Supporting our communities
From offering free fuel to first responders to providing hot meals for food banks, find out how bp has been helping in the communities where we operate all over the world
Supporting essential services and frontline health workers
bp is launching two initiatives to support essential services and frontline workers as they continue to contend with the coronavirus pandemic.
First, bp is reintroducing its programme to supply fuel free of charge to UK emergency services vehicles. Second, we are teaming up with Deliveroo in the ‘Lunch for Lifesavers’ initiative to donate and deliver, free of charge, a quarter of a million bp/M&S meals to staff and volunteers working at vaccination centres and frontline NHS workers. Read the full story.
PPE for healthcare workers
US | 2 July 2020
Early stages of the coronavirus pandemic created shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies for hospitals and emergency service providers.
bp’s Whiting refinery stepped up to help, assembling and donating more than 16,000 pieces of PPE to frontline healthcare providers, first responders and other essential workers who support the communities surrounding the facility. Read the full story.
Staff donate to Singapore’s migrant workers
Singapore | 25 June 2020
Last month, bp Singapore handed out care packages to employees to show its appreciation of their vigilance and resilience during this pandemic. Some members of staff requested that instead of receiving their package, the cash equivalent be used to help the community, in particular migrant workers, who have accounted for 90% of the COVID-19 cases in the country.
As a result, a total of S$39,500 was raised and, on 16 June, Terry Yuen, bp head of country for Singapore, presented the cheque to Bernard Menon, executive director of the NGO Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), which champions fair employment practices and the wellbeing of migrant workers in Singapore.
The proceeds, which will be tripled by the Singapore government, will go towards purchasing essentials and taking care of the migrant workers’ welfare. Terry Yuen said:
“Our donated funds will help those who are stranded in Singapore and do not have the means to pay for bills or return to their home countries. Thank you to many of our employees for making this donation possible.”
MWC also expressed its gratitude for the donation and appreciates that companies recognize that migrant workers have played an important role in building Singapore.
New fuel discount for US first responders and medical workers
US | 15 June 2020
In the US, bp is continuing its support for first responders and medical workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic with a BPme Rewards discount of up to 15 cents per gallon on every fill-up at bp and Amoco stations for 60 days.
Programme sign-up is available on our website, and rewards can be used at the pump with the BPme app for no-contact payment.
bp encourages consumers to support local heroes by sharing the discount offer with first responder, doctor, nurse or hospital workers by using the hashtags #bpsupportscommunityheroes and #InThisTogether.
This offer adds to more than $8 million in fuel discounts that bp has issued to more than 650,000 responders and medical workers since April 2020.
It also builds on our recent donation of 3 million gallons of jet fuel to ensure personal protective equipment and other essential goods reach US communities effectively. Nicola Buck, head of marketing for bp Fuels North America, says:
“Healthcare workers are saving lives every day across America and bp wants to thank them by helping to get them where they need to be. The response to our earlier offer was overwhelming, and we’re proud to continue supporting our community heroes through this pandemic.”
New loyalty offer for NHS workers
UK | 15 June 2020
Back in March, as the coronavirus pandemic began to escalate, bp announced that it would be supplying free fuel to all emergency services in the UK until 22 May. Now, we are continuing our support of frontline workers with a new loyalty offer.
Until 5 July, all National Health Service employees can earn 20 times the normal level of BPme Rewards points on their personal fuel and shop purchases at bp forecourts right across the UK.To access the offer, all they need to do is show their NHS ID at the point of purchase.
The points can be redeemed in store, online from the BPme Rewards catalogue, or traded in for gift vouchers from selected partners, such as M&S and Amazon.
They can also be donated to more than 20,000 charities via For Good Causes, including many that are supporting the national COVID-19 response. Nicola Grady-Smith, UK retail operations director, says:
“All of those working in the NHS have gone above and beyond in their duty of care to save thousands of lives, and we are excited to have found a way of thanking them for their tireless work.”
Carbon-free bleach for emergency responders
US | 5 June 2020
A bp Ventures-backed company that can turn greenhouse gas emissions into everyday chemicals has found a new use for the bleach it produces – donating it to emergency responders to help keep their communities safe and healthy.
bp invested in Carbonfree Chemicals in 2012 to support carbon capture technologies that could eventually be deployed at its oil and gas facilities.
Now, the Texas-based business has donated nearly 2,000 gallons of bleach produced at its SkyMine® carbon capture facility to emergency management departments in the San Antonio area for use as disinfectant during the coronavirus outbreak.
The technology, which has been accredited by bp’s Advancing Low Carbon programme, converts carbon emissions from a neighbouring cement plant into baking soda alongside other low carbon products, such as caustic soda, hydrochloric acid and household bleach.
When Carbonfree Chemicals was looking for ways to support the community during the pandemic, the bp team connected them with organizations in need of supplies. bp then provided funding assistance that enabled Carbonfree Chemicals to deliver the containers of bleach to Bexar County Emergency Response, the Medina County Fire Marshall and Atascosa County Emergency Response.
Martin Keighley, CEO of Carbonfree Chemicals, says:
“We’re humbled to have the opportunity to use our carbon-reducing technologies, which are designed to help the environment, in a way that also helps first responders on the frontlines of COVID-19.”
COVID-19: the bp story
Global | 1 June 2020 | 📹 4:22 mins
From making personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency responders to working on the frontline, bp colleagues have been protecting people and caring for communities throughout the pandemic.
