This is a brand new award, which was judged by a panel from philanthropic organisations, recognises the supplier providing the best support for charitable or ethical initiatives, whether that’s locally or further afield.

This year, more than ever before, we have needed to give and receive support from our communities. We have seen organisations and individuals work together to support one another and to collectively find ways to cope with a global pandemic, lockdowns and the associated challenges.

We are thrilled to name MilliporeSigma the CiteAb Charitable Supplier of the Year 2021!

MilliporeSigma is committed to accelerating access to health for people everywhere, while sparking curiosity in the next generation.

In 2020, MilliporeSigma invested more than €2.3 million and donated more than €4 million in product donations to nonprofit partners in communities where the company is active. Over 9,700 of the company’s employees have volunteered over 89,401 hours. The company has also supported science education through its Curiosity Labs™ and the Curiosity Cube®, both aimed at supporting STEM education in schools.

With the COVID-19 pandemic closing schools globally, the team at MilliporeSigma pivoted its science education programming to a virtual format, helping parents navigate at-home learning through fun, educational science activities.

Our judges for this category were selected from a range of social enterprise organisations, and between them have a far-reaching and impressive portfolio of civic and community charitable projects they have been involved in. They included Founder and Chair of Brevio - Marcelle Speller (OBE), British Empire Medal holding volunteer coordinator Joshua Hale, and Backpack founder and Unseen trustee Sammy Burt. They were unanimously impressed with MilliporeSigma’s programme of voluntary and educational activity, and at the way in which the company had adapted to support parents and teachers throughout the pandemic.

Dr Andrew Chalmers said: “We were amazed to discover just how many companies across the life science reagent sector have really carefully thought out and delivered community programmes - involving a huge range of activities including staff volunteering, education events, fundraising, profile raising of niche research areas and investment in their local communities. This was a really challenging category for our judges, they felt that many companies deserved recognition for the work that they are doing, but MilliporeSigma really did stand out for the huge impact it is achieving. I wish all of the team at MilliporeSigma many congratulations on winning our Charitable Supplier of the Year 2021 award.”