Axis CLC ESG Strategy
CEO Introduction
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations are not a separate workstream or a “nice to have” – they are fundamental to who we are and how we operate. Every day we help keep the UK’s critical buildings and social infrastructure running – from homes and hospitals to schools and public estates – and that gives us a responsibility to maximise the positive environmental, social and economic impact we create for the people and places we serve.
ESG is therefore woven through our group strategy, our six core values and our approach to growth, so that decisions taken in the boardroom and on site alike are guided by the same ambition: to create lasting value for people, places and the future.
We also recognise that expectations of our industry are rightly rising, and we want Axis CLC to be at the forefront of that change. Building on the proud responsible-business track records of our group companies – from long-standing community investment and social value delivery to recognised sustainability performance – we are investing in the capabilities that will help our clients transition to a low-carbon, fair and resilient built environment.
Our Decarbonisation Centre of Excellence is one example of that commitment, bringing together specialist expertise to support public sector partners on their journey to net zero while meeting urgent environmental and regulatory targets.
Our ESG strategy is underpinned by clear, specific and measurable targets across environmental performance, social value and governance – from carbon, waste and biodiversity to safety, inclusion, skills and ethical supply chains.
We will report transparently against these commitments through our ESG Strategy and related disclosures, using data and independent benchmarks to track progress and drive continuous improvement over time. This is a journey, and we are committed to partnering with and learning from our clients, supply chain and peers, but our direction is fixed: ESG is part of everything we do, and we will keep raising our ambition so that Axis CLC helps lead our sector towards a more sustainable, inclusive and wellgoverned future.
Richard Morris
Axis CLC CEO
About Us
Axis CLC is a trusted property maintenance partner.
We enhance our nation’s critical properties to create lasting value for owners, residents, employees, and communities.
Our vision is clear: to be the most trusted and sustainable property services partner in the UK. We achieve this through a disciplined approach to governance, a transparent ESG strategy, and measurable performance targets, delivering reliable and responsive solutions through collaborative efforts focused on mutual success and social impact.
110+
500+ years experience
2800+ branches clients employees
26
National Coverage
We offer true national coverage through our network of 26 dedicated offices, plus client coworking spaces and satellite facilities, which are specifically set up to service our clients’ contract areas.
Brandon
Brentwood
Bristol
Camberley
Catterick
Chichester
Colchester
Darlington
Exeter
Gatwick
Leeds
London
Merseyside
Newcastle Oldbury
Plymouth
Portsmouth Shepshed
Sittingbourne
Southampton
Walsall
Warrington
Watford
Worcester
22,526 total e-learning and in-classroom courses taken
33 nationalities across Axis CLC
0.14 RIDDOR frequency rate
4223 site inspections carried out
25% workforce females across Axis CLC
22% BAME colleagues at Axis CLC
53% internal female promotions
4% increase in incident reporting ISO 45001 accreditated across the business 19 languages spoken across the business
3 total training days PP/PY
322 longserving employees (5+ years)
100% of employees have access to Perkbox benefits
120 active apprenticeships 3,421 volunteering hours
62 mental health first aiders
1495 hours supporting environmental initiatives 1,500+ trees planted
31.6 tCO2e direct
scope 1 & 2 emission reduction
100% Axis office energy is renewable
11 skip and community days
Highlights from 2024/25
£25,041 donated towards biodiversity initiatives
24 career events attended
98% constructon waste diverted from landfill
£1.34m invested into our Enva partnership
100% staff on same HR platform PeopleXD
0 incidents of bribery, corruption, or regulatory breach
40% reduction in vehicle idling since 2021
55% supplier engaged for carbon reduction
99.2% of phishing emails blocked on average each month 0 major data breaches within our systems
69% recycling rate, 15.9 tonness diverted from landfill and 22.9 tonnes of CO2e saved at our London, Stratford office
Our Perspective
Axis CLC is proudly UK-based, with operational hubs embedded in communities across the country. This local presence allows us to respond quickly, build lasting relationships, and deliver tailored solutions — all while aligning with global best practices in governance, environmental management, and social value.