This short film, which premiered at the bp AGM last week, tells the story of bp’s COVID-19 response by some of the people who stepped up.
Helping to bring in the OzHarvest
Australia | 27 May 2020 | 📹 1:08 mins
COVID-19 has dramatically increased demand for OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organization, which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it directly to more than 1,300 organizations that support people in need across the country.
bp Australia has been able to provide ongoing support to ensure the charity can continue supplying vital food packages to vulnerable people in need. Watch this film to hear from CEO and founder Ronnie Kahn on the role OzHarvest plays in the community.
Care kits for frontline workers
US | 22 May 2020
Recognizing the coronavirus outbreak as a mental health challenge as well as a physical health threat, bp is teaming up with the American Heart Association (AHA) to support hospital workers’ mental wellbeing as they fight on the frontline against COVID-19.
Through an ongoing partnership, bp collaborated with AHA to create 6,000 mental health kits for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at Lyndon B Johnson Hospital in Houston.
Designed to promote mental wellbeing and show frontline staff how much they are appreciated, the kits contain journals, thank-you cards, wellness meditation guides, lip balm and stress balls. AHA volunteers and bp employees assembled the kits, and the first batch was safely delivered to the hospital by AHA staff.
Working together, bp and AHA have also helped to create a new post-shift decompression ritual for hospital workers addressing the mind, body and soul. The ritual includes guided breathing and meditation exercises that can be completed before they head home.
In addition, bp and AHA are working with local restaurants to deliver 200 heart-healthy meals for all hospital staff on a weekly basis over the next two months.
bp Africa supports the fight against COVID-19
Africa | 21 May 2020
A group of bp and Castrol employees have teamed up to launch #MakeYourMask, a campaign designed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 across Africa.
The campaign has picked up support from a few well-known personalities, such as rugby legend Francois Pienaar.
While regular hand washing and social distancing remain the best way to stop the virus spreading, following these measures is difficult, if not impossible, for millions of people in Africa meaning masks offer an important source of protection.
That’s why the volunteers from bp and Castrol in Africa set up the #MakeYourMask challenge, which demonstrates how people can make a mask from items such as old clothing or bed sheets in as little as 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, in Angola, bp has committed $50,000 to a government safety campaign that assists the production and distribution of cotton face masks. The initiative gives local businesses and young adults in orphanages the opportunity to train with tailors to make the masks.
In Algeria, bp has donated $50,000 worth of medical supplies to frontline workers at main public hospitals in Blida – where the pandemic first hit – and the capital of Algiers.
In South Africa, bp has provided R1.5 million to help Gift of the Givers set up a mobile COVID-19 testing facility that can run up to 60 tests a day. And, employees are donating to a relief fund that provides care parcels for colleagues and their immediate household family members who test positive for COVID-19.
As well as donating vital medical equipment to hospitals, bp Egypt staged a social media awareness campaign that offers quarantine tips and tricks, remedies to stay healthy and DIY home innovations.
Retail to the rescue
UK | 13 May 2020 | 📹 2:23 mins
Retail staff at the bp M&S Simply Food store in Cheriton, Kent, have not only come to the rescue of an elderly and vulnerable couple by regularly delivering the food they need, but also went out of their way to help them celebrate a very special occasion.
Lynne and David Bourne, both in their 70s, who have been shielding during the COVID-19 lockdown, were anxious about getting hold of food. So, one morning, Lynne phoned the Cheriton store asking for help.
Staff took Lynne’s order and, from then, began regularly delivering food to the couple.
During one of those phone calls, they learned about Lynne and David’s upcoming 49th wedding anniversary.
Rather than let their special day go unnoticed, store manager Gill arranged for cake and flowers to be delivered to the couple’s home in nearby Hythe.
Lynne says:
“In the beginning of lockdown, I couldn’t sleep worrying about where I would be able to get food from. The staff at Cheriton have been amazing.”
Watch this video in which Lynne thanks the bp retail staff for their kindness.
Helping hospital staff get their five a day
Portugal | 12 May 2020
BP and Castrol are helping to feed frontline healthcare workers in Portugal during the COVID-19 crisis by providing fresh fruit and vegetables to frontline hospitals in Lisbon.
The initiative was developed with the help of SEMEAR, a local NGO that runs a sustainable programme of social inclusion for young people and adults with intellectual and development difficulties, who are employed on its local farm.
BP Portugal has supported the organization for the past three years by donating fuel annually for use in agricultural activities on the farm and for transporting the fresh produce to market.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is stepping up that support. From mid-April to mid-May, BP Portugal and the local Castrol team are donating 250 baskets of organic fruit and vegetables prepared by SEMEAR in accordance with all safety regulations to five frontline hospitals in the Portuguese capital (one hospital each week).
Anabela Silva, BP Portugal marketing and external affairs manager, says:
“BP Portugal and Castrol are proud to have driven this initiative, which not only expresses their gratitude to healthcare workers at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, but also promotes a circular economy and supports social inclusion.”
On-the-nozzle hand protection on UK forecourts
UK | 11 May 2020
bp has installed on-the-nozzle hand protection on fuel pumps at all 330 company-owned retail stations across the UK. The simple dispenser, called GripHero, enables drivers to safely fill their vehicles without contaminating their hands, a particular concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thousands of customers handle our fuel pumps every day. With GripHero, they can retrieve a single piece of recyclable, anti-static hand protection from the nozzle itself before touching the pump. This not only provides an easily accessed safeguard, but also dramatically reduces waste associated with conventional glove dispensers.
