment

Best collaboration of a single event

Cancer Research UK and ScottishPower

Investec and The Lord's Taverners

Vodafone, Vodafone Foundation and Threshold Sports

Wm Morrison Supermarkets, National Farmers Union and Portland Communications

Most innovative collaboration

Internet Matters, Sky, Talk Talk, BT, Virgin Media and Good Relations

Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Council and The Greater London Authority

Central England Co-operative and Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council

Fairtrade, Restless Development and Child Helpline International and KPMG

Keepmoat, Mears, Cospa, London Youth and other partners

Best foundation programme

Santander Foundation and Citigate Dewe Rogerson

COMMUNICATION

Best stakeholder communications

Internet Matters, Sky, Talk Talk, BT, Virgin Media and Good Relations

Marks & Spencer and Logistik

Puma Energy and MerchantCantos

Best internal communications

100% Open and Oxfam EDF Energy and British Energy

McDonalds and Arc

Puma Energy and MerchantCantos

Tayburn

Best PR and external communications

Anthony Nolan and Trinity Mirror

 Internet Matters, Sky, Talk Talk, BT, Virgin Media and Good Relations

Mastercard Europe and Ketchum

O2 and Hope&Glory PR

Best evaluation

EDF Energy and British Energy

PROCESS

Best collaborative approach

ASDA and Corporate Culture

Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Council and The Greater London Authority

Cancer Research UK and ScottishPower

Central England Co-operative and Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council

Keepmoat, Mears, Cospa, London Youth and other partners

Living Wage Foundation and KPMG

Best execution

ASDA and Corporate Culture

Camden Town Unlimited, Camden Council and The Greater London Authority

O2 and Hope&Glory PR

Best management of a programme

Fairtrade, Restless Development, Child Helpline International and KPMG

Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, TI Pharma and various partners

PEOPLE

Best personal contribution during a programme

Living Wage Foundation and KPMG

Telefónica UK O2

Best team effort during a programme

Compass Group and Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK and ScottishPower

From the judges:

Sara Heald, community investment manager at Asda: “I really enjoyed being a judge for these awards as all the entries were truly inspiring. It’s incredibly worthwhile for people to take time out to make a difference in their community. It brings people together connecting to a community and making a huge difference to people’s lives. These entries show the compassion people have for changing the communities we live and work in. Well done to everyone who took the time to submit an entry, keep up the amazing good work.”

Sinead Donoghue, corporate development manager at English Heritage: “Being a judge on the Corporate Engagement Awards has been a really enjoyable experience. It has been interesting to read through the diverse range of nominations that have accounted some innovative and inspiring partnerships that are making a real difference to communities around the world.”

Jane Chambers, senior development manager at the National Portrait Gallery: “[There were] A great range and breadth of applications, with many projects demonstrating drive, determination, passion and commitment,” and, “Many projects demonstrated that they are making a real difference in local communities. A number of projects demonstrated evolving business practice and thinking especially in regard to employees, which was good to see.”