On Friday 23 October, the international management consultancy, headquartered in Cambridge, teamed up with Cambridge City Council to improve wildlife habitat at Cherry Hinton Hall, a 12-hectare public park in south-east Cambridge.
Working alongside the City Council’s Community Engagement team, the Cambridge MC team focused on the glade in the nature area at the rear of the park, cutting back grass, clearing away the cuttings, sowing wildflower seeds and making hedgehog homes.
The work was designed to support the management of the green space and create better conditions for wildlife, while giving Cambridge MC colleagues a direct role in caring for their local environment.
Tim Passingham, founder and executive chairman of Cambridge MC, explained: “Making a positive impact means being prepared to roll up our sleeves and contribute to the communities in which we work. Rather than treating environmental responsibility as an abstract corporate ambition, Green Day gives our colleagues the opportunity to contribute their time and effort to community green spaces – turning our commitment into something tangible by working alongside our local community, supporting the places we share and recognising that small, practical actions can make a difference when we take them together.
“The initiative also reflects the importance of collaboration in environmental action. Individual volunteers, community groups, businesses, and local authorities all have an important role to play in maintaining accessible green spaces and supporting urban biodiversity.”
While Cambridge was the focus of the company-wide initiative, Green Day extended beyond the city, with events taking place in London and the New Forest. Planned initiatives in London were unfortunately cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
In the New Forest, Cambridge MC colleagues worked with local environmental group ECO SWAY on preparing shared green spaces and planting pollinator-friendly bulbs to support bees and butterflies in the spring.
Unfortunately, the London team’s efforts were cancelled due to Storm Austen. However, they were excited to be joining local volunteers from Stoke Newington Urban Green (SNUG) to water and mulch young trees ahead of winter, helping them to establish and reach maturity.
As an international consultancy, the team’s environmental efforts did not stop there. In France, one Managing Partner contributed to his local ecosystem by planting an oak tree, and in Portugal another Partner showed her support by planting several fruit trees. Elsewhere, consultants based outside of the UK or simply unable to travel to the three primary locations sowed tree bombs as a remote way of amplifying the day’s overall mission.
Green Day forms part of Cambridge MC’s wider commitment to using its expertise, time, and resources to create positive impact. The purpose-beyond-profit company commits at least 10% of its profits to charitable causes that tally with its ‘Five Cs’: Children (and young people), Conservation (and sustainability), Cancer, Communications, and Cambridge (the Cambridge ecosystem).
Alongside financial support, Cambridge MC also engages in purposeful pro bono work, gifting at least 1% of its time and expertise to help charities mature, digitalise, and reduce costs. And, uniquely, the company holds 1% of its equity in reserve for charitable use should an equity event occur.
In September, Cambridge MC achieved Certified B Corporation status, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to responsible business and recognising its approach to creating value for its team, clients, community, and the environment alongside commercial success.
Tim said: “Our approach recognises that a responsible business is not defined solely by the advice it gives clients, but also by the contribution it makes to the communities and environments in which it operates.
“By combining hands-on work with local partners across Cambridge, the New Forest, and London, the Green Day initiative is bringing this principle to life – one green space at a time.”