And in keeping with our low carbon ambition GripHero’s carbon footprint is 75% lower than disposable plastic gloves, driven by efficiencies in the production, packaging, transit and use.
Nikki Grady-Smith, UK retail operations director, said:
“Even in the toughest times, we keep our customers at the heart of what we do. We’re the first fuel retailer in the UK to install this style of hand protection, and it’s just one of the innovative ways we’re keeping customers and staff safe at our retail sites.”
bp Educational Service sees popularity soar
Global | 6 May 2020
Parents and teachers in the UK and beyond are finding the materials provided by the bp Educational Service (bpes) a source of support as homeschooling continues. Over the past six weeks, bpes has seen the highest levels of downloads for more than two years.
The free service, which provides educational resources for 4-19-year-olds on the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths, brings classroom topics to life with the use of real-world examples. Developed with teachers and education specialists, the resources aim to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future.
April saw more than 20,000 downloads from teachers, while parents’ registrations jumped to more than 1,200 from the monthly average of 60 recorded over the previous six months.
Donating reward points to charity
Global | 5 May 2020
In celebration of #GivingTuesdayNow, we’re highlighting where you can donate bp reward points to charity.
The new global day of giving and unity is taking place today in emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
- The UK-based bpme app allows users to donate their rewards to some 17,000 charities. This includes hundreds of UK NHS Trusts and hospitals that are at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus.
- bp Netherlands’ loyalty system, FreeBees, lets customers donate their saving points to charities, including the Nederlandse Rode Kruis (Dutch Red Cross). And, during this month, all points being donated to the NRK will be matched by bp Netherlands and spent on COVID-19 humanitarian relief initiatives.
- Spanish customers can use their MiBP loyalty cards to donate points to Spain’s Red Cross (Cruz Roja).
- In Poland, customers can continue to give points earned through our PAYBACK loyalty programme to Polish Humanitarian Action.
- Similarly, in Austria, customers can donate their PAYBACK points to the Red Cross, as can those in Portugal who subscribe to the bppremierplus and PoupaMais loyalty schemes.
And, following an employee ideas competition, bp colleagues can now convert points gained through the organization’s recognize and reward process into a donation to a global charity, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, or as vouchers for a local or personal charity of their choice.
Separately, the bp foundation is matching employee donations to either the World Health Organiztion, the International Committee of the Red Cross, or the American Red Cross on a 1:1 basis.
Two-wheeler hero
India | 5 May 2020
All over the world during the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen countless acts of selfless kindness by people quietly helping their communities in whatever way they can.
One such silent hero is Zakir Hussain, an independent two-wheeler mechanic from Rajasthan in northern India. He was inspired to offer his help to many others after fixing a pregnant nurse's scooter so she could get to work. Her dedication to her job moved him. He says of the experience:
“It inspired me to do my bit and join the Corona warriors like healthcare workers, police and NGOs.”
Now, he is using social media to offer his services free of charge to anyone who needs them in his home city of Bhilwara, the first in the area to be placed under lockdown by the government, and where there was a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
With workshops closed and two-wheelers the most popular form of transport in India, Zakir has been inundated with requests for help.
Grateful customers include Jai Singh Shekhawat, who praised Zakir’s ‘selfless service’ when he got his two-wheeler back on the road so that he could rush his young child to hospital.
And we can certainly vouch for his skills. In 2017, Zakir won Castrol’s Super Mechanic annual competition held across India.
Preparing hot meals for food banks
UK | 4 May 2020 | 📹 1:10 mins
They can’t prepare meals for bp staff at our offices in Sunbury right now, but the Aramark catering team aren’t setting down their saucepans.
Instead, they are cooking up a storm providing thousands of hot meals a week for local food banks.
Follow our chefs in this video.
Free lubricants keep Moscow ambulance services running smoothly
Russia | 4 May 2020
Castrol, together with bp Russia, is providing free lubricants to Mosavtosantrans, the Moscow ambulance service.
Mosavtosantrans manages more than 5,000 ambulances and medical cars, including passenger vehicles for doctors and a commercial fleet to deliver medical equipment in the Russian capital.
Castrol has provided an initial 4,500 litres of high-performance lubricants, with a commitment to supply an additional 32 tonnes over the next six months.
A team of more than 20 people across Castrol and bp worked hard to get the deal and logistics in place as quickly as possible and the first consignment was delivered on 27 April.
Sergey Gordeev, Castrol’s commercial vehicle oils and industrial sales manager for Russia and Belarus, said:
“We learned that bp is supplying free fuel for frontline emergency workers in many locations across the world and wanted to make sure we were doing our part as well.”
Sergey reached out to Mosavtosantrans with an offer of assistance. “We connected with them and explained that we would like to help,” he said. “We offered to supply our full range of lubricants, including support for their specialist vehicles, to an amount equivalent to their fleet’s half-year consumption.”
bp backs celebrity e-Sports fundraiser
UK | 1 May 2020
Celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment are taking part in a bp-backed e-Sports fundraiser to support NHS charities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organized and hosted by Celebrity e-Sports ̶ and with support from bp and Unilever ̶ the NHS Charities Together Cup, tagged #changethegame, is a week-long online event that pits celebrity teams against each other in a knockout FIFA 20 football tournament.
Among the 24 stars who have signed up to play are ex-England football captain John Terry; England cricket’s World Cup heroes, Ben Stokes, Joss Buttler and Joe Root; boxers Tony Bellew and Dillian Whyte; comedian Paddy McGuinness, and world champion triathlete Jonny Brownlee.
