There’s a lot you can say about the problems around Victorian business practice – child labour, cheap pay, ridiculous hours, and the list goes on. Amidst all this, there was also an inspiring move in which business people like John Cadbury wanted to do good for the people that worked for them.
A Quaker selling chocolate
Perhaps one of the first to sell chocolate for eating in 1842, selling their first chocolate bar in 1849. Then in 1854 they received the royal warrant as manufacturers of chocolate and coca to Queen Victoria.
By 1879 business was going well, and they moved their business to Bournbrook Hall, and named the area Bournville. As others did at the time, it became clear that the company would be more efficient if factory workers lived nearby. So brother’s George and Richard Cadbury so in this an opportunity to put into practice some of the good-will message inherent in their belief as Quakers.
A model village
In 1893, George Cadbury bought land close the factories to build a model village that would to “alleviate the evils of modern, more cramped living conditions”. The Cadburys were particularly concerned with the health and fitness of their workforce, and so incorporated parks and recreation areas, encouraging swimming, walking and all sorts of outdoor sports.
They also paid their workers with relatively high wages for the time, relatively good working conditions, and pioneered pension schemes, joint works committees and full staff medical service.
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