Barclays

Social Firms are market-led businesses set up specifically to create employment for disabled people (minimum 25% of their workforce). Social Firms UK is the national support agency for these businesses. They share the same values base as Employers' Forum on Disability, are working to the same goal and represent some great businesses. To buy services and products from Social Firms is another way for the business world to enable employment to be created for disabled people and have a social and economic impact through purchasing practices.

One of these Social Firms is Aquamacs, an aquarium rental and maintenance company which has already done an installation for at least one of our members - a branch of Barclays Bank in Manchester.

Barclays was operating a Support and Well Being programme and staff in Manchester were asked what kind of facilities they would like to enhance their office environment as part of this initiative. As a result of this consultation, Aquamacs was contacted by email in May 2006 to request costings for a 5 ft aquarium for the branch in Manchester. Following a site visit by Aquamacs it was decided that a corner 330 litre aquarium would be more suitable. This was duly installed in August 2006 and Barclays is apparently so pleased with the feedback from staff about the installation and service that they now want another aquarium in their Luton branch with possibly more to follow elsewhere in the country.

Aquamacs was founded by Stuart Mackenzie in 2002. The organisation leases and maintains award-winning aquariums, both cutting-edge and traditional, for business customers to provide a therapeutic stress-relieving environment. Aquamacs is able to offer installations on a national basis since joining up with Social Firms UK to initiate a national network of Social Firms operating under the Aquamacs name.

Aquamacs appeals to ethical purchasing on a number of points:

• it was set up by someone with a disability and is setting out to create more employment opportunities for disabled people;
• the aquariums are proven to help stress relief in the workplace;
• it is ‘green' in attempting to keep transportation to a minimum with a plan for the long term to breed tropical fish in the UK.

Stuart had the idea for Aquamacs while recovering in hospital from an accident that left him unable to do a manual job. Says Stuart: ‘As with a lot of people who have gone through a period of rehabilitation, I am keen to assist others who have/are experiencing similar problems. There is no reason why people who are disabled should struggle to get employment or be paid a fair wage. I hope I have successfully combined a commercial business with the aims and principles of Social Firms. Everyone enjoys working for Aquamacs.'

Other companies which have worked with Aquamacs include OCS Group, Serco and Sky One. More information can be found on the Aquamacs website: www.aquamacs.co.uk

More information about Social Firms UK and its members can be found at www.socialfirms.co.uk