The matches, which started on Monday, 27 April, are livestreamed daily on YouTube from 12-4pm (GMT), with the UK’s free-to-air channel ITV hosting interviews and highlights. The final takes place this weekend.
Each team consists of three players and members of the public can vote for their favourite celebrity player to compete in each match. The cost of a vote is a donation to the NHS Charities Together, which is the umbrella organization for the NHS's official charities in the UK.
Mark Rose, bp group brand manager, said:
“We’re already supporting the NHS through our offer of free fuel for emergency vehicles and it’s great we are adding to that by now supporting this fundraiser for the NHS Charities Together urgent C0VID-19 appeal.”
Flying Doctors radio for help with PPE supply
Australia | 30 April 2020
Air BP has donated vital personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) to help it continue its life-saving work during the coronavirus pandemic.
The RFDS provides 24-hour emergency medical and primary healthcare services to rural and remote areas covering 7.69 million square kilometres across Australia. It has seen demand for its services soar during the crisis, with the need to transport COVID-19 patients vast distances to reach medical care in hospital. PPE, therefore, is essential to the safe running of the service during these challenging times.
Air BP has been a national service partner for the RFDS for the past three years, both as a sponsor and by refuelling its fleet of 77 aircraft, which it has continued throughout the crisis.
BP Australia and Air BP were able to work with local procurement teams to deliver 35,000 N95 surgical masks to the RFDS.
The donation has been well received, with a representative from the RFDS saying:
“We welcome this generosity as it will ensure our staff will be fully protected as they continue to provide the finest care for rural and remote Australians. We cannot thank Air BP enough for, once again, keeping the Flying Doctor flying.”
Frédéric Baudry, COO of Fuels AsPac and Air BP, said: “These are incredibly tough times. Yet, amongst all the trauma and struggle being experienced worldwide, to be able to help others – even in small ways – buoys my spirits and creates a strong sense of community. I am incredibly proud of our team’s ongoing support of the RFDS, which delivers a vital service. The donation of masks will help to keep their frontline staff safe and it was humbling to see how appreciative of the gesture they were.”
BP donates jet fuel to US COVID-19 relief efforts
US | 29 April 2020
BP is donating 3 million gallons of jet fuel to FedEx Express and Alaska Airlines to help speed delivery of PPE and other essential goods throughout the US.
The donation builds on BP’s recent announcement that all first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital workers could receive a 50-cents-per-gallon discount on fuel at BP and Amoco stations.
BP will also offset carbon emissions from flights associated with the jet fuel donation through the BP Target Neutral programme, using credits from projects in the US that have reduced emissions.
FedEx Express will use jet fuel from Air BP exclusively for international deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, ventilators and masks, to and from the US.
Alaska Airlines will use the fuel to restore air service to several remote Alaska communities recently cut off after a local carrier declared bankruptcy. BP’s donation will help Alaska Airlines as it delivers food, medical supplies, mail and emergency passenger service for those communities.
Susan Dio, chairman and president of BP America, said:
“Frontline medical providers depend on PPE to treat patients suffering from COVID-19 and to save lives. BP is working to help deliver this equipment quickly by donating jet fuel to air carriers who will get supplies where they need to go. COVID-19 is a human crisis. People are suffering, and BP wants to help. We’re pulling together our global resources to ensure first responders, healthcare workers and patients know they’re not alone.”
Don Colleran, president and CEO of FedEx Express, said that “the generous donation of fuel and carbon offsets from BP for these charter flights will reduce the cost for government agencies and support our commitment to sustainability across FedEx Express.”
Upgrading intensive care units in India
India | 27 April 2020
With a population of 1.3 billion and many congested cities, India has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Unsurprisingly, this has put enormous pressure on the nation’s healthcare system.
BP swiftly responded to the need of the state health machinery; upgrading the intensive care units of government hospitals, particularly in states with large numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Initial support included providing ventilators, infusion pumps, PPE and other critical items to five hospitals in Mumbai, the city with the most cases.
The next stage of emergency medical supplies and equipment has now reached many more hospitals across eight states.
BP head of country and regional president for India Sashi Mukundan said:
“We are committed to supporting our community through this pandemic; on both medical and social fronts. In addition to providing relief to hospitals, BP has reached PPE to frontline health workers, the police force and refuse workers in key metros. Through our NGO partners, we are also reaching food and rations to daily wage earners affected by the lockdown.”
Turning sugarcane to sanitizer
Brazil | 25 March 2020
Like many countries, Brazil has seen alcohol-based products for cleaning and disinfection disappear from shelves as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
BP Bunge Bioenergia, a 50/50 joint venture between BP and Bunge producing biofuels, sugar and bioenergy in Brazil, has stepped up to support the country.
It has adapted some of the sugarcane-based ethanol it produces to make a product suitable to disinfect surfaces.
Over the next days, it will donate this product for use by the national health system in 32 municipalities surrounding the 11 BP Bunge Bioenergia operational sites. The system cares for more than 1.4 million people in this area.
Biofuels production is considered an essential activity by the Brazilian government, so operations are continuing with strictly essential personnel in place and measures to protect colleagues.
Mario Lindenhayn, BP Bunge Bioenergia’s executive chairman, said:
“These are challenging times and we need to do what we can to keep our people safe and to assist the communities where we live and work.”
