Category: Corporate

PDI International, a global leader in infection prevention and control solutions, proudly marked its 5th annual Be the Difference Day® with a powerful display of hands-on community service across North Northamptonshire, UK, and Milan, Italy.

Held on Thursday, 3 July (UK) and Friday, 12 July (Italy), this annual initiative empowers PDI associates to step away from their usual roles and dedicate time to giving back through volunteering, community improvement projects, and charitable donations.

Over 100 Volunteers Making a Meaningful Impact

More than 100 PDI International associates participated this year, supporting a variety of local charities, councils, and non-profit organisations. Their collective efforts included everything from litter picking and gardening, to renovating community spaces, and delivering essential supplies to local support services.

Community Projects in Corby, UK

At Lakelands Hospice, PDI volunteers revitalised garden areas, cleaned and valeted the hospice minibus, and organised a community litter pick. The team collected 38 full bags of litter on a walk from PDI HQ to The Sondes Arms restaurant, raising £380 for the hospice through a donation pledge of £10 per bag.

Meanwhile, another team transformed the Kingswood Neighbourhood Centre, repainting busy communal areas and fully rejuvenating the garden. The result? A safer, brighter space for youth groups, family sessions, and community events.

“Your work, repainting the main entrance and beautifully landscaping the garden, has made a real and lasting impact,” said Lynn Johnston, Kingswood Neighbourhood Centre. “We’re incredibly grateful for the food donations that will go directly to local families in need.”

Additionally, associates delivered essential items to Corby Homeless Project and Corby Foodbank, ensuring that vulnerable members of the community continue to receive vital support.

“Thank you all for thinking about us once again, and for your incredible generosity,” said Martin Langford, Manager at Corby Foodbank.

Making a Difference in Casorezzo, Italy

In Casorezzo, located in the Metropolitan City of Milan, PDI teams, supported by the local council, took to the streets, parks, and public buildings for a large-scale community clean-up. Associates split into six teams and took part in litter picking, gardening, and maintenance activities to enhance the town’s shared spaces.

Following the day’s work, volunteers gathered for a communal lunch at the local municipality function room, where they were honoured by the presence of the Mayor and Vice Mayor, who thanked PDI International for their continued commitment to local community development.

A Culture of Corporate Social Responsibility

“Be the Difference Day® is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together with purpose,” said David Gueundjian, President & CEO at PDI International. “We’re proud to support the incredible organisations that strengthen our communities every day.”

Be the Difference Day® exemplifies PDI International’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, creating a global culture of compassion, teamwork, and local engagement. The event continues to grow year on year, further reinforcing PDI’s mission to not only protect lives through infection prevention, but also enrich the communities it serves.

About PDI International

PDI International is a global infection prevention company that delivers innovative solutions designed to reduce preventable infections and protect lives in healthcare and professional settings. With a deep-rooted commitment to safety, sustainability, and social responsibility, PDI empowers teams across the globe to make a difference, every single day.

PDI International is proud to announce it has been awarded the Social Value Bronze Quality Mark®, in recognition of its commitment to creating, measuring, and independently reporting the positive impact it makes on people, communities, and the environment.

The Social Value Quality Mark® represents one of the UK’s most rigorously tested standards for values-led business. It celebrates organisations that can demonstrate meaningful, measurable contributions to social and environmental well-being.

Richard Dickins, Managing Director of Social Value Quality Mark CIC, said:

“Customers, investors and jobseekers increasingly place their loyalty with organisations who deliver clear social and environmental benefits. The Quality Mark separates, distinguishes and celebrates those businesses who are genuinely committed to making the world a fairer place. We are pleased that PDI International is joining the growing number of companies making this commitment.”

To achieve the Bronze Level accreditation, PDI International made a series of pledges aligned to key areas, including skills development, employee wellbeing, investment in local communities, charitable giving, and carbon reduction. These pledges are backed by a framework of transparent measurement and independent reporting, ensuring genuine accountability and impact.

Nina Smith, Director of Marketing & Sustainability at PDI International, said:

“This award reinforces our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact beyond our business operations. Whether through supporting our communities, nurturing our people, or reducing our environmental footprint, we aim to embed social value in how we operate at every level at PDI.”