Our ESG strategy, developed with independent and inhouse subject matter experts, brings together local initiatives and international standards into a unified, future-ready framework
Ethical practice is at the heart of everything we do. We measure success in the trust we earn, the emissions we reduce, and the communities we uplift. By aligning with science-based targets and anticipating regulatory shifts, we ensure our operations are resilient, responsible, and ready for the future.
Our approach is guided by three core principles:
Deliver meaningful impact where our expertise creates measurable value.
Build trusted partnerships with clients, suppliers, and communities.
Act with transparency and long-term purpose, grounded in data and science.
1 2 3
Board of Directors
Governance Structure
The Axis CLC Board holds ultimate responsibility for ESG performance and risk management. ESG is embedded in our enterprise risk framework, ensuring it is assessed alongside financial, operational, and compliance risks.
• Owns ESG risk and performance at enterprise level.
• Reviews ESG quarterly as part of the risk and compliance dashboard.
Executive Committee
• Ensures ESG priorities are embedded into corporate strategy, investment decisions, and operational planning.
• Holds accountability for delivery across all functions (HR, IT, H&S, Sustainability).
ESG Committee
• Cross-functional body of directors + subject matter experts.
• Reviews ESG strategy biennially, advises and monitors compliance.
• Includes leads from HR, IT, Health & Safety, Social Impact, Sustainability and Finance.
IT & Digital
• Drives diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and workforce development.
• Ensures ESG principles are embedded in recruitment, training, and performance management.
• Safeguards data, cyber resilience, and digital compliance.
• Supports ESG reporting systems and enables transparent data capture.
H&S
• Protects colleagues and contractors through robust standards and proactive risk management.
• Aligns safety culture with ESG values of responsibility and care.
• Leads environmental and community initiatives.
• Reports performance metrics to the ESG Committee and drives continuous improvement.
Workforce Leadership - Operational & Non-Operational Teams
• Apply ESG principles in daily decision-making.
• Support compliance, data capture, and improvement initiatives.
• Participate in training, volunteering, and wellbeing programmes to embed ESG culture.
S&SI
ESG Committee
The ESG Committee and Executive Committee review strategy and targets every year. Performance is monitored continuously, with regular Board and Executive Committee updates.
Our Executive Committee
Kamal Shergill Group HR Director
Natalia Block Head of Sustainability
Phil White Group CIO
People Planet Trust
Richard Morris Group CEO Artem Silonov Group CCO
Mark Sayer Group Health & Safety Director
James Stamp Group CFO
Kellie Turner Head of Social Impact
Tahira Ali Group Head Office Function Business Partner
Paul Rogers Group Head of Decarbonisation
Strategy Development
Process
Our ESG approach is guided by an end-toend strategy development process that is embedded into our day-to-day operations. This process enables the continuous identification and assessment of material ESG risks and opportunities, regular evaluation of our maturity against stakeholder and investor expectations, and the ongoing refinement of strategic and operational responses. Through this approach, ESG considerations are integrated into decision-making, supporting long-term resilience, value creation, and accountability across the organisation.
1
ESG Risk & Opportunity Scoping
Systematic identification of the most significant ESG-related risks and value creation opportunities, assessing their relative importance, linkages, and potential impacts.
ESG Capability & Maturity Review
Evaluation of current ESG practices against leading standards, informed by stakeholder expectations, investor priorities, and relevant peer and sector benchmarks.
