Embracing our Environmental Responsibility

As part of our commitment to improving the environment in which we work and live, we have introduced an employee volunteer programme as part of our community engagement initiatives. Our volunteering programme provides employees with paid time away from their place of work to engage in activities that make a genuine difference to the environment. We feel this is a fun and effective way of making a positive impact, whilst meeting corporate social responsibility goals and providing meaningful experiences for our staff.

So far, we have worked with the Marine Conservation Society at their beach clean-up event at Clevedon Pier in Portishead. Rosalind Crabtree and Kevin Mills (shown right) did a great job cleaning up the beach litter and plastics that can threaten marine life.

Meanwhile, Mike Marten, Deborah Bartlett and Matthew Evans took time out of their week to help clean up Three Cliffs Bay Beach in the Gower, Swansea. The team performed the task enthusiastically and filled several bags with litter, including plenty of plastic bottle tops, food wrappers and old fishing net. The team thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experience, and all reported a sense of fulfilment in helping restore the marine environment.

Staff have also volunteered with the Welsh Wildlife Organisation at the Parc Slip Nature Reserve in Bridgend, where Liam Bradley assisted with pulling up the invasive species Himalayan Balsam, and also at Carmel in Carmarthenshire, where Kevin Davison got involved with maintaining hedgerows and path clearance.

With more events planned for the next twelve months, we are looking forward to building on our relationship with these organisations.

Adrian Hurley, Managing Director, said: “We realise that by making full use of our community connections we are creating high levels of commitment and pride amongst our workforce. Getting out and experiencing nature in a way that improves our environment leads to happier and more productive employees”.