ArcelorMittal highly commended in responsible business award for leading private sector response to Ebola outbreak in Liberia

ArcelorMittal has been recognised in the 2016 Business in the Community Annual Responsible Business Awards, and more specifically in the UPS International Disaster Relief Award category supported by the UK Department for International Development.

The award acknowledges ArcelorMittal’s successful efforts in bringing the private sector together to fight the Ebola virus in Liberia, mobilising emergency support and building goodwill for their business.

“I am very proud of the proactive approach that we took in leading the private sector response to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia.” Mr. Mittal commented.

The judges applauded the Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group (EPSMG) for demonstrating an inspirational and highly successful approach.

“By leading the private sector response to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the EPSMG demonstrated the unequivocal power of the private sector as a partner in humanitarian aid,” said Luis Arriaga, Managing Director UK Ireland, Nordics, UPS Ltd, who chaired the judging panel.

He added: “The EPSMG demonstrated the strength of common purpose, core skills competencies and resources, and stakeholder relationships between business and their employees, other business, the communities in the areas they operate, and government.

“The EPSMG had clear impact, scale and significance. Given the predicted deaths from the outbreak, the result of zero deaths across the immediate employee group is amazing. This is a clearly replicable, scalable and inspirational initiative.”

The event at the O2 arena was the culmination of the 2016 Responsible Business Awards, run by The Prince of Wales’s charity Business in the Community to celebrate the innovative ways that businesses in the UK and abroad are making a sustained difference and transforming communities.

Stephen Howard, chief executive, Business in the Community said: “The Responsible Business Awards provide the proof that from the largest global multinational to the smallest local firm, business is a powerful force for good in society. This year we have seen some profound examples of what business can achieve when it puts responsibility at the heart of its operations. I congratulate ArcelorMittal for the practical action it has taken to build a fairer world and more sustainable future."

Over 1,600 senior guests, from SME owners to the CEOs of global brands attended the Annual Responsible Business Gala on 11 July.

Almost 300 companies entered the 2016 Responsible Business Awards which represent the varied ways that businesses can make a sustained difference, and tackle issues ranging from youth unemployment, mental health and wellbeing to international disaster relief and the Ebola crisis.