BEN is the UK’s automotive and related
industries’ charity. It provides care and support to people
connected to all areas of the motor industry, from manufacture of
cars, motorbikes and bicycles and their parts, to sales and repair
– and indeed finance.
BEN relies heavily on the goodwill of its
associated industries to allow it to help those in need. Prior to
the downturn it successfully raised a considerable amount of money
through Performance Related Giving, a scheme whereby car
manufacturers donated 60p to BEN for every new car sold. As the
recession takes its toll on the sales of new cars, this lucrative
income stream has been hard-hit. As such, BEN is looking to extend
the scheme to other aspects of the automotive market, such as
scrappage, and, of course, finance and insurance.
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A history of caring
BEN has been right at the heart of the
automotive industry for 104 years. Millions of men, women and
children are eligible to receive care and support from BEN, and in
the current economic climate, more then ever of them are in need of
BEN’s help. BEN’s residential centres in Ascot, Rugby, Southport
and Berwick-Upon-Tweed provide care to hundreds of elderly or
disabled residents with a connection to the industry, while Arthur
Wilson House in Coventry allows automotive workers to leave an
elderly or disabled relative to be cared for during working
hours.
As well as residential care, BEN provides a welfare
service which currently assists over 16,000 men, women and children
connected to the industry every year. The support ranges from
advice and emotional support to financial or practical assistance
in times of desperate need.
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By GlobalDataAwareness of BEN among the traditionally
more secure and affluent finance industry is low. However, BEN has
been helping motor finance employees and their families and has
spent thousands of pounds on these cases to date.
BEN recently appointed Nigel Williams to the post
of head of national development. He has worked in the motor finance
industry for 30 years, most recently with Black Horse, and is keen
to reach out to the finance sector to raise awareness of BEN.
“While many people have heard of BEN, even I
wasn't prepared for the range and diversity of support
that they can provide to people working in the finance and
insurance industries. At a time when the industry is seeing
considerable consolidation it is likely that more people could turn
to us for help,” explains Nigel.
He adds: “We receive fantastic support from a
number of finance and insurance companies, but we need to extend
our reach in the industry. This is important from an F&I
perspective but the close alignment to the motor industry also
means that you will be supporting the core business that produces
your revenues, especially as it goes through very difficult and
challenging times.”
You can find out more about BEN and
the services it provides to colleagues in need at
www.ben.org.uk.