Strategic Opportunity Design & Option Setting
Definition of approaches to address priority risks and unlock ESG-driven opportunities, including strategic pathways to strengthen resilience and competitive positioning. 3
Target Operating Model & Capability Enablement
Clarification of operating model needs, high-level capability gaps, and options to address them using appropriate sourcing approaches (e.g. build, partner, acquire etc) 4
Indicative Delivery & Implementation Plan
Development of a high-level roadmap to execute selected strategies, including governance, reporting structures, and performance metrics. 5
Current State
Summary: ESG Materiality Assessment 2025
Axis CLC’s materiality matrix assessed 16 ESG topics by their financial materiality (x-axis) and stakeholder impact (y-axis). The assessment confirms that Axis CLC’s ESG priorities— social mobility, health and safety and natural resource efficiency—are strongly aligned with both stakeholder expectations and financial relevance. It validates the strategic focus and supports disciplined decision-making.
ESG Strategy
Development
Development of our strategy involved consultation with clients, colleagues, suppliers, and independent ESG experts. This ensures our commitments are relevant, credible, and aligned with both UK regulatory requirements and investor expectations.
Our approach is pragmatic and financially disciplined — we prioritise actions with the highest measurable return on both ESG impact and stakeholder value. ESG is a driver of competitive advantage, helping secure long-term contracts and improving operational efficiency.
ESG forms an integral part of our growth strategy which strengthens our business, attracts capital, and delivers lasting impact.
Our ESG strategy focuses on:
Health & Safety
Protecting our people through rigorous standards, proactive risk management, and a culture of care.
Advancing Social Mobility
Creating skills, employment, and opportunity in the communities we serve.
Communities & Volunteering
Supporting local resilience through hands-on engagement and social value delivery.
Protecting Natural Resources
Cutting emissions, reducing waste, and promoting energy efficiency.
Ethics & Anti-Corruption
Upholding integrity through robust governance, supplier accountability, and zero-tolerance policies.
Data & Cyber Security
Safeguarding operational continuity and client trust through resilient, compliant digital systems.
Priorities
Our ESG priorities reflect the areas where we can make the greatest positive impact through our day-to-day operations. As a UK-based property maintenance provider, we work in people’s homes, communities and the built environment every day, giving us a responsibility to operate safely, sustainably and ethically.
These priorities directly align with and support our Group values — Safety, Teamwork, Trust, Customers, Expertise and Impact. Together, they guide our decision-making, shape our behaviours and focus our investment, helping us deliver long-term value for our clients, our people and the communities we serve.
Health & Safety
The scale of our operations means that safety is non-negotiable. With over 2,000 colleagues delivering services across the UK, our responsibility is to ensure facilities in our care are safe and compliant, and that our teams work without risk of harm.
Our safety performance is measured by clear, evidence-based metrics:
• Incident Management: Every incident, no matter how minor, is reported, investigated, and analysed to drive continual improvement.
• Culture Change: Ongoing behavioural safety campaigns ensure hazard reporting is part of daily practice.
• Performance Tracking: We review health and safety data monthly at Board level, with leading indicators used to prevent rather than react.
• Competency & Compliance: Our Compliance team provides expertise in high-risk areas such as fire safety, water management, asbestos, and electrical/mechanical systems.
This rigorous approach reduces operational risk, protects client assets, and preserves shareholder value through reduced liability exposure and stronger contract performance.
We are ISO 45001 accredited across the merged businesses, confirming that we meet the international standard for occupational health and safety.
Commitments
Year on Year improvement in Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate and Total Incident Frequency Rate
Year on Year % increase in Total Recorded Health and Safety Training Completion Rate by Suppliers.
Regular Board-level review of H&S performance and culture, with documented actions and improvements.
4% 4222 incident reporting increase health & safety inspections
Advancing Social Mobility
At Axis CLC, people are our most important asset — and our greatest opportunity to create lasting value. We are proud of the diversity in our workforce and the contribution each colleague makes to our customers, our business, and the communities we serve.
We attract talent from the widest pool possible, with a focus on creating pathways for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This is more than recruitment — it is about building an environment where everyone can thrive, progress, and deliver measurable impact for stakeholders.
