Corporate & Social Responsibility

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY POLICY

Policy Statement

Perrins, as a solicitors’ practice, acknowledges and recognises its responsibility with regard to the potential impact of its business operations on the physical environment and on the communities in which it operates. Perrins is committed to using its reasonable endeavours, whilst continuing to run a successful business, to work with, and positively influence, the contribution made and the efforts undertaken by its team members to minimise any negative effects and enhance those that are positive.

The key areas of our policy are:-

• Environmental Impact
• Contributing to the community
• Purchasing with integrity
• Treating all our stakeholders fairly
• Providing a safe environment for all our team members and clients

Statement of Intent
In support of our Policy we will:-

• Continuously develop our workplace for the benefit of all our people
• Promote sustainable growth through responsible and innovative business practice in the market place
• Minimise our impact on the environment
• Positively engage in the communities in which we work and live
  

Policy Implementation
Perrins has the following policies:-

• Computer Usage Policy
• Email Policy
• Environmental Policy Statement
• Equality and Diversity Policy
• Fire Safety Policy
• Health and Safety Policy Manual and Statement
• Smoke Free Policy
• Waste Management Policy
• Workplace Drug Policy

Examples of how the policy is being implemented are:-

1. Environmental Impact
   • Levels of energy consumption and practical ideas to reduce wastage within Perrins are constantly under review, with new initiatives being identified and implemented wherever possible
   • Annual maintenance contracts are in place for regular servicing of all major plant and equipment
   • A number of waste management initiatives are currently being employed, including recycling of paper, plastic cups, plastic bottles, tins, card, and printer cartridges. We pay a service charge to our Landlords which includes qualified waste removal contractors
   • We operate an ongoing energy saving culture in which team members are actively encouraged to participate and take ownership.
   • Our Facilities Manager recycles waste paper and where possible purchases recycled paper.
   • All company emails have a notification on them for receivers to “think before they print.”
   • The majority of company information is shared with team members via internal email
   • Motion sensors have been installed in respect of lighting throughout the office
2. Contributing to the community
   • We see to build positive relationships within their local and wider communities.
   • Friday is dress down day at the office. Each staff member who wishes to dress down on the day has to contribute £1 to charity. Every couple of months Perrins selects a charity and the money raised goes to that charity.
   • We are involved with a variety of organisations that contribute to the social housing and property sectors e.g. WISH : Women in Social Housing (an organisation to promote womens carrers in the social housing sector), the North Herts Ethnic Minority Forum (an organisation funded by Hertfordshire County Council to improve the quality of life for the British minority and ethnic community in the area, the National Housing Federation (to which we are a subscriber) and Interact (a network of construction and property business clubs throughout the UK bringing like minded experts together
   • We sponsor the Hertfordshire Housing Conference an annual conference enabling housing professionals from Hertfordshire to network and discuss views on the future of housing
   • We have forged links with the University of Hertfordshire Law School. The Law School provides in-training for Perrins qualified staff in order that they can achieve year on year mandatory Continuing Professional Development points required by the Law Society. We have also taken undergraduates from the Law School on work placements
   • We continue to forge strong relationships with local Schools and Colleges to offer work experience opportunities to encourage young people to join the legal profession. In particular Perrins has forged links with a successful Harpenden Comprehensive School, Sir John Laws which is located very close to our offices in Waterside. In 2009 we inaugurated the Perrins Essay Prize for the First Year Sixth Form. Students were invited to submit essays on a range of social themes agreed between Perrins and school staff. Ten essays were shortlisted and Perrins staff selected the three winners who received book tokens to the value of £100, £50 and £25 respectively which were presented at an awards ceremony by Amanda Miller, Partner. This was very well received by staff and students who felt it enriched the sixth form experience and provided valuable input into higher education preparation. Clare Robins, Head of Sir John Lawes, said : 'We are very grateful to Perrins for supporting the school by sponsoring this prestigious competition. The students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to express their opinions on a range of contemporary issues and the standard of entry was very high. We look forward to continuing this competition and working closely with Perrins in the future.' This was repeated in 2010 with the awards taking place on April 21 and was even more enthusiastically received by staff and students alike. The response was excellent and the quality of work outstanding. We are delighted to encourage some very able and committed young people. For the last two years Perrins staff have also attended the school’s Careers Day, where they gave the students insight into law as a degree option and ultimately as a profession. We also provided work experience for four A level students from the school who were intending to apply for law at university. This offer will be extended again for 2010.
   • We regularly sponsor a local infant and junior school, Grove School Harpenden
3. Sourcing with Integrity
   We seek to establish long-term partnership relationships with suppliers who can demonstrate a suitable environmental integrity. Our current initiatives include:-
   • Vetting and monitoring our suppliers in terms of the origin of their raw materials and prepared products.
   • Procuring milk products from a local supplier
   • All our hygiene paper products come from re-cycled fibres or from manufacturers who use sustainable crops for pulp.
4. Treating our people fairly
   We promote empowerment, equality and well-being within our workforce:-
   • We have quarterly secretarial meetings
   • We have six weekly Lawyer meetings
   • We are committed to training and developing our people
   • Outstanding performance is recognised through merit and bonus awards as well as monetary vouchers
   • We have an inclusive and consultative culture
   • Clear, consistent and fair contracts of employment are issued to all employees
   • We encourage all team members to provide constructive suggestions directly to our Managing Partner who maintains an “open door policy” allowing all members of staff to raise any concerns directly with him
   • We offer a range of additional employee benefits such as pension schemes, extra days off at Christmas and a day off for birthdays and free parking
5. Providing a safe working environment
   • A comprehensive Health and Safety Management Policy is in place that is regularly updated to reduce risk and protect staff and clients in accordance with legislation and represents best practice; this forms an essential part of the safe environment for clients and staff
   • We employ a Facilities Manager with Health and Safety qualifications to inspect and report on compliance within the office on a regular basis
   • Health and Safety refresher training is carried out annually
   • We have two qualified first aiders on site
   • Perrins undergo twice a year training in fire evacuation with appointed fire wardens which is conducted by the Managing Agents
   • Fire evacuation procedures are displayed in all rooms and corridors and organisers are briefed upon arrival.
   • We have a clear accident reporting policy
   • Risk assessments in all areas are carried out regularly and reviewed
   • We have an extensive Fire Safety Management System which include checking of fire extinguishers, fire doors and all aspects of fire safety