Antibiotic Research UK is calling businesses to put antibiotic resistance on their risk register. We want them to help protect modern medicine through our newly launched corporate program. Corporate partnerships manager Samia tells us how becoming part of the programme can help businesses improve their social and environmental sustainability.
Why is the charity partnering with companies?
Antibiotic Research UK was founded nearly a decade ago to combat the global catastrophe of antibiotic resistance. Ten years later the charity is supporting and giving a voice to thousands of people affected by chronic antibiotic resistant infections. We’re also giving hope through our research. But we need to do more, helping drive the system change the world needs.
Corporate partnerships have an essential role to play. They’ll provide crucial resource for research, patient support, and raising awareness. Businesses can engage the public, policymakers, staff, and customers with Antibiotic Research.
Recent trends show charity-corporate partnerships becoming more important for both charities and businesses. Leading companies want purpose and impact. Many have professional, knowledgeable, and committed teams dedicated to giving and sustainability. With the right partnership, companies can enhance brand, grow audience and networks, inspire and empower staff, influence policy, and improve social and environmental sustainability.
With so many causes to choose from, why would companies pick Antibiotic Research UK?
A recent report from Citi links antibiotic resistance to a concerning 16 out of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It threatens everybody and is a true public health challenge. The fact that children are at risk is sure to resonate with staff and customers. While nobody is safe, low-income communities and nations are most affected so this is also about inequality.
Antibiotic resistance is a business risk, which corporates need to plan for, and investors expect to see addressed, as the Global Head of ESG for Aviva Investors explained for us recently. Finally, globally very few charities work on antibiotic resistance, and I believe we are unique in working so closely with patients: the people who are suffering under this new reality already. We know shifting policy is crucial to drive change, yet patients’ perspective is rarely part of those discussions. We want to partner so we can bring these real people and unheard stories and voices to wherever there is an opportunity to educate or influence.
How do you work with companies?
All companies are unique, so we offer plenty of options, plus bespoke partnerships. One low-budget option is to do a fundraising challenge as a company team, which we can support and publicise, so that both organisations grow their visibility, while raising funds and awareness. Consumer-facing brands with limited budget could consider cause-related-marketing. Larger companies can provide grants for projects involving specific audiences that they may want to support or engage. For example, patients, STEM & medical students, or researchers.
We are particularly excited about our new Corporate Supporter Circles. Circles are groups of donors providing unrestricted donations of £2,500+ to £10,000+ who are welcomed onto a flexible stewardship program involving activities like staff education, events, and special insights. We have two Circles, named after antibiotic pioneers:
Our Waksman Circle is named after the remarkable Selman Abraham Waksman who, after emigrating to the USA as a young man in the early 20th Century, discovered 18 different antibiotics including Streptomycin — the first used to cure tuberculosis. Waksman had witnessed his sister’s death from a bacterial infection as a young child and, perhaps influenced by this, left a philanthropic legacy that helped create the Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University, New Jersey. We are delighted to announce that Aspire Pharma, Shionogi, and B Braun Medical Ltd. have recently joined the Waksman Circle.
Our Rebstock Circle is named in recognition of Mildred Rebstock (born 1919, USA). Aged 27 and working in a male-dominated field, Rebstock was the first person to determine how to make the antibiotic chloromycetin synthetically, allowing production to be massively scaled up, helping combat typhoid fever and typhus. Despite Awards and media attention, she was unfortunately not rewarded with timely or significant promotion by her employer.
Other partnerships have involved a service or collaboration, such as our work with Well Pharmacy to educate and inspire their pharmacy trainees while they have helped hundreds of Well customers access our patient support service via a special QR code.
Historically we have worked mainly with medical or health companies, but we know financial, insurance, tech, hygiene, and sustainable food companies are a great fit and welcome interest from brands looking to show sector leadership by being amongst the first to work with us.
How can companies find out more?
We want our partners to come with us on the journey to create the solutions and changes our world needs together. We’ve already lived through one pandemic and seen its impact – antibiotic resistance is called the silent or hidden pandemic, but it’s here now and already killing 1.3 million people globally each year (and a contributing factor to 5 million). We have a new leadership team, and ambitions to grow our voice and influence, making now an ideal time to connect with us and see where a discussion might lead. Contact Samia to request our Corporate Circles brochure, or arrange a discussion. Also see our Corporate Partnerships Page.