Why we formed an ESG group: A commitment to real-world Impact.
In 2015, 193 world leaders committed to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to create a better world by 2030. Inspired by these goals, we formed an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) group to make a meaningful impact.
At Expert Thinking, we’re passionate about addressing climate change, promoting equality, and improving health, with the help of initiatives like Support the Goals. Our company’s culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation drives us to extend our impact beyond our daily work. Through our ESG group, we reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable, equitable future aligned with the UN’s vision.
Over the past few months, we’ve made significant strides towards our ESG goals, and we’re excited to share some of the initiatives that have been driving this.
1. Regular ESG Team Meetings:
To keep our momentum going, we’ve instituted monthly ESG team meetings. These gatherings are crucial for discussing our progress, setting new goals, and ensuring that our efforts align with our long-term vision. They also provide a platform for team members to share their ideas and contribute to our collective mission.
2. Supporting Charities and Fundraising:
We’ve carefully selected 2 charities (MacMillan and Centerpoint) to support as both of these charities resonate with our company values. This year we have successfully organised fundraising efforts to support them. There’s a lot more planned for the coming months, including participation in the London Marathon, Brighton Half Marathon and the Centrepoint team sleep out. More news on this soon, we can’t wait to make an even bigger impact!
3. Prioritising Mental Health:
We understand that a thriving team is one that is both physically and mentally healthy, we feel particularly important as a remote-only business. That’s why we’ve introduced regular mental health sessions designed to support our team’s well-being. Alongside these sessions, we’ve also organised social meetups, providing our team with opportunities to connect, unwind, and strengthen relationships.
4. Governance:
We are proud to be ISO 20071 accredited and are commitment to continuous improvement which extends beyond our internal policies. Recently, we’ve rolled out new policies and updated existing ones, including a Health & Safety questionnaire to identify potential risks in our employee’s work environment, such as ergonomic issues or mental health challenges. Our policies reflect our dedication to maintaining a safe and supportive work environment for everyone at Expert Thinking.
5. Employee Wellbeing Programs:
We recognise the critical importance of maintaining a healthy and happy workforce. As a tech company we offer mental health support and flexible working hours. One of our ESG goals is to implement a wellness program including volunteer days to further enhance the well-being of our employees.
6. Empowering Women in IT:
We believe in encouraging an inclusive and diverse workplace, and part of this commitment is actively supporting women in technology. Our attendance in the Women of Silicon Roundabout IT event planned for later in 2024 is just one example of how we’re working towards this goal. We’re proud to be part of the movement advocating for gender equality and are actively collaborating with our recruitment agency to inspire more women to pursue careers in technology with us.
7. Encouraging Community Engagement:
We actively encourage community engagement within our Expert Thinking team, promoting a culture of giving back and making a difference. Whether it’s through volunteering, participating in local events, or supporting community projects, the ESG team is currently working with several employees on how we can support their personal initiatives outside of work.
Looking Ahead
While we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, we know that our journey has only just started. We recognise that there’s always room to improve and we’re excited to see where our ESG journey will take us next.