Corporate Social Responsibility | Solicitors Newcastle

We acknowledge that running our business has an impact on society and we feel that we have a duty to help others as much as possible.

Julie Parr
Chief Operating Officer

We are committed to behaving responsibly and to contribute towards minimising our impact on the environment and improving the quality of the local community.

The responsibility for our adherence rests with all employees throughout the firm and our environment, social, and governance (ESG) policy is reviewed on an annual basis.

In a move to involve as many of our staff as possible in our ESG activity, the firm has set up a staff social committee whose remit is to organise staff social events as well as get the wider firm involved in charity fundraising. All team members are encouraged to make suggestions in relation to further community or charity initiatives we could support.

Through our community work, we are privileged to meet many inspirational people who devote much of their time helping others.

We are committed to support local charities through sponsorship, events and fundraising initiatives. We encourage dialogue with local communities for mutual benefit and encourage our employees to help local community organisations and activities in our region by way of:

Supporting local charities

Nominating charities to benefit from the proceeds of business card draws at our ‘Fizz in the City’ ladies networking events. Recent beneficiaries have included Maggie’s Newcastle, COCO, Children’s Foundation, 4Louis, Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund, Children North East, Teenage Cancer Trust, Smart Works, St Oswald’s Hospice, Smile for Life, Josie’s Dragonfly Cancer Trust and Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter.
Various other staff activities which raise funds for local charities nominated by members of staff. Recent beneficiaries have included Blue Sky Trust, Cash for Kids, 4Louis, Children North East, St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Arthritis Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Trust, Henry Dancer Days, Bloodwise, Oliver’s Journey, Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome Trust, and Chloe and Liam Forever Together Trust.
Holding an annual Macmillan ‘Biggest Coffee Morning’.
Team members taking part in ‘Movember’ each year.
Staff taking part in ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ in support of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund.

Supporting local students

Delivering presentations to law students at regional universities.
Sponsoring the best ‘Company Law Student’ prize at Leeds Law School.
Sponsoring West Jesmond Primary School’s STEM Week and donating raffle prizes for the summer and Christmas Fayre.

Supporting regional start-ups

We have supported the Start-Up Competition at the Thinking Digital Conference for several years, offering a free legal support package to the winners.
We also work closely with Sunderland University, Durham University and Northumbria University in relation to start-ups and enterprise.

Supporting local sports teams

We are the front of shirt sponsor for Northern FC juniors.
We have been the kit sponsor of Morpeth RFC 1st Team for many years as well as Morpeth RFC U15 Girls Teams.
We are also a sponsor of Whickham FC.

Impact on the environment

We have procedures in place to improve waste management, save energy, recycle and re-use furniture and equipment wherever possible.
We provide all of our employees with water bottles to minimise the use of plastic water cooler cups.
We encourage our employees to reduce their own impact on the environment by using public transport or car share in order to travel to and from work. We also encourage our staff to cycle to work and provide shower facilities.
We encourage environmental responsibility amongst our contractors, suppliers and staff and include environmental considerations in our procurement processes.
We recycle paper, toners and ink cartridges.
We minimise our use of electricity by ensuring that all electrical equipment is turned off when not in use.
We encourage our staff to only print a document if necessary.

Supporting and protecting our people

We ensure that we do not risk the health and safety of our employees and community.
We support diversity and inclusion.
We create a better working environment and promote interaction by holding regular social events for our people.
We will continue to raise staff morale by supporting charities close to the hearts of our people.
We provide weekly fruit baskets to all employees as part of our ‘Healthy Workplace’ programme.

Social Responsibility