A pocket guide to the Chime Group(pdf)
Our approach to corporate social responsibility
For Chime, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about positively addressing our environmental and social impacts, and doing the best for our employees, our clients and our investors.
Our approach to CSR is informed by our vision to be the Modern Communications Group, looking to build the brands and reputations of our clients within a constantly changing social and media environment.
We believe that CSR is more than a box-ticking exercise and so our approach encourages all Chime employees to put responsible behaviour at the heart of the way we do business.
Employees are actively engaged on key issues through a variety of channels, such as events like Green Day, our network of Climate Change Champions and sources of information such as the Pocket Guide to the Chime Group, which is given to all employees when they join the business. A Pocket Guide to the Chime Group
Our corporate social responsibility progress
This is our fourth year of CSR reporting. This report sets out our position on our major areas of responsibility – towards the environment, our people and the communities in which we operate and where we have an impact – and explains how we plan to develop our approach in the future.
In 2008, we made good progress against our commitments. Our decision to focus on our carbon footprint and to concentrate on reducing our contribution to climate change has been and will continue to be central to our CSR approach.Our performance against 2008 commitments
We were recognised for our progress in 2008 when Business in the Community (BITC) awarded Chime the Big Tick for reducing our environmental impacts. BITC reaccredited us with the Big Tick in 2009 because of our continued efforts and Chime is included on the FTSE4Good Index. HRH The Prince of Wales also singled out Chime Communications in his speech at the BITC May Day Summit in 2009 as a company that had successfully reduced environmental impacts whilst benefiting the business bottom-line through cost savings.
“And let me just give you one example of where May Day has saved a company money. Chime Communications decided to stop using bottled water in its offices and instead installed a water-purifying machine. In just one year, it saved £50,000 and saved the carbon used in the production of the bottles and their transportation.’”
Our Commitments for 2009
Environment
Internal
- Continue to minimise the Group’s environment impact in terms of energy, water and waste
- Make further reductions to our carbon footprint
- Manage the environmental impact of our business travel, minimising emissions where possible
- Reduce the environmental impact of commuter travel through staff education, new initiatives and improvements to our offices, facilities and systems
Suppliers
- Use our learning to date to work with more of our suppliers to reduce their emissions and improve their environmental performance through their own efforts and their own supply chains
Clients
- Ensure the way we work with clients has the least environmental impact possible
- Share our experience and knowledge to help our clients to take action on climate change
People
Employees
- Promote employee development and champion excellence
- Improve risk assessment process for employees on business trips
Graduates and Interns
- Review and promote a new graduate training scheme acknowledging the changing business environment
- Develop a more focused programme of internships and work experience
Community
Volunteering and pro bono work
- Continue to promote volunteering across the Group and offer a range of volunteering opportunities
- Encourage pro bono work across the Group
- Young people
- As part of the internship and work experience programme, offer opportunities for young people from the local community
