Case Study, Bioforce (UK) Ltd

Bioforce is a family owned business, established in 1987. It has been based in Ayrshire since 1990. One of the main precepts on which Bioforce is based is built on ‘helping people to help themselves’. This applies not only to Bioforce’s herbal medicines, but also to their work directly with the community and in the support they give to their suppliers and retailers who work for the good of their communities.

Bioforce has a clear sponsorship and donations policy, supported by an appropriate budget. As well as the sponsorship budget, Bioforce lodge a minimum £1,000 per annum with the Charities Aid Foundation to enable them to respond to requests for charitable donations, e.g. RADAR, RNIB, RSPCC, etc. Bioforce support local good causes such as:

• Corporate member SSPCA.
• Lifeboats of the Clyde - £1,000 donation to Troon lifeboat (RNLI).
• Adopted charity 2004 – Yorkhill Children’s Hospital Trust - £1042 raised through various initiatives, including sponsored walk.
• Hesselhead Animal Sanctuary, Beith – Staff built an aviary for large birds.
• Work Shadowing – Bioforce offer work shadowing to school pupils from various Ayrshire schools.
• Broon frae Troon’s garden – £200 donation.
• Wooden Spoon Society – a charity supporting disabled and disadvantaged young people UK wide with such projects as the school for Autism in Alloa.

Bioforce seeks to be honest and fair in its relationships with customers. Bioforce is represented in almost every health store in Britain and Ireland and a large percentage of independent pharmacies. Bioforce has strong and well-established links with its retail customers. They are served by a team of Territory Managers and Herbal Advisers who regularly visit the stores.

Bioforce use local suppliers whenever possible. Whilst the majority of Bioforce customers are retailers, the company does have a small number of direct consumers who are supported through mail order. Each consumer order contains additional information such as information leaflets, samples and copies of Healthy Way magazine, etc. Healthy Way is a quarterly free magazine on health and lifestyle issues distributed to consumers through health stores and pharmacies as well as to over 20,000 postal subscribers and via the web, providing them with useful information on many relevant issues.

Bioforce gained the IIP award in 2001 and continues to maintain the standard. In addition, the company has been awarded the Two Ticks Award for a positive attitude to disabled employees.

• Catherine Lang, Communications Manager for Bioforce is the ABIC Chairman
• Bioforce is In receipt of the ABIC Community Excellence Bronze Award
• Member of Ayrshire Business in the Community Steering Group
• Member of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Bioforce (UK) Ltd
2 Brewster Place,
Irvine
KA11 5DD
Scotland

t: 01294 277344
f: 01294 277922
e: enquiries@bioforce.co.uk
w: www.bioforce.co.uk

NB: All case studies are based on the Organisation’s Bronze Award submission.