"Corporate social responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large".”
– As defined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development -

Our CSR policy is closely linked with the principles of sustainability which supports the view that business should make decisions based not only on financial factors such as profits or dividends, but also based on the immediate and long-term social and environmental consequences of its activities; this is known as the Triple Bottom Line.

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY

Work Experience for National Star College Student

21 year old Kerfa Adu-Osei really was a 'star' when he came on work experience from National Star College. Normally studying at Lambeth College, Kerfa was on an exchange to NSC and had specifically wanted to get experience in an architectural or design-based studio.

“I really enjoyed going to the architect, and liked using the software to design a house.” Kerfa recognised that he could continue to use this and develop his skills further.

However, perhaps the most powerful feedback he has given has been concerning the whole residential experience with NSC (of which visiting Heath-Avery was one of the most significant aspects) when he said to his tutor “I can now see that I can affect what happens in my own life, and choose for myself.”

Heath Avery hosts a variety of work experience candidates from school children to undergraduate placements.

Sarah Daly, managing director, is a Governor at Gloucestershire College and is involved in both the main board and several committees. Sarah is pictured below presenting awards at the College's Catering & Hospitality Awards. She has advised National Star College and The Big Issue South West on profile-raising and marketing issues.

Award presentations    Sustainability workshop - Malvern St James

Sarah also works with University of Gloucestershire's Employability Forum which develops links between undergraduates and the business community. Sarah is also on working groups for RCE Severn - the Regional Centre for Sustainability Education which is a south-west/midlands group of the international centre led by the United Nations University.

David Heath, Chairman, gives regular talks on careers in architecture/development and along with Rod Smith, holds mock interviews to assist 6th formers in the University application process.

Malcolm Sutton has been advising a community group in Churchdown near Gloucester on issues relating to the conversion of a garage. This was featured in Cotswold Life magazine to promote the work of Three Sector Match, an organisation which has been formed to pair charities with business skills.

Malcolm Sutton is also on the Employers' Steering group for G15 which is a new workplace and education partnership to drive increased practical experience into the new Diplomas which are being offered to 14-19 year olds as an alternative to GCSEs and A'levels.  Malcolm advises on the Construction Diploma. The lead organisation in Gloucestershire is Chosen Hill School in Churchdown.

FUNDRAISING & TEAM-BUILDING

Heath Avery Charity of the Year 2009: Cotswold Care Hospice

Cotswold Care is an important client to Heath Avery as we recently completed their new £2.3m daycare building in Minchinhampton. The building will be officially opened by The Prince of Wales on 22 December 2008. The Heath Avery team is especially pleased to be involved with a project which has had the personal seal of approval of Prince Charles.

We will be working closely with CCH to promote the new building and help to raise their profile in their efforts to raise the £1.4m per annum they need to operate. We will also assist in the feasibility stages of a proposed new bedded unit.

Our staff will be encouraged to engage with CCH on a variety of levels to create closer links, professional benefits and to increase charitable donations especially via payroll giving and fundraising initiatives.

Cotswold Care Hospice - Midnight Walk 2009

Heath Avery's team raised in excess of £1300 doing the Midnight Walk in Cirencester on 26th June 2009. Additionally, the team co-ordinated a bag collection from all the tenants of our office building, Westmoreland House, which resulted in a van-load of clothes and bric-a-brac to sell in CCH shops. CCH estimate each bag is worth £50 to them so we are hoping to have boosted the tills by at least £500.

Young Action Man, Andy Waugh, raised £520 for Cotswold Care Hospice by doing a sky-dive from 12,000 feet over South Cerney Airfield. It was Andy's first experience of an extreme activity:

"It was a great experience and I'd definitely like to do it again. It was marvellous to be able to raise funds for a project that we're so closely associated with."

ENVIRONMENTAL

Sustainability

All staff are fully committed to our sustainability policy. We have advanced recycling and energy conservation policies in place in our offices and hope to achieve ISO 14001 very soon.

We have produced a set of expert Guides to Sustainability, starting with schools, as we have considerable experience in this sector and wish to show the simple, pragmatic steps schools can take to improve their carbon footprint. In a market where people are increasingly making green choices, organisations can gain substantial PR credits at the same time. Becoming greener does not always cost more; and we wish to demonstrate a variety of pay-back models.

We have a qualified Director of Sustainability, Stephen Vaughan, who is responsible for driving our sustainable credentials through the architectural projects, via our clients and the rest of the professional teams.

We have appointed an internal Sustainability Champion – Andy Waugh – who keeps us all in check and filters new ideas through the business.

CSR is discussed on a monthly basis at both company and Board level.

Vision 21 Gloucestershire

We work with Vision 21 on a number of initiatives including local best practice groups. We also have battery recycling, ink cartridge and composting in-house in addition to our full range of paper-based recycling points.

We operate a cycle to work scheme and encourage all staff to walk or cycle to the office where-ever possible.

OTHER CSR COMMITMENTS

Many staff are blood donors and others are being encouraged to give blood at a venue close to our workplace.

Contact: sarah@heath-avery.co.uk sarah@h-avery.co.uk