The accreditation process was overseen by the awarding panel at Social Value Quality Mark CIC, an independent social enterprise that works to challenge rigour, celebrate high standards, and drive meaningful social change through business. The Bronze award is the first of four levels, representing the foundation of a values-led journey that can progress to Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

About Social Value Quality Mark CIC

Launched in 2015, the Social Value Quality Mark CIC is an independent social enterprise dedicated to recognising excellence in values-led business. The mark provides organisations with a structured framework for measuring, developing and reporting social value, aligned with current UK legislation and policy. There are four levels of accreditation: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each reflecting increasing maturity in social value practice.

Learn more at: www.socialvaluequalitymark.com

On Thursday 4^th July, PDI International, a global leader in infection prevention and control solutions based in Corby, celebrated its fourth Be the Difference Day®. This day represents an opportunity for associates to give back to their local communities. In honour of this day, associates donated their time to various causes across Corby.

Over 30+ associates were divided into 4 teams to support 3 local charities. Teams 1, 2 and 3 supported Lakelands Hospice, an independent charity that provides palliative and end-of-life care, free of charge for people in Corby and surrounding areas. The hospice does not receive any statutory funding from the NHS or the government, so all of its funding comes from the generosity of the people, to assist in the care of its patients and their families.

Team 1 were tasked with a DIY overhaul of the hospice grounds, which involved painting, weeding, planting, hedge cutting and more. Team 2 were tasked with sorting Lakeland Hospice’s Warehouse and Donation Station. Finally, team 3 embarked on a charity litter pick, starting at PDI HQ and finishing at Lakelands Hospice. For every bag of litter collected, PDI donated £10 per bag. In total, 15 full bags of litter were collected, raising £150 for the hospice! The teams were luckier than last year as the sun beamed all day long.

Volunteer Co-ordinator, Jackie Henry said “it’s amazing how much a team can achieve, and I know how pleased the hospice, warehouse staff and volunteers were with your team’s support for your Be the Difference Day!”

The cost-of-living crisis has continued to force many individuals and families into homelessness due to the rising rents, and lack of affordable housing paired with household bills and necessities rising. To help aid these individuals and families, team 4 did a “supermarket sweep” and dropped off food and personal hygiene products at Encompass, the Corby Homeless Project and Corby Foodbank, a charity that provides short-term food crisis support to people in Corby and the surrounding villages.

Marketing Manager, Nina Smith who took part in the supermarket sweep commented, “It was a very humbling experience and made us reflect how life can change for people so quickly; thank goodness for charities like Encompass who are able to provide the necessary support to get people back up on their feet and feel that they do have a purpose.”

At PDI International we make local, and we support local.

On Friday, 14^th July, PDI International, a global leader in infection prevention products and service solutions based in Corby, celebrated its third Be the Difference® day. This day represents the opportunity for associates to give back to their local communities. In honour of this day, associates donated their time to various causes across Corby.

Our associates spent the day at Lakeland Hospice, an independent charity that provides palliative and end-of-life care, free of charge for the people in Corby and surrounding areas. The hospice does not receive any statutory funding from the NHS or the government, so all of its funding comes from the generosity of the people to assist in the care of its patients and their loved ones. The team were tasked with painting, gardening, fixing a gazebo roof and general maintenance of the hospice grounds. The team persevered in the rainy weather to achieve the best ahead of summer events planned by the hospice.

The cost-of-living crisis has forced many individuals and families into homelessness due to the rising rents, low wages, and lack of affordable housing paired with household bills and necessities rising has created a perfect storm with no end in sight. These individuals and families rely on charities such as Encompass, the Corby Homeless Project to help access emergency accommodation and food banks. Donations of necessities, including food and personal hygiene products, were donated to their residents. We donated almost 48kg of foodstuffs to the Corby Foodbank, a charity that provides short-term food crisis support to people in Corby and the surrounding villages.

Corby Foodbank Manager, Martin Langford said, “Close to 3,500 people, including more than 1,300 children within Corby and the surrounding villages have required support over the past 12 months which in turn, equated to just over a 30% increase in people accessing our service year on year.  A huge thanks to everyone at PDI International, all donations are gratefully welcomed and received and in turn, will be used to support our clients moving forward.”

Donations of critical items, such as used clothing, blankets, books, and toys, were also dropped off at Cancer Research’s superstore in Corby.

President and CEO at PDI International, David Gueundjian said, “Our involvement with the Northamptonshire community goes back almost 20 years now, and we are very proud to have made Corby a very important part of our international growth plans.  PDI International’s mission goes beyond business, and our third International Be the Difference Day has given our associates in the UK an amazing opportunity to exemplify our unique culture, give back to our communities, and impact even more lives around us.”