Corporate Social Responsibility

Achondrite Group recognise the importance of approaching our responsibilities for corporate social responsibility in a co-ordinated and committed fashion.

Consultation with partners and employees allows us to develop a corporate social responsibility programme.

In addition, our policy will be reviewed and measured annually to ensure that our commitment to environmental responsibility, the community, and our ethical policy are as up-to-date and forward thinking as possible.

Our Work in the Community

Involvement in the local community is of paramount importance to us and we consider ourselves as being committed to businesses in the local area.

At Achondrite Group we believe that helping the local community is not just something we choose to do but is actually an important part of our business.

We understand that local businesses and communities are closely linked and that we can have a significant impact on communities as a whole. Achondrite Group plays an active role in contributing to these communities and our staff are actively encouraged to take part in local activities and community-led events.

Our work includes building Stag beetle habitat in Broxbourne in 2011, cleaning up the local neighbourhood in Bishops Stortford in 2012. In December 2013 we were approached to help a DIY SOS major build, attempting to get a new shop front put in at Thirst in Bishops Stortford. Thirst is the Youth Project that is being headed up by Nic from the Community Church. They wanted to have an open night on Dec 20th and so we needed to rip out the interior of the shop and get it carted away

Environmental Policy

Achondrite Group is committed to achieving real and sustainable positive impact on the broader community in which we live and work. We believe that it is essential that both as a Company and as individuals we should operate in an environmentally conscious manner. Our objective is to minimise the impact of our business activity on the environment. This includes ensuring that our suppliers do likewise and that we persuade our clients to consider environmental matters wherever possible.

A review has concluded that the most significant area of impact we have on the environment is in the use of natural resources. Our significant natural resource usage includes power, water, travel, and consumables such as paper and I.T. equipment.

We recognise our impact on the environment comes from:

• Electricity to heat, cool and power office equipment
• Gas for heating
• Travel by air, road and rail to visit clients and conduct internal meetings
• Water in offices used for a variety of purposes
• Resources such as paper
• Waste including paper, plastic and consumable I.T. equipment

Our objectives

• To evaluate future energy usage to see how we can use low energy systems
• Avoid unnecessary travel on business by the use of video conferencing and telephone communication where possible
• Use the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, where necessary, consistent with business needs
• Reduce overall the resources we use
• Aim for a paper-free office culture
• Reduce our letters and correspondence by 50% in the coming two years, where alternative electronic mechanisms can be used
• Minimise our hard copy marketing by 50% in the coming two years
• Offices will use either recycled or FSC paper for all hard copy correspondence, wherever possible
• Consider environmental criteria when choosing services and goods
• Fundamentally we will reduce our impact on the environment and ask that our staff, suppliers and clients do likewise

Our Ethical Policy

This goes beyond the legal requirements where we need to maintain the highest level of professional integrity with regard to our clients, staff and professional regulators, along with others with whom we interact. We set our standards in excess of regulation with regard to client confidentiality, our objectivity and our independence.

Achondrite Group also supports the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through its business practices. This means we support the right of any individual to have freedom of expression and religion, and political representation in respect of any other matter.

Accordingly, Achondrite Group will not support or work with organisations which fail to uphold basic human rights within their influence, are involved in the manufacture or transfer to an oppressive regime, or are involved in the manufacture of equipment used in the violation of human rights. Neither will the Achondrite Group support or work with organisations which are involved in the funding or carrying out of terrorist activities.

In addition, Achondrite Group will not provide support or work with organisations which do not conform to the most widely accepted standards for minimum labour rights or which do not cover the use of under-age or forced labour.

We will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or any other kind of harassment within our business community. The concept of "mutual respect" will be one of our guiding principles. Employees are expected to abide by company rules and to be honest and considerate in their various roles.

Internal procedures have been established to report grievances or suspected inappropriate behaviour to other individuals or organisations. Equally the company will treat dishonest actions and accusations seriously; this may result in disciplinary action in accordance with company rules and disciplinary procedures.