BP Bunge Bioenergia produces ethanol fuel from sugarcane. This has around 99% alcohol content. By lowering the concentration to 70% and offering the product in small packages, BP Bunge Bioenergia can offer a product that is suitable to disinfect surfaces.
The donation is part of a joint initiative coordinated by UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, which will donate a total of 1 million litres of ethanol to the national health system.
BP supports Aberdeen charity during lockdown and beyond
UK | 24 April 2020
BP is expanding its support of the UK’s largest city social care charity during the crisis. VSA is now at the forefront of the COVID-19 response, delivering critical care and support to vulnerable children and adults across 22 residential sites in Aberdeen.
To assist this valuable work, BP has:
- Donated food and housekeeping items from the restaurant at our North Sea HQ.
- Provided personal protective equipment and iPads and Kindles to enable vulnerable residents to keep in video contact with their loved ones and to download books.
- Launched a funding page for employees to give directly to the charity’s COVID-19 appeal.
BP has a long-standing relationship with the charity, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and had already pledged to raise £100,000 to mark the occasion.
Describing the charity’s work, chief executive Kenneth Simpson said:
“We have been supporting the people of Aberdeen for 150 years and, during that time, we have faced two world wars, the Spanish flu and the typhoid outbreak in the ’60s. We are delighted BP has stepped forward to help during this challenging period.”
Air BP provides support in the skies
Global | 23 April 2020
COVID-19 has left many of the world’s aircraft grounded but Air BP teams are still at work fuelling vital flights carrying shipments to help with the global crisis.
In China, Air BP, via its two joint venture companies, helped to keep relief supplies and medical teams arriving into Hubei province – the frontline of the battle against the epidemic – following the suspension of all passenger flights into and out of the region in January.
To date, South China Blue Sky has fuelled more than 800 flights dedicated to epidemic relief, expat repatriation and chartered flights for those still needing to get to work. It also set up an emergency plan to keep fuel supplies running and carry out important inspection and maintenance on fuel facilities and equipment during the crisis.
Holden Han, Air BP cluster manager for China, said:
“Teams in China have been working around the clock to ensure the successful flights of thousands of medical staff and the smooth delivery of huge quantities of relief supplies. The determination, calmness and heroic sacrifice has encouraged everybody in the battle against the virus.”
Elsewhere, Air BP is providing equally vital support. In the UK, offering free fuel to four air ambulance services in England and Wales, to support their life-saving work during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, in Australia, Air BP’s rapid response helped to keep a Qantas Sydney to London ‘Kangaroo’ flight going after Singapore banned stopovers in late-March. Air BP provided an average of 266,000 litres of fuel per flight at Darwin airport, enabling the aircraft to embark on the historic non-stop 16-hour flight from Sydney to London.
Launchpad supports start-ups in uncertain times
UK | 21 April 2020
BP’s business builder, Launchpad, is offering entrepreneurs and start-ups support and advice to help them navigate their way through the COVID-19 crisis.
BP created Launchpad in 2019 to help scale up disruptive new entrepreneurial ideas.
The idea for the call-out came from entrepreneur-in-residence Illai Gescheit, who says:
“We want the community to know that we have the resources and the people with the experience to offer support during tough times. We want nothing in return.”
The team has already had interest from a handful of businesses in mobility, oil and gas, and even virtual reality, all looking for help on a range of issues, including with investment decisions, making contacts and establishing proof of concept.
If you are an entrepreneur or part of a start-up looking for some advice, Launchpad has created a simple Google form to help field enquiries.
Vital medical supplies in African countries
Mauritania and Senegal | 21 April 2020
BP has donated hundreds of essential medical items to help address the COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritania and Senegal, where it is building a new gas business.
In Senegal, BP provided vital medical supplies, including infrared thermometers, medicine pumps and virus test kits, as well personal protection equipment (PPE), to support local health services. Many of the items were delivered in collaboration with BP partner Enda Santé, which is also providing education and awareness sessions for the local community.
Meanwhile, in Mauritania, BP donated 30 tonnes of supplies to the Ministry of Health and Social Care, including oxygen masks, syringes, aprons, shoe covers, face masks, bleach, cleaning gloves and hospital detergent. A BP-backed awareness campaign is also providing information on how the virus spreads, how to avoid it and guidance on hand hygiene.
And BP has provided financial support to São Tomé and Príncipe, where the organization has exploration activities, to help buy essential items, such as PPE.
Producing essential ingredients
Global | 20 April 2020
Our employees are keeping our petrochemical plants running during the crisis to respond to the greater need for essential products deemed critical in the fight against COVID-19.
Demand for some of the petrochemicals that go into making paracetamol, insulin and blood pressure treatments, as well as disinfectant and medical protective clothing has risen dramatically.
“One third of our production goes into the pharmaceutical and medical sectors and we have been inundated with requests,” says Akira Kirton, commercial director of BP’s European acetyls division. “We are seeing a 10-20% rise in demand; up to 50% in some instances.”
Thanking her team for their efforts during this difficult time, chief operational officer for petrochemicals Rita Griffin said:
“Our petrochemicals operations are classified as ‘critical infrastructure’ by many governments around the world because, among other reasons, we produce products that the world needs during this global crisis.”
Key workers can claim a coffee
Global | 17 April 2020
Around the world, BP is saying thank you to key workers for their efforts on the COVID-19 frontline with free coffee from its retail stations.
