Responsibility Policy

Social and Community

Our approach

We consider ourselves part of society and want to make a contribution. We have selected organisations that support our interest in empowerment and sustainability.

It is Customer Interpreter’s policy to donate at least 1% of turnover to charity.  This amounts to about 10% of profit – a percentage that put us in the Top Ten by percentage terms in the UK in 2005 according to Business in the Community and have received the Payroll Giving gold Award for 2006.

International Support

WOMANKIND Worldwide is a UK charity dedicated to working internationally to raise the status of women. WOMANKIND works with 70 partner organisations in 20 countries, spanning Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, and Europe.  The director is a former trustee of Womankind Worldwide.

Local support

The Director works on a pro bono basis for the local extended primary school and is setting up local on-line networks for small businesses and for parents of children at the local secondary school. Other members of staff provided design and fund-raising support at no charge for the Green Pepys event being held in September ’04. This event was designed to create learning opportunities for local residents and companies supplying sustainable products – to bring sustainability experts into the real world.

Environment

Energy

Carbon neutral approach

Customer Interpreter Limited is committed to working in a sustainable environment and to environmental issues.  We are committed to offsetting any carbon emissions we generate and are a “Carbon Neutral Company”. Via Future Forests we are planting trees in the Isuna Project located in West Bhutan

Renewable electricity

Electricity is provided from renewable sources by Ecotricity. Profits are reinvested in new sources of renewable energy. Lighting is with low energy bulbs and solar capture is used to heat the office.

Transport

Use of public transport is maximised. Cycling and walking are encouraged and usual for journeys under 2 miles. Cars are only used when there is no viable alternative. All emissions are offset.

Minimising Waste

We are a member of London Remade (a strategic partnership between the business sector, London Boroughs, regional government, waste management companies and the not-for profit sector whose main focus is pan-London and addressing the economic aspects of recycling and regeneration).  We have signed up to the Mayor’s Green Procurement Code at Part B (B1 level) thereby committing ourselves as an environmentally progressive organisation moving towards measurable change.

Procurement

It is Customer Interpreter’s policy to collaborate with key suppliers to secure an improvement in our and their environmental performance.  Our assessment of suppliers will assign an appropriate weighting to these environmental performance issues within the sourcing process.

Recycling

We aim to reduce our environmental impact through a careful and informed waste management recycling scheme; all waste paper, ink cartridges, packaging and food waste is recycled.

Reduce

Wherever possible, we use electronic processes eg online banking and utility payments, on-screen proofing of documents and file sharing to improve consistency and reduce paper usage. Recycled paper stock is used for printing and photocopying, and all internal paper is used twice.

Staff

Profit share

Customer Interpreter Ltd believes that the ongoing commitment of all members of staff is vital to a successful business. We also believe that aligning the interests of the individual and the business is good practice.

Consequently, the directors have agreed that a percentage of the profits is allocated to staff via a performance related profit share scheme. The way this is calculated is a reflection of the current number of staff and salary levels. This may be adjusted over time as circumstances change.

As of 1 January 2005, all employees (not including directors) of Customer Interpreter Ltd are entitled to take part in the annual profit share. This will be calculated once the end of year results are known (end of financial year currently 31 January). Currently 5% of profits are available for the profit share pool. This is then shared between employees according to percentage of the year worked and performance as defined by annual appraisal.

Well being

Customer Interpreter Limited is committed to working in a sustainable way. This includes the sustainability of its team. We wish to encourage our staff to take exercise and to have a pleasant environment to relax, believing that this offers personal as well as business benefit.

This approach includes gym membership, Christmas relaxation and available garden for lunch / thinking.

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