Social responsibility policy

Policy brief & purpose

Our company’s existence is not lonely. It’s part of a bigger system of people, values, other organisations and nature. The social responsibility of a business is to give back to the world just as it gives to us.

What is corporate social responsibility?

Our Social Responsibility company policy outlines our efforts to give back to the world as it gives to us.

Scope

This policy applies to our company. It may also refer to suppliers and partners.

Policy elements

We want to be a responsible business that meets the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

Our company’s social responsibility falls under two categories: compliance and proactiveness. Compliance refers to our company’s commitment to legality and willingness to observe community values. Proactiveness is every initiative to promote human rights, help communities and protect our natural environment.

Compliance

Legality

Our company will:

• Respect the law
• Honour its internal policies
• Ensure that all its business operations are legitimate
• Keep every partnership and collaboration open and transparent

Business ethics

We’ll always conduct business with integrity and respect to human rights. We’ll promote:

• Safety and fair dealing
• Respect toward the consumer
• Anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices

Examples of Corporate Social Responsibility

Protecting the environment

Our company recognises the need to protect the natural environment. Keeping our environment clean and unpolluted is a benefit to all. We’ll always follow best practices when disposing garbage and using chemical substances. Stewardship will also play an important role. For more information please see our environmental policy.

Protecting people

We’ll ensure that we:

• Don’t risk the health and safety of our employees and community.
• Avoid harming the lives of local and indigenous people.
• Support diversity and inclusion.

Human rights

Our company is dedicated to protecting human rights. We are a committed equal opportunity employer and will abide by all fair labour practices. We’ll ensure that our activities do not directly or indirectly violate human rights in any country (e.g. forced labour).

Proactiveness

Donations and aid

Our company may preserve a budget to make monetary donations. These donations will aim to:

• Support local community products
• Promote involvement and learning in the local digital industries

Volunteering

Our company will encourage its employees to volunteer. They can volunteer through programmes organised internally or externally. Our company may sponsor volunteering events from other organisations.

Supporting the community

Our company may initiate and support community investment and educational programmes. For example, it may begin partnerships with vendors for constructing public buildings. It can provide support to nonprofit organisations or movements to promote cultural and economic development of global and local communities.

Learning

We will actively invest in R&D. We will be open to suggestions and listen carefully to ideas. Our company will try to continuously improve the way it operates.

Our company is committed to the United Nations Global Compact. We’ll readily act to promote our identity as a socially aware and responsible business. Management must communicate this policy on all levels. Managers are also responsible for resolving any CSR issues.

Colchester Digital CIC

Our primary vehicle for supporting the local community and promoting learning within the industry is via our Founding membership of Colchester Digital CIC.

We support Colchester Digital CIC via the donation of time, money and expertise, and have a seat on the CIC’s board.

Colchester Digital’s Objectives are:

Community

We aim to cultivate and support the local digital and creative community by:

• welcoming and supporting people who are new to the area or to the industry
• support members living or working in Colchester
• collaborating with local organisations, individuals and members

Networking

Our events provide:

• networking opportunities for local businesses organisations and members to help and work with each other
• we provide opportunities for digital and creative professionals to share their successes or explore issues and problems around their work and find solutions
• providing a forum for discussion, learning and new ideas

Knowledge sharing

Through our talks, conferences and presentations we:

• provide a platform for digital and creative professionals to share their expertise and gain speaking experience
• give members the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge
• provide a forum for discussion, learning and new ideas