Community

Briar Chemicals has excellent community relations, engaging with stakeholders through a varied and proactive programme of external communications.

Communicating with our neighbours

If you live or work in close proximity to our site, you may find yourself within our 850m COMAH consultation zone. Please register so we can send you any appropriate emergency response information and add you to our newsletter mailing list.

Regular newsletters are sent to local residents to keep our neighbours up-to-date with company news and developments, and  site visits are actively encouraged. The company hosts regular community forums and open evenings, where topical issues are discussed, and we offer help to local causes wherever possible. The company has developed its own biodiversity programme with the help of Norfolk Wildlife Services which has involved local school children with wild flower, hedgerow, tree planting and bird box building, as well as helping local children’s nurseries establish gardens of their own.

Schools and Education

In 2006 we were presented with the Chemical Industry Association’s “Community Award” and since then the company’s work with local schools has gone from strength to strength. The annual Poetry Competition, established in 2005, receives 100’s of entries every year from schools all over the region. Every year the company hosts local “Year in Industry” students, work placements and apprenticeships, as well as supporting career days, promoting work in science and engineering based industries. Briar Chemicals has facilitated special workshops which promote the message “Science learning is fun”, supporting the Schools Carbon Challenge and the UEA’s Science Olympiad and MBA programmes.

The Company also hosts annual Science Investigation Days and presents Child Safety Education Foundation booklets to its neighbouring schools.

Supporting local arts projects

Outside the classroom, the company enjoys supporting local arts events such as the Norfolk & Norwich Festival and art exhibitions, which promote local talent.

Tim Green, Site Manager said:

We have worked hard at building strong links with our local communities over a period of many years and hope to make them even stronger. As well as making contributions to the local community, it’s important that Briar Chemicals raises awareness of what we do here in Norwich and the value created by chemical manufacturing. We really do value the two-way communication.

Briar Chemical’s factsheet for schools can be downloaded here.

Factsheet for Schools