We acknowledge that running our business has an effect on society. In particular, we have a responsibility to our clients, our employees and contractors as well as the broader community in which we operate.

We are committed to taking responsibility for our actions and encouraging a positive contribution towards improving standards for our clients and employees, minimising our impact on the environment and improving the quality of the local community.

We are committed to ensuring our policy remains effective. As part of our ongoing commitment, this policy is reviewed at least annually to verify its effective operation.

By putting CSR into practice, we are committed, wherever possible, to:

• Conducting ourselves responsibly and in an ethical manner
• Creating a positive and supportive working environment
• Supporting local communities
• Improving service levels to clients
• Acting fairly in our dealings with suppliers and other third parties
• Minimising the impact on our environment.

Communication 

We communicate this policy to our staff, clients, and other stakeholders by means of our website, publicity materials, and email.

We provide our staff with training on our CSR strategy and this policy and seek to raise awareness of any negative impacts of our business and methods to reduce them.

Responsibility and review

Our firm’s nominated officer, has overall responsibility for our CSR strategy and for implementing this policy.

All members of staff have a role to play in complying with our CSR objectives and are encouraged to make further suggestions in relation to initiatives we could undertake.

We are fully committed to the highest possible standards of openness, honesty, and accountability. In line with that commitment, in accordance with our Whistleblowing Policy,  we actively encourage all staff members who have serious concerns about any real or perceived departure from the high ethical standard that we set to voice those concerns openly.

We are committed to ensuring our policy remains effective. As part of our ongoing commitment, this policy is reviewed at least annually to verify its effective operation.

Our CSR principles

Our conduct

We aim to adopt the highest professional standards and not to act in such a way as to compromise our firm’s integrity.

We actively promote respect between our staff members in their dealings with each other and with clients and other third parties.

Our working environment

We recognise that our staff are our most important resource. We actively seek to offer our staff a positive and healthy working environment and ensure that they have rewarding careers and job satisfaction.

We maintain a Company Handbook, which sets out the rights and expectations of all members of staff.

We seek to ensure that all staff have access to the training they need both for their own development and to enable them to deliver a high-quality service.

We consider all staff members to be equal and we aim to create a working environment which is free of unlawful discrimination.

Our clients

We are committed to delivering a high level of service to all our clients. We understand that our business exists in a very competitive market and in order to retain our clients we need to deliver a professional 1^st Class service to all.

Wherever possible, we take steps to promote equal opportunity.

Suppliers

We are committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and to promoting equality and diversity in our professional dealings with suppliers and other third parties. Our Diversity Policy can be found in our Company Handbook.

We endeavour to enter into clear and fair contracts with our suppliers. We commit to the timely settlement of suppliers’ invoices.

Wherever possible, we aim to support the local economy by contracting with local suppliers.

Environment

We are committed to behaving responsibly and to minimising our impact on the environment. We aim to minimise our impact on the environment by:

• Using Zero Carbon omission vehicle where possible
• Reduce our carbon omission output by 50% by 2025
• Minimising waste and adopting sensible recycling policies in respect of our paper and food consumption
• Providing safe and comfortable working conditions
• Encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work.
• Ensuring that electrical equipment and lights are off when not in use.
• Ensuring that heating is turned off or down outside office hours.

Responsibility

Responsibility for this policy, including an annual review of the policy to:

• Ensure that it remains up to date, compliant and relevant to the needs of the organisation and its clients.
• Verify it is in effective operation across the practice.