Our approach focuses on three key areas:
Social Mobility and Opportunity
• Accessible career pathways for people from all walks of life
• Barrier-free entry points that enable real progression and community uplift
• Workforce reflects society, strengthening trust and local engagement
Inclusion
& Respect
• Zero-tolerance for discrimination — inclusion is embedded at every level of the organisation
• DEI framework ensures every colleague has a voice and individuality is respected
• Differences are celebrated as strengths that fuel innovation, resilience, and performance
People Strategy & Value Creation
• Retention and promotion reduce recruitment costs and protect margins
• Employee engagement supports contract renewals and customer satisfaction
• Profit reinvested into people — creating sustainable growth and long-term value
active apprenticeships 10% reduction in churn
Commitments
Year on Year increase in % of apprenticeships
Year on Year increase in % of women in our senior leadership.
Year on Year increase in colleague engagement through staff surveys.
Case Study
Highlighting Individuals That Embody Our Core Values
In 2025, Axis CLC launched the Value Champion Awards, an internal recognition programme celebrating colleagues who consistently demonstrate our values in their everyday work.
Open to nominations from across the business, the awards recognise individuals who go above and beyond in how they support customers, work collaboratively and contribute to a positive workplace culture. The programme helps reinforce expected behaviours and promotes consistency across teams and roles.
By recognising and rewarding values-led behaviour, the Value Champion Awards support employee engagement and our wider ESG commitments, helping to embed a responsible, inclusive and high-performing culture. The programme will continue in 2026, building on the success of its first year.
395 hours supporting education initiatives
679 hours supporting vulnerable groups
Communities & Volunteering
852 hours supporting local events
1495 hours supporting green initiatives
We operate across every region of the UK, often in areas with high levels of deprivation. This creates both a responsibility and an opportunity to make a measurable, meaningful difference.
Through our volunteering programme, all Axis CLC people are entitled to take one working day (7 hours) per annum to volunteer for an organisation of their choice. We believe in having a positive impact on our communities, as well as leaving a legacy as a business willing to provide the right tools to make a real difference.
One of our core pillars, these activities strengthen community relationships, build brand loyalty, and reinforce our position as a socially responsible contractor — a key differentiator in client procurement decisions.
Commitments
Year on Year increase in Volunteering Hours within the Community.
Year on Year % increase in financial donations provided to charities, community groups and third sector organisations through the Axis Foundation and employee fundraising.
Year on Year % increase in Careers Information, Advice & Guidance provided to those in Education.
All corporate and operational colleagues given the opportunity to complete a volunteering day every year as part of volunteering policy.
Case Study
Enhancing the Gardens at Melton Mowbray Hospital
The gardens at Melton Mowbray Hospital, part of Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust, provide a calm and reflective space for patients, families, staff and volunteers, particularly those connected to the palliative care ward.
As a regular provider of fire safety services, CLC has an established relationship with the hospital. Building on this, CLC volunteers dedicated a volunteering day to improving the gardens.
The team donated and installed new plants, benches and fencing to increase privacy and tranquillity, alongside renovating flower beds and jet washing pathways. These improvements transformed the gardens into a brighter, more welcoming environment that supports wellbeing and reflection.
Case Study
Taking on the Great British Spring Clean
The Great British Spring Clean 2025 brought together organisations and communities across the UK to improve local environments and promote responsible waste disposal. This marked Axis’ third year supporting the initiative and our most impactful contribution to date, with the highest number of skips donated.
Working closely with our clients, Axis coordinated 13 skips across 11 skip and community clean-up days with housing providers and local authorities including Clarion Housing, Westminster City Council, Ealing Council, L&Q, WHG, Grainger, Greenwich Council and Southern Housing. The initiative focused on reducing fly-tipping and improving shared outdoor spaces.
Axis colleagues volunteered their time to support the campaign, with skip days in Bolton helping residents dispose of waste responsibly, a garden clearance in Westminster supporting a vulnerable resident, and two skips filled in Walsall, resulting in a visible improvement to the estate.
