Our Standards
In the Community
Our community, our people and their families are passionate about their way of life and our success is entirely due to their energy, dedication, support and commitment.
In Kenya, Finlays provide housing and facilities for our 16,000 employees and approximately 60,000 dependants. The large majority of our 2,500 employees in Flowers lives within the estate and benefit from 80 years of infrastructure development which includes:
- 11,241 houses
- 106 bed hospital
- 25 dispensaries
- 66 doctors, clinical offices and nurses
- 14 primary schools
- 17 nursery schools
- One secondary school
- Two day care centres
- Bus and transport services
- Self-sufficient power (85% hydro-electric).
In addition to providing educational facilities at Kericho, we currently provide bursaries for 40 secondary, 20 university and 16 polytechnic students.
Finlay Flowers sponsors FOMAWA (Friends of the Mau Watershed), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) initiating projects to conserve and reforest the greater Mau Forest, an area neighbouring Finlays which serves as the major water catchment for the region. We have recently commissioned a tree project to encourage our community to buy indigenous and exotic tree seedlings at subsidised prices to plant in their own homes and gardens.
We have built a long-standing reputation for the quality and consistency of our cut flowers. We have combined this with an ethical and environmentally friendly approach to sustainable production and are proud of our position as one of only two growers to have achieved, since 2001, the Kenya Flower Council Gold Member accreditation standard. We’re also a committed partner of organisations such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and Euregap (2004).
Fairtrade
100% of the cut flowers grown on our farms in Kenya are also Fairtrade accredited.
In our efforts to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability, we are constantly striving to meet and exceed the international standards set by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation. The FinMax Joint Body was set up to manage the proceeds received as a result of sales of Fairtrade flowers in Europe. Finmax is a registered non-profit making partnership between Flowers and our Fairtrade (FT) customers
- FinMax runs two creches, each with capacity for 100 children. 33 carers, headed by a qualified matron and assistant, provide the children with full-time care, balanced meals and teach nursery level skills and games.
- Through a bursary program FinMax sponsors 19 boys and 19 girls in secondary school. Three students are sponsored to attend local state universities.
- Finmax has cooperated with the Government’s initiative to provide free primary education and has committed to providing desks, computers and a photocopier.
- FinMax purchases and distributes sporting equipment to all 15 schools within Finlays thereby encouraging active participation.
- 24 physically challenged children have been assisted by FinMax through the provision of equipment and reconstructive surgery. Plans are underway to arrange school placement in special schools.
- FinMax assists disadvantaged members of our community with contributions to the Mogogosiek and the Kabungut baby homes for babies who have been abandoned or orphaned due to HIV.
