Corporate Social Responsibility APRIL 2022
Back in July we launched our Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy to formalise and bring together the work that we do with charities, the community and in the area of sustainability. This is to ensure that we are accountable and have maximum impact by bringing together everything that we do across the firm.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE? From a sustainability perspective we have been very busy behind the scenes working towards the UN sustainable development goals which are highlighted within our policy. Here are some of our most notable achievements since the launch:
O WORK CYCLE T
DAY
ADOPTING A STREET IN WSM
O 2030 NET ZER
NNAIRE ESG QUESTIO NEW TO PROVIDED S ER SUPPLI
COMMIT
MENT
ENT EASUREM INITIAL M CARBON OF OUR INT F O OT P R DIGITAL
FIRST P
SIGNING UP TO TH E PROMPT PAYMEN T CODE
OLICY
PAYMENT OF CYCLE RATES
ROOK” “GREENB P A G IN H G RO U L AUNC ABILITY SUSTAIN K B RO O K C ER BL A H T O H WIT SES BUSINES
HOW DO WE KEEP GOING? Every quarter the CSR team meet to review our formal CSR policy document ensuring that we track our progress against our goals and to ensure that we continue our journey. Each time we update our policy we make it available on SharePoint so that you can keep up to date with the progress that is being made. We will continue to produce this newsletter on a 6 monthly basis as well. In case you haven’t seen our recent policy updates below are the changes which have been made as a result of our first two meetings: Introduction of mental health first aiders Lunchtime walking / litter picking groups formed Manager training programme launched Provision of apprenticeships outside of our chargeable service lines Increase in the % of female partners Setting of our net zero commitment Enhanced benefit package to include options for electric bikes Forming of new partnerships to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals Engagement with landlords to reduce our impact on the planet Budget holders asked to make local and sustainable choices where possible
STAYING UPDATED Here’s our latest CSR Policy document see how far we’ve come and what we’re still working towards. https://albertgoodmancouk.sharepoint. com/:b:/r/sites/Community/CSR%20 Documents/AG1553%20CSR%20 Policy%20External%20April%202021. pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=zzwq9W
charity OF
OUR THE YEAR
Since April 2021, the Albert Goodman charity of the year has been Children’s Hospice South West. Since that time we have raised an incredible £10,000 for the charity (including match funding from partners), and held some memorable fundraising events. The most talked about highlights include our 90’s day (with a brilliant quiz hosted by Sophia), the Santa walk and the Weston half marathon, but we’ve done numerous other events across the office, including our cycle to work day and plenty of cake sales!
We are putting together an “end of year” event and would love to have your support and as always, if there is anything that you’d like to run for our charity of the year, all donations are gratefully received!
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2022-23 As you’ll be aware, our people at Albert Goodman decided our first elected charity of the year in 2021-22 (Children’s Hospice South West). The time is nearly upon us to look to 2022-23 and electing our next charity of the year. The planned timeline for this is: 7th March – nominations for the charity of the year open 18th March – nominations close w/c 21st March – nominations collated into shortlist for voting 28th March – voting opens 14th April – voting closes w/c 18th April – announcement of charity of the year for 2022-23. Please note that whilst nominations are welcome for any charity by anyone within Albert Goodman, the charities must meet certain requirements to make the shortlist: Be a charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. Have Somerset, North Somerset or Devon defined as an area in which charitable services are delivered. Not have been a recipient charity of the year for Albert Goodman in the last 5 years.
DIGITAL FIRST POLICY - FAIL? The digital-first policy was originally put in place to take the paperless ways of working that we had transitioned to over the pandemic, and to make these business as usual. This is to ensure that our offices remain as paperless as possible resulting in the environmental and cost benefits we saw over lock down being maintained. Despite the policy being made formal, and being launched, we have actually seen regression in our paperless ways of working in some areas of the business with this resulting in a steady increases to the cost to the business. The tables below summarise our printing, postage and stationery activities from November 2020 to January 2021, a semi locked down period, to November 2021 to January 2022, when we were back to the offices albeit not at full capacity. On the whole this is pleasing however in some areas of the business there is more work to be done.’
Printing, Postage & Stationery
NOV – JAN 2022
NOV – JAN 2021
INCREASE IN COSTS
£18k
£13k
£5k
Table of printing, postage and stationary costs pre and post pandemic.
NUMBER OF PAGES PRINTED BY OFFICE NOV – JAN 2022
NOV – JAN 2021
DIFFERENCE
2 Victoria Business Park
4,029
5,896
-1,867
2 Westbury Mews
2,404
2,769
-365
3 Filers Way
29,261
30,614
-1353
Goodwood House
129,287
90,031
+39,256
Hendford Manor
29,062
37,700
-8,638
Leanne House
26,069
30,467
-4,398
CHALLENGE!
We are therefore challenging all of our people to continually look for a “no pollution solution” to think digital-first and bring this policy to life. On the basis that we successfully ran our business during lockdown, when we were working from home and unable to print, we would like to challenge each and every one of you to bring back those previous behaviours and live and breathe our digital first policy. We would therefore like to set a challenge
22,635
for each office/ department to see who can get the biggest % reduction in their usage over the period between now and the next CSR publication. Your sustainability champions, and administrators will be taking ownership of this challenge and pushing back on requests to print between now and the next CSR publication. There is no specific prize for this task, other than some healthy inter office rivalry and knowing that you have made the biggest difference!
Good luck!
Meet the CSR team
SOPHIE PARKHOUSE
MICHELLE FERRIS
SARAH BOWDEN
ROBIN CLEMPSON
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01823 286096
www.albertgoodman.co.uk
@AG_LLP
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