Going 'green' in Harrogate: How ARK can bring a passion for the environment to your business

Harrogate Homeless Project to move to better space as numbers seeking help continue to grow during Covid

ARK Business Conservation Projects is the brainchild of two Yorkshire entrepreneurs, Liz Theakston and Nigel Sikora who wanted to help employees to get hands-on working on exciting environmental projects such as ocean plastics, animal rescue and environmental repair.

The duo used lockdown to secure key conservation projects across the UK as well as generate interest from business clients.

Co-founder, Liz Theakston, who has 20 years project and event management experience, with expertise in logistics. said: “We had the idea for ARK over coffee long before lockdown.

"Our careers are very much grounded in the business and events world, but our passion is for conservation and the environment. ARK was a way to bring the two together.”

Major conservation organisations have already signed up to ARK to offer these experiences, including the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Project Seagrass, which operates from the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University.

Employees could find themselves helping with a Puffin project or somewhere more exotic in the world to help conserve seagrass ecosystems, which absorb vast amounts of carbon and support thousands of species.

Co-founder Nigel Sikora’s career is in workplace design, consultancy and change management.

Nigel said: “Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes have become a key focus for organisations, However they can sometimes feel disconnected.

"ARK enables engagement in projects which helps to attract and retain talent.

"Some employees are looking for more than traditional benefits, they want to get 'hands on’ and work for organisations they can be proud of, experiencing conservation at the coal face and make a positive impact on the world.

"We would like an ARK project to become part of their corporate DNA.”

ARK is focussing on joining up local UK projects to UK companies, but for global companies that host oversea employee meetings, away-days or conferences, ARK aims to offer its services to link them with nearby environmental projects.

Liz said: “Even before lockdown, Corporate Social Responsibility has become a key motivator for organisations who want to attract the best talent.

"Staff are no longer motivated just by the offer of a decent pension, they want to work for organisations they can be proud of, that takes responsibility and makes a positive impact on the world.

"Lockdown has just made ARK more pertinent as one of the key positives that came out of the pandemic was the renewed awareness for, and passion, for nature. It has been such a respite for many at a time when the climate emergency is at its peak.

"This is a way to ensure the business world actively engages and supports our environment.

"The more we engage with the natural world, the more we care about it and want to protect it”

As well as offering meaningful CSR, the projects offer team-building and bonding experiences. ARK will also offer ‘hands-off’ engagement, where businesses can become corporate sponsors of a conservation project that resonates with their organisation or values.

Harrogate's care heroes get a festive treat with help of local businesses

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.