The impact was felt across all sites, with estates left noticeably clearer and positive feedback from partners, including reports of fly-tipping prevention and skips being filled by mid-afternoon.
Protecting Natural Resources
Axis CLC is committed to responsible growth that safeguards the environment and strengthens the UK economy. Our sustainability strategy is science-based, regulation-aligned, and focused on long-term value.
Climate & Energy
• SBTi-aligned near and long term emission reduction targets
• Over 90% of emissions lie in our supply chain — collaboration is key
• We reduce energy use and emissions through technology, operational change, and supplier engagement
• Net Zero across Scope 1 - 3 emissions by 2045
• 43% reduction in operational emissions by 2030.
Waste & Resources
• Focus on minimisation, reuse, and recycling to cut costs and carbon
• Circular procurement reduces reliance on virgin materials
• Supplier partnerships drive low-waste innovation
Responsible Procurement
• Sustainability embedded in sourcing — not an add-on
• Supplier Code of Conduct and ESG data gathering ensure standards
• Diverse supply chains widen economic participation and reduce risk
4.8% to biodiversity projects
reduction in vehicle idling time waste diverted
Case Study
Encouraging Fuel-Efficient Practices & FORS Accreditation
We are improving fleet efficiency and safety while reducing environmental impact. By promoting responsible driving behaviours and maintaining recognised standards, we are cutting emissions, lowering fuel use and supporting safer journeys.
In 2024, initiatives such as our Driver of the Year campaign delivered a 4.8% improvement in fuel efficiency, a 40% reduction in idling compared to 2021, and saved over 2,283 hours of engine use, reducing fuel waste and emissions. We also achieved FORS Bronze accreditation across our fleet of 1,075 vehicles, confirming high standards of safety, environmental performance and operational efficiency.
Our Responsible Business Partners
Ethical Conduct, Human Rights & Modern Slavery
Axis CLC is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct across our operations and supply chain. We operate with a diverse workforce and recognise that protecting human rights is not only a legal and moral obligation—it’s a business imperative.
We take decisive action to prevent exploitation, ensure compliance with modern slavery legislation, and embed ethical behaviour through our Code of Conduct, familyled traditions, and company values. Ethical breaches and human rights violations pose serious risks—from reputational harm to regulatory fines and contract losses. By acting early and consistently, we safeguard our people, our clients, and our long-term financial integrity.
Cyber Security and Data Privacy
Protecting our data and systems is essential to financial stability, operational continuity, and client trust. Axis CLC’s cyber strategy is designed to prevent, detect, and respond to threats swiftly—safeguarding both our business and our stakeholders.
Key measures:
• Advanced Defences: AI-driven security tools, real-time threat detection, and resilience protocols to counter evolving risks
• Regulatory Compliance: Systems aligned with UK GDPR and Cyber Essentials, meeting stringent client and contractual requirements
• Human-Centric Training: Ongoing awareness programmes to reduce human error—the leading cause of cyber incidents
Commitments
Annual penetration testing and vulnerability assessments completed across all critical systems.
Cyber Essentials Plus – annual re-accreditation.
100% of key suppliers to complete cybersecurity risk assessments by 2026.
Annual board-level review of cybersecurity posture and data governance risks. 0
Our Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation highlights our commitment to protecting ourselves against online threats.
99.2% major data breaches phishing emails blocked each month on average
CEO Reflection:
Our Values in Action
Our ESG strategy reflects the values that guide us every day: Trust, Safety, Customers, Teamwork, Expertise and Impact. Principles demonstrated in every contract we deliver, every colleague we support, and every community we serve.
These values are not just cultural—they’re commercial. They protect our reputation, attract investment, and secure long-term contracts. ESG is how we turn our values into value. And as we look ahead, it’s how we’ll continue to grow—with purpose, with discipline, and with the trust of those who walk alongside us
axisclc.com/contact-us