connection.uk.com Corporate Social Responsibility

Transcription

1 connection.uk.com Corporate Social Responsibility

2 02 Corporate Social Responsibility Our Mission Connection recognises the importance of integration of social and environmental responsibility into a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. In all our core business operations, our aim is to ensure we act ethically and responsibly by adopting best practice within our CSR and this is embedded into all our practices to the benefit of all our stakeholders. We consider these stakeholders to be our employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers and the communities within which we operate. Our Values We would like to be seen as being transparent in all our dealings as well as making positive contributions with our stakeholders. We are committed to the following core values: To minimise the environmental impact of our operations and enhance the sustainability of our products To address the needs and aspirations of our employees, providing a motivational, enjoyable environment whilst considering the health, safety and promotion of a good work/life balance To adopt a good relations strategy with our customers and strive to achieve agreed standards of safety and quality To ensure we are honest and fair in all our dealings with our suppliers and aim to procure all our goods and services in an ethical manner To support our communities by being sensitive to their needs, responsible in our operations and through the adoption of charitable causes.

3 03 Corporate Social Responsibility Our Policies Environment At Connection we work to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and also to enhance the sustainability of our products. In 2012 we gained full membership to FISP (Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme) to further demonstrate our commitment to measuring and improving any impacts. We strive to improve and streamline our processes, taking every opportunity to reduce, reuse and recycle, segregating all waste and recycling wherever possible. In fact, we consider the environment from the initial design of products, through the manufacturing process right up to delivery of product and beyond. Our packaging materials are labelled with appropriate logos and codes to ensure that our customers are aware that they can be recycled. We encourage our customers to return any packaging so that we can try to re-use it. Approximately 20% of our packaging is re-used resulting in substantial reductions in packaging waste levels. We carry out Aspects and Impacts Risk Assessments at our sites, at least annually, covering air quality, noise, waste and spillages, as part of our ISO14001 accreditation. These confirm that any risks are reduced or eliminated by putting actions in place. We operate two of our sites near to waterways, and ensure that our land is kept clear of any waste and measures are taken to ensure that they are not polluted in any way from surface water flows. We maintain legal registers for both Environment and Health and Safety regulations we are 100% compliant. We also regularly check for new upcoming legislation changes which will impact us, thus making us prepared and compliant well in advance. We recycle our waste, with plastics, wood, metal, cardboard and paper sent for recycling. Employees are encouraged to use the appropriate disposal routes, which also helps to maintain a clean and tidy site. Non recycling waste such as fabric, foam, strapping, label backings and kitchen waste are disposed of under our waste management providers Zero Waste to Landfill protocol. Substantial savings and reductions have been achieved in our lighting, air systems, heating and IT with a policy of continual improvement. We encourage all our staff to switch off lights and equipment when not in use. We do this through awareness training sessions and notices around our sites. As a result of these initiatives, in 2 years we have reduced our gas usage by 9% and electricity by 1% despite having increased our sites square footage by 24% over the same period.

4 04 Corporate Social Responsibility Our Employees We are committed to ensuring that we provide a motivational and fulfilling environment to work in. We focus hard on recruiting and retaining the best people, recognising their achievements and rewarding their efforts. We currently have an average of 5 years service per employee. We believe that much of our success can be attributed to the values that we hold and that are embedded throughout the organisation. Our core values are as follows: To provide a market leading, professional service to our clients and suppliers To be courteous, honest and behave with integrity at all times To work as a team To treat each other equally and with dignity To always consider health and wellbeing To provide clear policies and guidelines Connection provides training to all personnel from their first day of employment. Starting with induction programmes, followed by job specific training, awareness of company practices and policies and certifications, along with Health & Safety and Environmental training. The company structure is simple with clear lines of responsibility and authority. To complement this we have good policies in place for our employees. All employees receive a Staff Handbook, which outlines code of conduct policies and procedures including Employment Law and The Bribery Act. To support this document we also have an Equality, Diversity & Dignity at Work Policy to ensure fair treatment of our employees. The friendly and close company culture allows our employees to be open and feel at ease to suggest improvements and concerns. We have various incentive schemes in place to reward good performance and encourage improvements. We also have a suggestion box scheme whereby when a suggestion is implemented, the employee is rewarded with a 25 M&S voucher, alternatively suggestions can be made anonymously. We are fortunate to be small enough for all our employees get to know everyone. We encourage this by having regular events to bring them together, whether that be for Ten Pin Bowling, out for a curry or the Christmas party. Employment is freely chosen and child labour is not used. Any employee under 18 years old will have a young persons risk assessment carried out and they will be monitored and closely supervised. All employees earn above the National Minimum Wage level. Threats of physical or verbal abuse, sexual or other harassment, or other forms of intimidation are prohibited. These are all documented and communicated via our Ethical Trading Policy. We encourage our employees to participate in inbound marketing activities, with clear guidance provided to them through a Social Media Policy. We encourage healthy lifestyles and launched our Cycle-to- Work scheme in Now over 10% of our employees cycle to work, having a positive impact on both their health and the environment.

