Northants Police reward local businessman’s Goodwill

Mike Britton, Managing Director of University partner Goodwill Solutions CIC, was honoured by the Police Service of Northampton last night at its annual force awards ceremony.

Sadly, due to illness, Mike could not attend, but in his stead his wife accepted the Chief Constable’s Commendation, awarded for Goodwill Solutions’ work with disadvantaged clients, including former offenders.

In publicising the award, a police spokesperson said: “Mike’s partnership with Northamptonshire Police is invaluable. He has provided food and clothing to human trafficking victims, and office space and facilities free of charge to both our Early Intervention and Integrated Offender Management teams.”

And this is not the first time Mike and his company have been recognised this year.

Mike had previously won a Barclays’ Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and in September Goodwill Solutions also won in the Social Enterprise category at the UK Private Business Awards National Finals.

That was followed by the announcement they were to receive a Silver Award through the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in support of Armed Forces Covenant – for their provision to former services personnel in resettlement and in gaining employment.

Along with co-founder, Graham Tomkins, Mike was also a National Finalist in the Entrepreneur for Good category at the recent NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Goodwill Solutions is a self-funded business established in 2008. A community interest company based in Northampton, Goodwill Solutions specialises in the training and recruitment of ex-offenders. More than 80 per cent of Mike’s workforce is made up of ex-offenders and today it funds back to work programmes supplying free forklift courses and NVQs in warehousing annually to more than 120 clients.

The University of Northampton joined the business in 2012 as a stakeholder, as according to Professor Simon Denny, Executive Dean of Research, Impact and Enterprise, the two organisations share a desire and determination to create a positive impact on society through commerce.

“I am very proud of the great work Goodwill Solutions does and its constant drive for innovation is having a positive effect on the communities that we both serve locally, nationally, and internationally. For Goodwill Solutions and the University, social innovation is bringing new thinking to help tackle long-standing problems.”