In Germany, more than 20,000 coffees have already been served free of charge to emergency services, retail staff, public cleaning services and other key workers from its 2,500 Aral retail stations. The offer now also includes truck, bus and van drivers.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Luxembourg, Poland, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, France and Australia, emergency service workers can also get their hands on a much-needed cuppa at BP service stations (BP and Aral in Luxemburg).
And in the US, ampm stores will provide free coffee and other beverages, as well as some food, to all emergency service and business critical workers.
The BP Netherlands team is showing its appreciation, too, with this warming offer open to healthcare workers, emergency services and truck and van drivers.
And in South Africa, BP is offering the police, military and emergency personnel 100,000 free Wild Bean Cafe Americanos or cappuccinos during the lockdown period.
Reminder: BP is offering free or discounted fuel to emergency services in many locations around the world, including the UK, US, Spain and Turkey.
Venturing into the positive
Spain | 17 April 2020
In Spain, the hunt for start-ups and scale-ups that can help the country’s recovery is under way with backing from BP Ventures and others.
Positive Energy+ (Energía Positiva+) will use the resources, networks and experience of large organizations, including BP, to support start-ups and scale-up businesses in rethinking their missions and repurposing their products and services to help alleviate the economic and social effects of COVID-19 in Spain.
Nacho Gimenez, managing director of BP Ventures in Europe, is enthusiastic about the project and its ‘bigger picture’ approach. He says:
“We want to help these organizations in assisting our society to recover from the really massive crisis we’re in at the moment.”
The initiative, which was launched on 6 April and closes on 19 April, received more than 100 applications in the first 24 hours alone. To ensure all the submissions are given full scrutiny and analysis, Nacho has put together a team from across BP’s varying businesses.
Explaining their approach, he says: “We’re not asking people to invent new things. We’re asking these organizations to adapt what they already have into helping society today.”
Although a Spanish initiative, Nacho sees no reason why Positive Energy+ couldn’t be replicated in other countries as a means of effecting real change. “I see this an opportunity for us to rethink old habits and make the world a kinder and more sustainable place,” he says.
BP supercomputer to aid US government in race against COVID-19
US | 16 April 2020 | 📹 0.15 min
BP’s supercomputer will support groundbreaking and potentially life-saving research to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
We are joining forces with the US government, leading universities and the world’s largest technology companies to help researchers racing to track and halt the spread of COVID-19.
BP will donate the significant supercomputing capability of its Center for High-Performance Computing (CHPC) in Houston to the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium formed in March by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, the US Department of Energy, and IBM.
The CHPC has 16.3 petaflops of computing capability, allowing it to process more than 16 million billion calculations per second and complete a problem in an hour that would take a laptop nine years.
CHPC assists COVID-19 research
BP’s resources and expertise will be pooled with those of other companies, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft, and used to process massive numbers of calculations related to bioinformatics, epidemiology, and molecular modelling. This is expected to help scientists develop answers to complex scientific questions about COVID-19 in hours or days versus weeks or months.
David Eyton, BP’s executive vice president of innovation and engineering, says:
“The world is rallying together in response to this pandemic and our computer scientists and mathematicians are proud to play our part by supporting groundbreaking and potentially life-saving research. We’re all in this together and BP is working with governments and communities to do everything we can to help fight this pandemic.”
BP will also make available the expertise of the team at its Biosciences Center in San Diego, who are authorities in the fields of computational and molecular biology and chemistry.
These scientists will work closely with BP’s high-performance computing team to understand research proposals as they come in and help to prioritize work.
BP Oman puts its energy into virus battle
Oman | 16 April 2020
Like so many BP regions around the world, the team in Oman, home to the giant Khazzan tight gas project, aren’t just making sure their operations continue to provide much-needed energy, but also taking extra steps to help the wider community during the coronavirus pandemic.
BP Oman president Yousuf Al Ojaili says:
“BP is fully committed to helping Oman and the Ministry of Health (MoH) respond to COVID-19, and we’ve been looking into what we can do to help.”
This has led to a number of initiatives, including:
- Supplying medical equipment to Nizwa Hospital, located near BP’s concession area and regularly used by the Oil and Gas industry, and also equipping its new intensive care department.
- Providing smart TVs and iPads to the MoH to help connect medical teams locally and internationally.
- Supporting our SME social investment partner, InnoTech, to buy new 3D printers to produce 4,000 mask shields, while helping to sustain others by offering advanced payments for services.
- Contributing to Oman’s Job Security Fund to support those affected by COVID-19.
- And, in response to employee enquiries about how they could help, BP Oman is now launching a voluntary staff donation initiative for the MoH Covid-19 fund.
As well as supporting the health service and local industry, BP Oman has helped to reunite loved ones by chartering a flight to bring back to Oman students, dependents and families of Omani nationals and expats from and via the UK as well as evacuating some expat workers and families from Oman
Helping people cope during a crisis
Global | 12 April 2020
Within BP, like so many companies, colleagues are selflessly giving their time, money or skills to fight the virus. Having seen this – and wanting to do their part – BP chairman Helge Lund and CEO Bernard Looney have each decided to give 20% of their salaries for the rest of this year to mental health charities.
Bernard said:
“Why mental health? It is something that affects us all. Everyone is dealing with something in life and with the virus it is amplified. Not everyone will be infected, but everyone is affected. Stress, fear, anxiety, isolation. This is a mental health crisis as well.”
Last week, BP made one of its largest charitable donations ever to Mind, but the BP bosses also wanted to personally support charities that specialize in helping people cope in times like this.
