• Southern Policy Centre is now closed for business

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

Ruth Eastwood

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

Introduction

This Policy Statement is about how Southern Policy Centre Ltd (SPC) takes account of its economic, social and environmental impact in the way it operates as a business. SPC is committed to ensuring that any business undertakings are conducted as ethically as possible by following the below policy. The Directors have overall responsibility for the implementation of the policy and will make the necessary resources available to realise our corporate social responsibilities. Every Director, freelancer and supplier is expected to give their full co-operation to the Corporate Social Responsibility considerations described in this policy.

Who we are and what we do

SPC was established in 2014 as the only independent think tank and policy forum for central southern England.  We focus broadly on the region from Dorset to West Sussex and the Isle of Wight to Oxfordshire. Our mission is to offer ideas and promote debate on critical social, economic and environmental issues in the central South by creating a neutral space to think. SPC is a small organisation with three unpaid directors which operates as a not-for-profit enterprise. All our projects are funded by sponsorship.

Equality and Diversity

SPC is committed to encouraging equality and diversity and seeks to create a culture that respects individuals regardless of their ethnic origin, nationality, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, religion, racial group, colour, or political persuasion.  SPC is committed to ensuring a diversity of representation across the range of our research projects and associated activities.

Freelancers and Suppliers

SPC is committed to working with suppliers who have good business ethics and meet the standards we hold in high esteem. SPC will ensure that we deal responsibly, openly, and fairly with freelancers, consultants, associates and suppliers by:

  • Ensuring that we make clear arrangements with and fully meet our obligations as agreed
  • That we will endeavour to pay on time
  • Not expecting any discounts to have a detrimental effect on their business

Employees

SPC currently has no employees.

Customers

SPC seeks to ensure that it deals responsibly, openly and fairly with existing and potential customers by:

  • Sharing our knowledge and expertise with customers and across the local community, including through the dissemination of research outcomes
  • Ensuring that we evaluate what we do in order to constantly improve our service
  • We will conduct work with customers that will bring benefits to the central South and beyond
  • Ensure our advertising and documentation about the business and its activities are clear, informative, legal and produced with integrity

 Human Rights

We are committed to respecting internationally recognised human rights and to ensure that we are not complicit in human rights abuses through our supply chain and stakeholder relationships.

Protecting the Environment

The nature of our work as a consultancy means that we do not inherently have a high environmental impact but we will take consideration of environmental issues in the professional services we provide and endeavour to reduce our environmental impact wherever possible. We commit SPC to:

  • Comply with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and codes of practice
  • Seek to minimise wastage
  • Manage and dispose of all waste in a responsible manner
  • Monitor and improve our environmental performance
  • Printing documents only when absolutely required

Community Engagement

SPC is committed to building mutually supportive relationships with the wider community. We will also ensure that our work with our local communities involves, subject to resources:

  • Building relationships and/or partnerships with organisations around us, including educational establishments, councils, businesses, charities, social enterprises and community groups
  • Encourage occasional volunteer work in community activities, where it will have a positive impact
  • Engaging with and supporting local schools, colleges and universities
  • Support programmes that are inclusive in their nature and span all social backgrounds and cultures
  • Championing the use of micro-businesses, small and medium-sized suppliers (SMEs) and local suppliers as appropriate, recognising the benefits this provides to the communities in which we operate.

 Measurement

This Policy will be monitored and reviewed each year by the Directors to ensure SPC’s continuing compliance with relevant legislation, to meet new business requirements and to identify areas for improvement, updating this document to reflect such changes.

Ruth Eastwood | General Manager

October 2022