Social Responsibility

For Reed in Partnership Social Responsibility in the workplace is about living the values that are the foundation of the company.Our approach focuses on:
1)    Minimising our environmental impact
2)    Making a difference to the communities in which we work
3)    Charitable support through the Reed Foundation

Minimising our environmental impact

We help to protect the environment by minimising environmental impact. Reed was the first UK recruitment company to become Carbon Neutral®. This was achieved through offsetting in China, Germany, India and Wales. Our heat recovery project in India alone saves 4,319t CO² a year, which meant we were able to create 50 more local jobs.
To play the role in helping meet the target of reducing office carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010/11, we have made the following changes:

• Electricity supplied through 'green' energy, saving over 3,300t CO² each year.

• IT PC terminals were replaced with thin clients, which use up to 91% less power.

• Printers are now set to sleep mode after 30seconds saving 24t CO² each year.

• Air conditioning units are set to work only during working hours

• Lighting is motion sensor based helping to reduce energy use in the office.

Bottled water coolers have been replaced in our offices with plumbed coolers resulting in a 83% decrease in our (water) carbon footprint.
We have adopted a Reduce, Re-use, Recycle policy with paper produced in the UK and certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Introducing this policy means that now 90% of our IT units are recyclable and there is less material waste in our offices. 

Making a difference in the communities in which we work

Reed in Partnership plays an active role in the communities where we work. In Scotland we led the Keep Glasgow Working campaign alongside the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. The campaign aimed to raise employment issues in order to help the city emerge in a strong position following the recession. We play a role in community events by sponsoring local football teams and taking part in community events.

Charitable causes

The Reed Foundation, which owns 18% of the company, aids charitable causes promoting education and the relief of poverty, sickness and suffering. Reed has a social commitment to lead and create positive social change. In total, over £20m has been donated to charitable causes including:

• Ethiopaid: Established by the Reed Foundation, works to relieve poverty amongst Ethiopians. Over £20m has been raised supporting 43 partners across Ethiopia.

• Womankind: Established with funding from the Reed Foundation, has raised over £1m to women who have suffered abuse and campaigned for equality across the world.

• Reed College of Enterprise Network: Reed Trust has contributed up to £25,000 to 27 schools across the UK to help them achieve specialist status and help support enterprise.

• West London Academy: The Reed Foundation is the principal sponsor of the West London Academy including pledging £2m for new school buildings in 2004. The Academy is specialist in enterprise, with a Children's University aimed at promoting learning activities outside of school experiences with the aim of raising aspirations.