Bernard said: “Inspired by all of you, this is our way of demonstrating we are #inthistogether.”
Medical kit for Egypt hospitals
Egypt | 8 April 2020
Three hospitals in two of Egypt’s major cities are this week receiving much-needed medical equipment donated by BP to help in their work treating COVID-19 cases.
The donation to the Abbassia and Imbaba Fever Hospitals in Cairo, and Alexandria Fever Hospital, includes an ultrasound machine, a digital radiography (DR) machine with lead aprons, and ventilators.
The donation has a value of around 2 million Egyptian pounds (about US$125,000).
Hesham Mekawi, regional president, BP North Africa, said:
“BP Egypt is committed to making an active contribution to the community, so we have decided to step up and seek opportunities to provide support, particularly to the health service providers who are managing the effects of the pandemic.”
BP Egypt is also supporting an initiative run by the Egyptian Food Bank by matching BP employees’ donations to ‘Support Day Labour’, which aims to distribute 500,000 feeding boxes and food bags to day labourers, who are one of the largest groups to be affected by the current economic conditions.
The move follows an announcement in March that the BP Foundation will match employee donations for COVID-19 response to the World Health Organization, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the American Red Cross.
Vital supplies for food banks
UK and US | 7 April 2020
With help from our catering partner Aramark, up to 7,000 frozen meals a week are being cooked at BP kitchens to support a local food bank in the southeast of England. The initiative came about after BP met with the local council to find out what help it needed, and where.
As a result, Aramark is now using the International Centre for Business and Technology (ICBT) kitchens and supplies to prepare and fast-freeze the meals. Head chef Paul Rodgers is also providing menu planning and food safety/allergen advice to a team of volunteers working at the food bank’s kitchen.
And we're also working with Aramark, led by James Fulcher and his team, and the local council to deliver vital food supplies to four more food banks in the area. The first delivery arrived on 27 March, providing key items, such as pasta, rice and canned foods.
In the US, meanwhile, both the Houston Westlake campus, Texas, and Naperville campus, Illinois, have donated excess food to those in need.
In Naperville, chef Chris and catering manager Denise co-ordinated the donation of hundreds of kilograms of dairy, fresh produce and perishables that would otherwise have spoiled to Loaves and Fishes, a community pantry at which many BP people volunteer.
In Houston, the Westlake campus facility team donated excess food to the Houston Food Bank.
And, in the Netherlands, BP has also donated to food banks due to oversupply at its retail sites. In cooperation with one of BP’s logistics providers, HAVI, the donations were made to high-need food banks in the cities of Nijkerk and Groningen.
BP supports mental health charity
UK | 6 April 2020
Maintaining mental wellbeing is more important than ever before as the Coronavirus outbreak intensifies feelings of stress and worries for many.
Leading mental health charity Mind is seeing a surge in demand, with its online advice on staying mentally well during the pandemic receiving a million clicks already.
Today, BP is supporting Mind to help thousands more people in need access vital support via its digital channels and network of services in local communities.
BP chief executive officer Bernard Looney says:
“We’re all concerned about how Coronavirus will affect us and those we love. People are worried about when they’ll next see their families, about their finances, job security; sometimes, even the basics of life – like food and groceries. When you sum it all up, there’s a lot on people’s plates right now. We hope our donation will help Mind respond to the growing, changing needs of everyone experiencing a mental health problem now and in the coming months.”
Mind’s information page provides advice on how to look after your mental health during this period and is regularly updated. Their Mental Health at Work website provides specific information on looking after your wellbeing whilst working in these uncertain times. If you would like to donate directly to Mind, you can do so here.
Supporting first responders
US | 3 April 2020
Throughout April, BP and Amoco sites will offer a discount of 50 cents per gallon to first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital workers verified through ID.me, a digital identity verification system.
Beginning the week of 6 April, ampm stores will offer free coffee, fountain drinks, or hot dogs to all emergency service workers and hospital staff who show their official ID in store, as well as provide discounted meal bundles to those in need.
Richard Harding, senior vice president of marketing and sales for BP’s North America fuels business, said:
“We’re honoured to support the health workers and first responders who are on the frontline of keeping our communities safe. We’re here to help keep them moving so they can continue their life-saving work.”
Full information can be found at bp.com/localheroes or by following the BP America #bpsupportslocalheroes.
Bikes for NHS heroes
UK | 2 April 2020
BP is supporting NHS staff by providing £26,000 worth of Brompton bikes for frontline staff at key NHS hospitals.
With essential workers keen to avoid public transport, the Brompton initiative is helping to provide a way of making sure that they can continue to do their vital work during the pandemic.
BP donates fuel to air ambulance charities
UK | 1 April 2020
Air BP is providing free fuel to fly the helicopters of four air ambulance charities that collectively cover vast areas of England and Wales.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the aviation division of BP will support the life-saving work of air ambulance crews as they provide fast medical response to the critically ill.
Included in this initiative, that will remain in place until at least the end of April, are:
- Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
- Wales Air Ambulance Charity
- Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity
Air BP CEO Jon Platt CEO said:
“We are pleased to be able to play a small part and support these emergency service organizations as they continue to provide a critical service to communities in these difficult times. Our commitment to safe, reliable fuelling operations remains unwavering and we’re grateful for the hard work of our frontline Air BP operators, who continue to enable us to meet the needs of our customers.”
This initiative follows BP’s earlier announcement that it is supplying free fuel to the UK’s emergency services ground transport vehicles.