5 05 Corporate Social Responsibility Our Customers We seek honesty and fairness in our dealings with our customers, striving to meet agreed standards of safety and quality in our products and services. We work to develop products which help our customers achieve their own environmental and health and safety objectives. Connection has the ISO9001 Quality accreditation, which ensures that we have good documented controls and procedures in place to help ensure that our products and service levels are as good as possible. We have achieved the PAS 99 accreditation, the world s first specification for integrated management systems and are one of the first companies to achieve this to the 2012 specification. All our products are made to order and we pride ourselves upon providing exceptional customer service which is measured in terms of Delivered on Time, In Full and also Non Conformances. These are both measured against the numbers of orders delivered and reported weekly and monthly, with actions and resolutions communicated daily. We optimize delivery routes and plan our logistics in order to help reduce transport pollution for all parties. This further demonstrates our commitment to continually monitor and improve and by integrating our management systems we are improving our policies and procedures, thus improving our performance, efficiency and communication. Our Suppliers We seek honesty and fairness in our dealings, including payment of creditors. We do not offer, pay or accept bribes. Our suppliers are selected based on a number of criteria. We like to work with companies who share our ambitions and philosophies. We enter into long term close relationships with well managed companies. Suppliers are chosen not just considering capabilities, unit cost and credit worthiness, but also we try to ensure that they match our commitment to quality, the environment and health & safety. We do this by sending out questionnaires and asking contractors to provide risk assessments. To support domestic industry, and reduce environmental impact, we source products and components from the UK wherever possible, as well as within the EU. Where applicable, we encourage our supply chain to gain accreditation to our complementary accreditations such as FSC and PEFC to ensure that the chain of custody of wood is valid and that wood products originate from a responsible and sustainable forest. Our aim is that by 2013 all our suppliers are FSC accredited and we will work with them to gain this.

6 06 Corporate Social Responsibility Our Communities We seek to be sensitive to the cultural, social and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. We carry out Aspects and Impacts Risk Assessments at our sites, at least annually, covering air quality, noise, waste and spillages. These have confirmed that any risks are reduced or eliminated by putting actions in place. Two of our sites are near to waterways, so we ensure that our land is kept clear of any waste and measures are taken to ensure that they are not polluted in any way from surface water flows. We maintain legal registers for both Environment and Health and Safety regulations and we are 100% compliant. We also regularly check for new upcoming legislation changes which will impact us, thus making us prepared and compliant even before it is applied. We have many charity fundraising events, which over the past 2 years have included Donate a Coat, The Great Connection Bake Off for Children in Need and two of our Directors ran the 2012 London Marathon, raising over 2k for 2 charities (The National Autistic Society and Headway). Heath & Safety The OHSAS18001 Health and Safety accreditation further demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest standards of safe workplaces for our staff. We have regular H&S Committee meetings where issues and performance is shared, including inviting guests to each meeting to increase awareness. The minutes of these meetings are shared with all employees, by placing them on the company notice boards. All accidents are investigated fully (however small) with causes determined and remedial actions put in place. We carry out regular Health and Safety audits including detailed Risk Assessments by site, workcentre and also for higher risk activities (COSHH, working at height, fire, manual handling and electricity). We provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which is readily available to our employees and full training is provided on COSHH). Some PPE is mandatory, whilst others are recommended by the Company. If you would like to receive a copy of any of our Management Systems and Policies individually, please anneliese.bottomley@connection.uk.com FM EMS OHS IMR

7 Head Office Dogley Mills Penistone Road Fenay Bridge Huddersfield West Yorkshire HD8 0LE Tel: London Showroom 31 Great Sutton Street Clerkenwell London EC1V 0BB Tel: Connection Seating Limited All rights reserved.