VFD Pro: Corporate Social Responsibility

Overview 

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 encourage 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.
 
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 internal memos.
 
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

Daniel Plowright, who is the firm’s nominated officer, has overall responsibility for our CSR strategy and for implementing this policy. He has a key role in ensuring the systems and controls we have in place are effective.
 
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. If anyone has a suggestion, they should contact Daniel Plowright (link to email)
 
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. Our Whistleblowing Policy can be found in our Office Manual.
 
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. Records of the reviews are maintained and any necessary amendments are made to the policy, as appropriate. 
 

Our CSR principles

  • Engage in charitable giving and volunteer efforts.
  • Reduce carbon footprints to mitigate climate change.
  • Make socially and environmentally conscious investments.
  • Improve employment policies and embrace fair trade.
  • Change corporate policies to benefit the environment.
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 team are our most important resource. We actively seek to offer our team a positive and healthy working environment and ensure that they have rewarding careers and job satisfaction.
 
We seek to ensure that all personnel 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 team members to be equal and we aim to create a working environment which is free of unlawful discrimination. 
 
Our community
 
In considering our impact on the wider community we have resolved to sponsor or otherwise support nominated charities.
 
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 and courteous service. 
 
Suppliers
 
We are committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and to promoting equality and diversity in our professional dealings with suppliers and other third parties.
 
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.
 

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.
Daniel Plowright, 15th June 2019