Sustainability Policy

Sustainability – social, economic and environmental

Responsibility for a sustainable environment rests with all of us. At Step Ahead we apply exactly the same best practice principles as our clients in the public sector, and have recently achieved ISO 14001 the international standard for environmental management systems.

We demonstrate our commitment to sustainability by ensuring that every strand of decision making within the company takes account of the potential impact of the choices we make. We have a dedicated sustainability manager on staff, and hold weekly team meetings during which we review our performance in the three key areas of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

As a ‘people business’ we consider it paramount that every action taken within our organisation has a positive effect on its people and the community. Here are just some of the ways we strive to achieve this:

• We ensure that our benefits package for staff is the best in our sector
• Our Employee Handbook is updated regularly to ensure it is current an reflects best employment practice
• Step Ahead promotes a healthy work/life balance including having permanent staff who work part time and from home
• Step Ahead has won a number of awards for its commitment to staff training and development
• We have worked in partnership with local organisations on an ESF project to help get the disadvantaged back into the workplace
• We have effective risk management in place in respect of harm to the vulnerable, security, confidentiality, health, fraud and professional malpractice

Our very existence depends upon maintaining sound economic sustainability and we take a number of measures to do this:

• We produce and review management accounts every month
• Suppliers are paid at the end of every month, without fail
• We conduct regular review meeting with our clients to gain feedback on the quality of our service versus our pricing
• We have the highest Dun & Bradstreet rating possible for an organisation of our size

Step Ahead has achieved ISO 14001, the international standard which evaluates organisations' environmental management systems. The Directors determine operational procedures and best practices for all key activities, and staff are thoroughly trained in Step Ahead’s environmental policies and are expected to:

• Pay particular regard to the minimisation of waste and greenhouse gasses
• Be responsible for reporting environmental observations and suggestions to the sustainability manager

Our ISO 14001 and ISO 9001:2000 processes and adherence are regularly reviewed and subject to annual external audits.

Additionally, we review the environmental performance of our suppliers and sub-contractors as part of the approval process before their appointment, and we have committed major investment in cutting-edge technology, our SPRINT integrated extranet system which minimises waste from paper, toner and electricity.