Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

Policy statement

The Claims Compensation Group Ltd is committed to operating its business in a manner that is both sensitive and responsible with proper regard to its legal obligations and according to relevant directives, regulations and codes of practice. It is also committed to supporting the Government’s vision for Corporate Social Responsibility in terms of businesses taking account of their economic, social and environmental impacts, specifically:

• Promoting business activity that brings simultaneous economic, social and environmental benefits.
• Encouraging innovative approaches and continuing development and application of best practices.
• Ensuring best minimum levels of performance in areas such as health & safety, the environment and equal opportunities.
• Creating a framework that facilitates business practices that balance profit and success with achievement of social and sustainability goals.
• Taking an active part in supporting the local community and social causes.

Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

The Company recognises that its operations have an effect on the communities and environment in which it operates. In light of this, the Company is committed to operating in a socially responsible manner, supporting a number of local communities and social causes, as well as operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Local community & social responsibilities

CCG is proud to support local community projects as well as a range of deserving and charitable causes. These include:

• CCG makes straightforward corporate donations to different charities as chosen by management from its profits. Previous charities have included WaterAid.
• We support employee fundraising initiatives.
• Work flexibility for employees to undertake charitable work.
• For employees who wish to take part, they are informed of the Workplace Giving UK Scheme. This enables employees to give tax-effective donations to a charity of their choice.
• Upon being awarded certification for Carbon Neutral, we adopted an environmental project — the Solar Lighting Program in India — which helps residents living in rural areas have access to electricity through solar panels installed on roofs.
• We are always on the lookout for ways the Company can play its part within the community.

In terms of local community, CCG lives its values by providing free support to jobseekers from the local communities in acquiring job market skills. This includes providing individual help with:

• Focused job search activity;
• CV writing;
• Interview techniques.

Our staff

We are committed to ensuring that we provide a motivational, fulfilling and fun environment in which to work. We focus hard on recruiting and retaining the best people, recognising their achievements and rewarding their efforts.

We believe that much of our success can be attributed to the key values that we hold and that are embedded throughout the organisation, which include:

• Quality without compromise;
• Willingness to listen and act on feedback.

Environmental management programme & objectives

Whilst CCG does not produce any emissions or pollutants that come under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations issued by DEFRA, the Company has identified that its most significant impacts on the environment include:

• Disposal & recycling of waste (including paper, consumables and electronic equipment);
• Energy & water usage;
• Transport and company car usage;
• Purchase of consumables;
• Maintenance of buildings.

Methods for meeting the objectives within the Environmental Management Programme include:

• Maximising the reuse, recycling and sustainable disposal of waste;
• Minimising unnecessary energy usage and waste;
• Minimising the impact of company car usage;
• Purchasing consumables in an environmentally sustainable and fair manner;
• Minimising unnecessary water usage and waste;
• Ensuring that buildings are maintained in a manner that minimises environmental impact.

We have in place a full environmental policy which details how these impacts will be monitored, managed and, wherever possible, reduced.

Equal opportunities

It is CCG’s aim to create an environment that encourages and values diversity within its workforce and builds on the differences individuals bring, enabling the Company’s continued success. We aim to draw upon the widest possible range of views and experiences in order to meet the changing needs of our staff, clients and partners.

We seek to promote diversity and to respond to the needs of all individuals in a fair and equitable manner, whilst observing our commitment and responsibility to current legislation. To achieve this, the Company will:

• Fulfil its social responsibility towards its employees and the communities in which it operates.
• Recognise all of its legal obligations.
• Recruit, train and promote the best person for the job, to make full use of the talents and resources of all its employees, and to create a working environment free from unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment in which all employees are treated with dignity and respect.
• Periodically review its selection criteria and procedures and maintain a system where individuals are selected, promoted and treated solely on the basis of their merit and ability specific to the job role.
• Distribute and continuously publicise its Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy throughout the Company, in advertising, and elsewhere as appropriate.
• Provide the facilities and opportunity for any employee who believes they have been treated inequitably within the scope of the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy to raise the matter through the appropriate grievance procedure.

Our approach to equal opportunities applies equally to our own employees and to the way in which our recruitment services are offered to clients and candidates.

Health & safety

It is the Company’s duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. This requires that regard is paid in particular to:

• Maintaining healthy and safe premises, as well as a healthy and safe working environment;
• Providing and maintaining safe systems of work;
• Providing health and safety information and training;
• Publishing and regularly updating a Company Safety Policy;
• Ensuring safety in the use of articles and substances;
• Conducting special risk assessments for expectant and new mothers and young persons;
• Providing such information, training, instruction and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of all employees.

Ethical purchasing & procurement

CCG is committed to procuring its works, goods and services in an ethically and environmentally sensitive way, yet with proper regard to its commercial obligations, ensuring that suppliers deliver to agreed timescales, quality and cost.

Purchasing is undertaken in a manner that encourages competition, and offers fair and objective evaluation of offers from all potential suppliers. Purchase of goods and services with an annual value in excess of £10,000 excluding VAT will be conducted according to the following principles:

• Completion of a business case to evidence the need to purchase.
• Procurement practices will be transparent, auditable and fair.
• Research will be conducted to ensure a clear understanding of the risks associated with the purchase of goods and services, and purchasing decisions will include contingency and risk mitigation strategies.
• Tendering is based on both quality and cost, and is evaluated in a fair, objective, and structured manner that actively encourages competition.
• Small, local and BAME (Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority) organisations will be encouraged to participate in the procurement process.
• Company employees responsible for purchasing will not accept corporate gifts, or any type of solicitation that could be construed as enticement.
• The procurement process demonstrates that the approach taken to competition is rigorous, balanced and driven by service needs and market intelligence.
• Potential suppliers are ethical, sensitive to the environment and operate within UK legislation.
• Suppliers are able to demonstrate their ability to deliver continuous improvement and cost savings throughout the life of the contract.
• Business transactions will, where possible, be conducted electronically.

Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and may be altered from time to time in light of legislative changes or other prevailing circumstances.