The Softcat News Team
Softcat sponsors ten ‘office’ hives to help save the bees
Einstein once said that if honeybees disappeared from the face of the Earth, man would only have four years to live. While the world has moved on since Einstein’s day, his comment remains more valid than we might think.
Today, more than 80% of plants and flowers, and one out of three mouthfuls of what we eat, relies on bees for pollination. Crops that depend on pollination are five times more valuable than those that do not.
Softcat has sponsored 10 beehives, one to represent each office, with Buckley’s Bees as part of its commitment to sustainability and having a positive impact on the environment. Biodiversity projects are an increasing area of work for businesses as all sectors strive to take responsibility and protect our natural resources.
Rachel Moorthy, Softcat’s Sustainability Executive, said: “We have been looking for a biodiversity project to champion, and bees were the perfect opportunity given that every area of the country, and the world, need them. They play a critical role in our eco-system, a system we rely on for food, water, fresh air, medicine, and other activities that improve our quality of life.
“It was important to us that we engaged with a local project that would positively impact the environment and social development which align with our priority Sustainable Development Goals. Buckley’s Bees was perfect for us. Similar to how Softcat cares deeply about investing in its people, Buckley’s are passionate in making a positive difference to bees by creating opportunities and building awareness about the importance of protecting them, and passing on the beekeeping trade to the younger generations.
Bees are classified as a keystone species because of the critical role they play in our ecosystems. Their extinction would be detrimental to our food systems, and wider natural ecosystems. One immediate impact will be a shortage of available fruits and vegetables, spiking their cost and leaving lots of households unable to afford these staple foods. The scarcity of food will also negatively impact other flora and fauna, resulting in further biodiversity loss.
Emma Buckley, Director of Buckley’s Bees, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Softcat onboard. Working with likeminded companies like Softcat is wonderful; individuals and businesses alike that share an interest and passion for the good that bees and other pollinators do in our world really can create a catalyst for positive change.
“Not only will Softcat’s sponsorship help to support 10 colonies of bees, their involvement will also help us to educate others about the importance of pollinators and how vital they are for the world we live in.”
Rachel added: “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to protect our native bees and help fund important academic research to study the symbiotic relationship between soil fertility, plants and bees.”