BP Turkey donates fuel to Istanbul’s state ambulances
Turkey | 31 March 2020
BP Turkey is donating free fuel to Istanbul’s state ambulances to support their life-saving work during the month of April.
Following the announcement, BP Turkey head of country Joe Murphy said:
“This is a time of unprecedented challenge, when companies and communities should work together in response to the impact of coronavirus. We are thankful to all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts and we want to make a small contribution here in Turkey.”
The move follows a similar initiative in the UK, where BP is providing free fuel to emergency services vehicles.
Supporting the health services
Spain and Germany | 27 March 2020 | 📹 0.12 min
At eight o'clock every evening, thousands of people across Spain line their balconies to applaud the emergency services in the ongoing battle against COVID-19.
BP Spain as a business is playing its part to support these services. Castellón refinery has donated 20,000 facemasks to hospitals in the region.
In a new retail initiative, Spanish customers can use their MiBP loyalty cards to donate points to Spain’s Red Cross (Cruz Roja) and BP will treble their value. Thus far, more than three million points have been donated – worth around €133,000, then topped up to some €399,000 by BP Spain and paid to Cruz Roja.
In a similar initiative to that in the UK, BP is also supplying free fuel to Spanish emergency services vehicles through their Routex fuel cards.
BP retail staff applaud Malaga police officers
Fuel is one thing, but police and ambulance drivers cannot work on gas alone. As such, BP Spain is also serving free coffee to emergency workers.
Free fuel and a brew is an offer that seems to be appreciated by the local police in Málaga, who generously returned the customary morning round of applause to BP staff in their local retail site. Carlos Garcia Boro, channels manager for Fuels ESA, said:
“I’m very proud of our great site staff team. They’re working hard to serve all of our customers on the frontline.”
Meanwhile in Germany, our Aral brand has given away 10,000 Aral SuperCards (each worth 25€) to frontline hospital workers.
And BP colleagues at the Neuhof lubricants blending plant in Hamburg, keen to lend their own support, have donated 1,200 spare breathing masks to three hospitals in northern Germany.
A member of the plant’s facilities management team had ordered the masks in anticipation of the COVID19 crisis. However, when it became clear that several hospitals were short on equipment, the team at Neuhof offered to help. The plant manager described handing over the masks as a moving experience.
Help for NHS Heroes
UK | 27 March 2020
In the UK, BP Chargemaster is offering £30 credit to taxi drivers transporting NHS staff during the COVID-19 crisis via the FREE NOW and Gett ride-hailing apps.
Both companies have created a new tariff option for ‘NHS Heroes’, allowing medical staff to get to their work places quickly and at lower cost during the Coronavirus outbreak.
BP Chargemaster estimates this support could add the equivalent credit of over a million miles of black cab journeys across qualifying taxi driver accounts.
Canoes bring water in a crisis
Mauritania | 26 March 2020
Much-needed clean water was delivered by canoe to a town in Mauritania this week after it had been cut off from its usual supplies. The river island of Ndiago normally relies on clean water brought daily from Senegal.
But, last week, the spread of Coronavirus forced the Mauritanian government to close its border with Senegal, leaving Ndiago, a town of 2,000 close to our Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project, without a source of clean drinking water.
Our social development partner in the region, Ecodev, alerted us to the situation it described as ‘critical’.
After meeting with Mauritanian authorities, BP and our partners identified a temporary solution. The team repaired an old water tank nearby, then organized canoes to transport water from the tank across the river to Ndiago, and then made sure the water reached communities in need.
The water-by-canoe method is a temporary solution. BP is already working with NGOs and the local authorities to permanently upgrade Ndiago’s water infrastructure.
Free delivery
UK | 23 March 2020
From 23 March to 30 April, bp offered delivery of food and convenience goods purchased from its network of operated convenience stores without charge. Customers could use the Deliveroo app to order products, including milk, bread and juices and a range of pizzas and ready meals, without a delivery fee from 120 BP M&S company-owned and operated stores.
The scheme was set up quickly to help enable more people to stay at home. The participating stores can all be found on the Deliveroo app.
UK trading manager Allan Abernathy said:
“This project was turned around in less than three days last week. Great job by many people at BP, Deliveroo and M&S. We hope this helps to support as many people as possible as they stay at home during this time.”
Donation to WHO
Global | 21 March 2020
BP is proud to play our part by contributing to the World Health Organization (WHO) with a BP Foundation donation of $2 million USD to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
The Fund supports medical professionals and patients worldwide, providing critical aid and supplies.
It also helps to track and understand the spread of the virus and supports efforts to develop tests, treatments and, ultimately, a vaccine.
“COVID-19 is a global challenge that can only be met by countries, communities and companies working together.”
Bernard Looney, chief executive officer
In addition, the BP Foundation is to match employee donations for COVID-19, in response to colleagues worldwide asking how they could help.
Three organisations are being supported:
- The World Health Organization’s global efforts.
- The International Federation of Red Cross’s country efforts.
- The American Red Cross for US-specific efforts.
Free fuel for emergency services vehicles
UK | 18 March 2020
Working with our partners and suppliers, we’re using our UK fuels business and network of retail sites to provide support to essential services, and people staying at home in the UK during the current coronavirus pandemic.
- BP will supply free fuel to the UK’s emergency services vehicles during the current crisis, until 22 May.
- From 23 March, BP will offer delivery of food and convenience goods purchased from its network of operated convenience stores without delivery charge.
