Corporate Social Responsibility
Whether considering employees, members or supply partners, well-being and environmental best-practice is at the forethought of our activity. It is our ambition to be recognised as a business that promotes industry-leading Corporate Social Responsibility, encouraging all stakeholders to recognise the role they should play in a commercial, social and environmental society.
Responsible Sourcing
Our Merchandising team is briefed to work with suppliers that offer the highest environmental credentials. Price and best value remain important, but that cannot come at a cost. It is our vision to transform the market so that our members approach customers with environmentally friendly products as their key contract offering rather than simply the cheapest.
To achieve this our ambition is to provide a greener offering for all products supplied into businesses, be that stationery, furniture, business machines, janitorials or catering. As a group we have supply arrangements with over 100 brands and we are always on the lookout to work with new partners that share our greener vision.
Operational Changes
The company has adapted a hybrid way of working to minimise travel and energy consumption, recognising the need to protect the natural environment. In the workplace all staff:
- Promote recycling of all possible materials within the business, whether home, office or remote working. This includes paper, plastics and cans placed, as standard, in clearly marked reciprocals for regular recycling.
- Maintain a power down policy of all related equipment, including building heating and all electrical appliances.
- Where possible and practical, utilise video calling as opposed to travelling large distances to meet.
- Where travel is required, use public transport such as trains where practical, if this is not possible then try and travel in groups or make several appointments within the same journey to reduce the carbon and environmental impact of that journey.
Charitable Engagement
CONSERVATION
Nemo Office Club support the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with regular contributions from every ream or pad of Our Earth copier and flipchart pads sold. Established by author and conservationist Gerald Durrell, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has had the same four-word mission statement, ‘Saving Species from Extinction’, since it was founded in 1959 and this remains at the heart of what the charity does today.
Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
Each year the group selects a charity partner to support at the annual conference. In 2022 over £2,800 was raised for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, helping families fleeing from the conflict with food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection.
BE;LIVE
In March 2022 we partnered with the Be;Live charity to provide free access to our in-house design studio to promote the work carried out by the mental well-being charitable organisation. Be;Live exists to ensure people understand they are not alone and that there are practical, healthy solutions which can help us to cope with our mental health.
We are proud to be associated with the excellent work carried out and were pleased to see our designs used around shopping centres in Birmingham to support a live event staged by Be;Live.
RUDRA VARAM
Our MD, Tim Beaumont has for many year supported local workers in Rudras Varam, an Indian village in south east Indian, in the State of Andhra Pradesh, where the average salary for professionals is around £3000 p.a. but many in the surrounding area are unskilled and uneducated earning a fraction of this.
By making regular financial contributions, the project in 2021 constructed a Church building, for a thriving community led by Pastor Paul Timothy and is currently building an Orphanage to house up to 50 orphans for the ongoing work, taking them from a rented building into their own purpose built facility. The children are lovingly cared for and given an education enabling them to go onto further education and better job prospects.
Samaritans
Merchandising Manager, Helen Price, used the covid pandemic as a time to revaluate and train as a Samaritan, now working as a listening volunteer and involved in initiatives such as Crisis at Christmas and the Outreach to schools programme supporting young adults.
Helen continues to give up her spare time being there for people that need someone to listen as a trained Samaritan.
community at heart
Group Head of Merchandising, Graeme Hargreaves, spent 5 years as a volunteer Mountain Rescue team member, helping those in distress in wild places as missions included attempted suicides, broken legs and searches for missing and vulnerable people.
Graeme is also a huge advocate of supporting the local community and volunteers at the Ryedale Free Fridge, collecting excess food from local retailers to distribute free of charge to families in need; as well as working voluntarily with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme to deliver opportunities for young people to develop their self confidence in challenging situations.
Improving ecosystems
Business Development Manager Steve Baker is regularly supporting the Environmental Agency with litter picking along canals, rivers and lakes. As a keen angler and UK Coarse Fishing license holder Steve sees the impact that litter has on the wildlife and waterside habitats and commits his spare time to improving that environment.
Charity Walks
All staff are encouraged to partake in community activities and fundraising.
Our Marketing Manager, Alan Calder, has engaged in numerous fundraising activities for local charities. Most recently his sponsored walks raised over £1,000 for the University College Hospital Cancer Fund – supporting the development of cancer care, treatment and educational research at UCLH.
During lockdown he raised over £500 for teenage mental health charity, stem4, through a virtual walking tour of rugby grounds covering 1,950 miles and 3,847,468 steps.
Community engagement
Nemo Office Club launched a Keep It Local Campaign in 2020 which continues to pro-actively encourage all stakeholders and their partners and customers to focus on supporting local businesses and communities to minimise environmental impact, grow local economies and create local jobs.
By adopting these values Nemo Office Club look to not only reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of our operations but also encourage our partners and members alike to consider their environmental impact and social values.
