CORPORATE SOCIAL RSPONSIBILITY POLICY

It is our aim to be commercially successful and committed to ethical, socially and environmentally responsible practices in the way that we achieve business success. We also recognise that a pragmatic approach is one that is likely to yield the most positive overall effect and build this into our approach to sustainable business. The main areas where we apply our efforts are: 

Workplace: 

  • To provide and promote a safe, open workplace that is free from discrimination in any form.  
  • To work towards external recognition of this in the medium term. 

Marketplace: 

  • To provide products and services to meet the requirements of our direct customers and wider stakeholder groups. 
  • To promote our view of a sustainable business approach.  
  • To be viewed in the marketplace as an ethical business and a leader in the application of sustainable practices. 

Environment: 

To manage our business in ways that allow for the protection of the environment and to integrate our principles of sustainable development into our business decisions and processes. We will understand our environmental impacts and always act to reduce them where this can be practically realised. 

Community: 

Where we can, we will seek to improve the situation of both local and wider communities that form our main stakeholder groups. We recognise that there is a limit to what can be achieved but this should never be a barrier to initiatives. 

“Corporate Social Responsibility is probably one of those things that means different things to different people. However, to us it means using the company and its employees to give something back to the community and world in which we live” 

Aspects to Consider: 

Environmental 

  • Recycling.
  • Energy saving and utilities control.
  • Green travel plans.
  • Waste minimisation policies and practices.
  • Environmental impact on the area in which we work, (local miles/ carbon footprint)
  • Selection of environmentally beneficial equipment.
  • Vehicle management e.g., most effective route planning, use of alternative fuel e.g; LPG vehicles/biofuels, transport and traffic planning.
  • Landscape and physical development plans.

Management Practices - & HR: 

  • Staff welfare.
  • Allowing staff time off to complete Councillor, Governor or armed forces reservist activity.
  • Links with local schools, colleges, universities.
  • Apprentices and other training programs that go beyond what is specifically needed for the business now.
  • Flexible work patterns to encourage recruitment of disadvantaged groups.
  • Family friendly policies such as flexitime, flexible working hours, flexible shift patterns, home working, study leave, environmental research on the local area.
  • Providing work experience placements for schools.

Social: 

  • Local sponsorship.
  • Charitable donations, especially to local groups.
  • Support (not just financial), for local sports clubs, schools, charities, colleges, churches, prisons, youth group.
  • Partnerships with disadvantaged groups through people like reemploy etc.
  • Supporting local volunteer schemes.
  • Interacting with the community.
  • Providing sponsorship for local youth teams to provide new kit etc.

Economic: 

  • Providing good local employment opportunities.
  • Procuring locally where possible.
  • Mentor support or interim management support for local smaller businesses, charities, schools etc.
  • Ethical trade policy.
  • Piggybacking schemes with local companies.
  • Paying invoices promptly at agreed terms, to all suppliers.
  • Auditing suppliers’ practices, in terms of souring of raw materials, treatment of staff etc—looking at whole ethical picture.
  • Using local suppliers where possible.

General: 

  • Legal conformance.
  • Continuous Improvement metrics with objectives and targets - perhaps with data on how these are set.
  • Use local people in your business development planning.