Keep Britain Tidy and Waste Watch merge to improve chances of funding 3

Finance | Vibeka Mair | 8 Aug 2011

Environmental charities, Keep Britain Tidy and Waste Watch have merged after deciding it would be financially beneficial as the two organisations often chase the same sources of funding.

The merger follows a year-long strategic alliance between the two charities.

In a statement, the organisations said the decision will see the two charities work under the trading name Keep Britain Tidy, although both brand names will be retained.

Head of communications for Keep Britain Tidy, Sam Jarvis told edieWaste: "There are various ways the two organisations complement each other as there are many links between the programmes.

"It was decided that the two boards could be stronger together, as there are certain expertises that can be shared, such as the phasing out of Defra grants and expertise in campaigning and sharing of networks.

"Financially, it is also beneficial as the two organisations often chase the same sources of funding."

Phil Barton, current chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy (inc. £10.3m) will lead the newly-merged organisation, while Waste Watch (inc. £2m) chief executive Stewart Crocker, will continue to support the merged organisation as a consultant during its period of transition.

The merged organisation will keep its current Keep Britain Tidy office in Wigan and the Waste Watch office in London and no redundancies have been planned following the merger.

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David Burrows
Head of Fundraising
TDA
11 Aug 2011

Hmm, a merger where no redundancies are planned is a curious thing. Whilst I don't wish redundancy on anyone isn't it usual when two organisations are merged to discover that you no longer need two finance directors, two HR directors, two IT directors, two heads of communications, two head offices etc.?

Keep Britain Tidy also has a chequered history when it comes to brand, having once ditched Keep Britain Tidy for the uninspiring name 'Encams', then changed back. (See the fount of all truth, Wikipedia, for more details.)

Let's hope it is under better leadership now.

[Reply]

Sam Jarvis
Head of Communications and Marketing
Keep Britain Tidy
11 Aug 2011
Response to [David Burrows]

I agree David, it is unusual for there to be no redundancies, but the reason for this is quite straightforward.

Finance and IT - Waste Watch already outsourced these functions.

Communications - the Head of Communications post was externally advertised; previously it was covered in Keep Britain Tidy by a secondee from the Environment Agency. The only other staff member in the Waste Watch comms team was a graphic designer; Keep Britain Tidy did not have this expertise in-house. The two teams could therefore be eaily integrated without duplication.

HR - Waste Watch has one person resonsible for HR, who is still needed to deal with the large volume of temporary staff who work on Waste Watch projects.

Head offices - the Head Office is in Wigan. A London Office was seen as strategically important and will house the Waste Watch team and Love Where You Live campaign team.

Hope that clarifies.

[Reply]

Jo Spool
Man of the people
8 Aug 2011

So has Tottenham been in touch for the first collaborative contract then? Perhaps not what with Boris being on holiday and all.

[Reply]

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