In 2023, Acron Group earmarked RUB 779 million (up 38%) for social and economic projects and charitable initiatives in its footprint regions.
The Group allocated RUB 559 million to develop the local infrastructure, with a particular focus on healthcare, education, arts and culture, and sports. Its companies initiated a number of social and charitable programmes with a total value of RUB 221 million to support NGOs, institutions of social importance and the local communities in general.
Novgorod-based Acron continued its cooperation with Novgorod University’s Leading Engineering School and financed the overhaul and purchase of modern equipment for Novgorod Chemical and Industrial College under the federal Professionalitet programme. Dorogobuzh provided funding to repair classrooms and equip the chemical laboratory at Verkhnedneprovsky Technological College in Smolensk region. A technical-mineralogy training laboratory was established at Murmansk Arctic University with the support from NWPC. In total, the Group invested over RUB 150 million in the educational projects of its companies.
Healthcare is another area of focus for the Group. In the reporting year, Acron (Veliky Novgorod) sponsored the purchase of medical equipment and landscaping of the surrounding area for the regional children’s clinical hospital, and the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment for the regional perinatal medical centre. Dorogobuzh provided funds to the local Central District Hospital for the necessary medical tools and equipment. In total, the Group invested RUB 75 million in healthcare projects.
Acron Group also invests in local infrastructure in the regions where it operates. VPC has started construction of Yolochka recreation centre in Perm Krai, which will accommodate up to 1,000 children of the company’s employees, local residents, and guests of the region. In line with its commitment to promoting sports and healthy lifestyles, Dorogobuzh provided support to the equestrian team at the Verkhnedneprovsky children and youth sports school, investing in improvements to training conditions. The company also purchased and installed new playgrounds in Dorogobuzh and Verkhnedneprovsky settlement. The Group’s total spending on the development of social infrastructure and urban environment exceeded RUB 260 million.
In 2023, Veliky Novgorod-based Acron donated RUB 10 million to Novgorod Museum Complex. The funds were used to purchase and cast a set of bells for the belfry at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Yaroslav’s Court, as well as to repair the facades of the Clock Tower and Saint Sergius of Radonezh Church in the Novgorod Kremlin. These projects aim to preserve the city’s unique architectural heritage.
During the year, members of the corporate volunteering movement DobroAcron provided assistance to animal shelters and organised cultural events in geriatric centres. Current and former Acron employees in Veliky Novgorod continued a volunteer initiative to locate the remains of fallen and unburied soldiers from World War II.
Acron Group’s social projects have been recognised at regional and federal levels. In 2023, Dorogobuzh won first prize at the regional round of the national Socially Responsible Russian Companies competition for its social investments and charitable programmes that contribute to regional development.