• by Tanya Gazdik , May 19, 2023

Bentley is expanding the number of bees it supports to over one million in recognition of World Bee Day on May 20.

Seven new hives are being installed in the “Bentley Bees” colony at the Excellence Centre for Honey Production in Crewe, England at the company’s headquarters, bringing the total to 17.

The bees have been on site for almost five years, producing over 2,000 jars of honey for colleagues and customers, says Andrew Robertson, head of site and facilities planning. In 2022 there was a record honey harvest of 1,000 jars from 600,000 bees.

The goal is for Bentley to remain a significant contributor to local biodiversity, he says.

Supporting the bees is one of the luxury automaker’s initiatives to enhance and improve the local environment as part of Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy.

According to bee experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a third of the world's food production depends on bees. 

Bentley is focusing on making its headquarter’s campus even more environmentally friendly as the company aims towards becoming the leaders in sustainable luxury mobility. 

Besides producing honey, the bees help to pollinate the on-site flora and bring wider benefits to the surrounding Cheshire countryside, according to the automaker.

The automaker is also encouraging employees to enhance local biodiversity by handing out wildflower seeds for them to plant in their communities. Employees also have put up handmade bird and bat boxes around the campus.

These initiatives help Bentley to support local wildlife and enhance natural beauty in local areas while also boosting colleague mental wellness through the provision of sufficient green spaces, per the automaker.