In 2018, Barkers was honoured by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply at their Supply Management Awards, receiving the award for Best Contribution to the Reputation of the Profession.
Earlier that year, Barkers set an ambitious goal: to deliver £1 million in social value. As a first step, the company joined Business in the Community (BiTC) and Social Enterprise UK, providing opportunities to engage with numerous social enterprises and charities and identify where their efforts could have the greatest impact.
The senior team also committed to providing pro bono procurement and commercial advisory services to charities, helping organisations strengthen their operations and maximise their impact. Beneficiaries included Bolton at Home, Urban Outreach, Blackpool Carers, and others. In addition, Barkers’ leadership – Managing Directors Warren Kozera and Warren Ward, joined advisory boards, offering commercial guidance and supporting boards to enhance the social value of their activities. These boards included the Blackpool Pride of Place Board, the Responsible Business Network, the BiTC North West Regional Advisory Board, and the Bolton Family Board.
Barkers then took on their most ambitious initiative at the time: establishing a social enterprise. LifeScape, a landscaping business employing ex-offenders, was launched to create social impact and meaningful employment opportunities.
Reflecting on this initiative, Warren Kozera explained:
“LifeScape represented a significant investment of goodwill and resources from Barkers. We established it because we believed it was the right thing to do—for society, for our employees, and for the long-term prospects of our business. The benefits to charities and social enterprises were impressive, and as LifeScape grew, so too did the social value it generated. For us, it was an exciting opportunity to lead the way in reshaping business ethics in the UK market.”
On receiving the award, Kozera added:
“The objective of Barkers’ social value plan has always been to contribute to a fairer, more sustainable economy—where the State, business, and the third sector work together to create a more prosperous society. In just four months, we were proud to have delivered £1.9 million in social value. Receiving recognition from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply is an affirmation of our commitment to this mission.”
Through these initiatives, Barkers demonstrated that business success and social impact can go hand in hand, leaving a lasting legacy of ethical leadership and measurable social value.