Our commitment
WHSmith is a valued member of communities across the UK, and we are committed to making a positive impact wherever we operate our stores. Through our work to champion literacy and support good causes, our community programme enables us to contribute to local areas. We also want to provide customers with an opportunity to support their favourite charities through the products we sell.
Supporting local high streets
WHSmith has a store on 399 of the top 400 high streets in the UK, as well as many smaller towns. We recognise that our business plays an important role in local communities up and down the country and we are committed to supporting these communities and helping to maintain a vibrant retail environment.
Championing Literacy
As the UK’s leading bookseller and stationer, literacy remains the primary focus of our community programmes. Research findings consistently conclude that children who read for pleasure have better life chances, and promoting the love of reading is therefore the over-arching objective behind our literacy programmes.
Products for charitable causes
In addition to the fund raising activities of our staff, we have for many years supported good causes through product sales. As well as providing charities with a financial contribution, the sales of these products also raise consumer awareness of the work these organisations do and help them to gain new supporters.
Measuring Our Community Investment
We set and achieve an annual target to invest at least one per cent of our pre-tax profits in support of charities and community projects.