Sustainability at Adler and Allan
Adler and Allan ensure environmental compliance today, while creating a sustainable tomorrow. As the world transitions to new energy sources much of our growth has been seen in supporting businesses with their sustainable energy transformation while maintaining their existing infrastructure. We believe this movement to reduce climate change will be a key driver of our growth strategy over the coming years.
We believe in doing the right thing. We want to uphold our basic responsibilities to people and the planet, aligning our strategies and operations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to advance societal goals.
Our ambition is to be an organisation we can all be proud of. We will do this by being a responsible employer, protecting the environment, reducing our carbon footprint and that of our clients, while supporting the implementation of the SDGs.
We are committed to this vision and want to do the right thing for all our stakeholders, employees, clients, suppliers, investors, and the communities in which we operate.
Individually strong, stronger together
We are an ambitious growth company and have made multiple acquisitions in the last decade. Find out more about our group companies here.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals recognise that strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, go hand in hand with tackling climate change and environmental protection.
By incorporating the 17 SDGs into our strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, we are not only upholding our basic responsibilities to people and the planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.
Safety, health, and quality
Providing safe and healthy conditions of work, preventing both physical and mental harm to workers, and ensuring that our services satisfy the highest standards of quality with year-on-year performance improvement.
We are committed to providing conditions of work that are safe and healthy and that help to prevent physical and mental harm to workers.
The Group’s Integrated SHEQ Management Systems provide a clear framework for continual improvement and has been designed to meet the requirements of UK legislation, technical standards, industry best practice, client expectations and the requirements of the international standards for quality, environmental, and health and safety management (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018).
Our Integrated Management System ensures that the elimination of hazards and the minimisation of risk are integrated into all our business systems and processes. All operations, whether field or office-based, must adhere to its requirements. All the related policies, procedures, forms, and guidance documents are available to the business units through an intranet system.
The implementation of the group’s health and safety related objectives and targets and associated SHEQ initiatives is supported by a dedicated SHEQ Steering Committee comprising of a senior member of staff from each operating division, a board representative, and the Head of SHEQ. Steering Committee representatives within each of the group’s divisions assist the SHEQ department in monitoring and reviewing operational aspects of health and safety performance; sharing best practice and seeking to identify safety related opportunities for improvement.
The Steering Committee also plays a vital part in helping to drive the SHEQ three Year Strategy Plan which underpins the corporate aim of operational excellence and demonstrates that Adler and Allan values and cares about our people, business partners and all others that engage with us each day.
Head of SHEQ
Our workers can encounter unique and potentially dangerous situations, whether they are working in our premises or out on-site. Activities involving, for example, working at height, operating heavy machinery or exposure to hazardous chemicals can result in high consequence injuries if there are no appropriate control measures.
Our SHEQ procedures ensure that safety risks are identified, assessed, and adequately controlled, thereby enabling our teams to maintain a strong safety track record and to deliver our services on a consistently safe basis.
All our activities are subject to thorough risk assessments and safety planning, whether office, depot, field, or laboratory based. This may involve the use of method statements, pre-works checklists, permits and other safe systems of work. Targeted risk assessments are undertaken on topics such as hazardous substances (COSHH), operation of work equipment (PUWER) and first-aid needs, among others.
All business units involved in operational activities are subject to site SHE inspections, typically at least once a month. Complex projects and other safety-critical operations are subjected to more frequent inspections; the largest and highest risk contracts are often subjected to weekly reviews. The SHEQ department also undertakes a detailed programme of field-based SHEQ audits, which places greater emphasis on reviewing safe systems of work and evaluating management, employee and subcontractor knowledge and behaviours.
Project managers must approve site-specific health and safety plans before any work is undertaken. These are based on a series of activity-specific risk assessments and address the likely risks and the precautions for controlling them. They ensure that our staff have the best information available to them and that a culture of safety and emergency preparedness is integrated across the life cycles of all our projects.
Wellbeing sits at the heart of the business and is one of our core values with a strong focus on workplace, worker, and wellbeing. As part of this focus, we continually look to develop skills and capabilities to preserve, protect and promote the health and wellbeing of our employees so they can be 'the best they can be’.
Mental health problems will affect one in four people every year in the UK. A focus group for health and well-being has been set up, with representatives from across the group who can champion the various aspects of well-being locally. Key to this is raising awareness of mental health within the workplace and encouraging more conversations about this topic to create a stigma free working environment.
Consequently, we have a network of trained mental health first-aiders across the group. Health and Wellbeing support is available to all employees through a wide range of forums such as a dedicated wellbeing page on the company intranet providing key support messages and access to resources to promote health and wellbeing.
We also have a targeted approach to key health and wellbeing topics through a wellbeing calendar. This calendar ensures that each month a key health or wellbeing initiative or topic is highlighted across the business and ensures that we engage with national campaigns such as Breast Cancer Awareness “Think Pink”, Mental Health Awareness Week, Movember and Dry January.
A high standard of quality is critical to our business success. The trust and loyalty of our clients is based on our ability to satisfy the highest professional standards in the industries in which we operate. We want to go beyond compliance with the minimum applicable codes and industry standards and seek to exceed the expectations of our stakeholders wherever we can.
The Group is certified to the ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 international standards for quality, environmental management and health and safety management. The group also holds additional accreditations to ISO 17025 and MCERTS for a wide range of laboratory testing. Furthermore, we are a fully registered supplier on the Achilles UVDB.
We view these certifications and accreditations as a starting point and continuously seek to surpass their standards and improve the health and safety record, environmental sustainability, and technical quality of the services we deliver.
Continual improvement is driven by our three-year SHEQ Strategy. This strategy will ensure that we continue to meet the highest standards as we address the evolving challenges to update our priorities and ensure we are applying a holistic approach to improving health, safety and wellbeing.
Our three-year strategy plan ensures that we continue to stimulate innovations in safety and compliance and embed a mind-set change in how we think about health safety and wellbeing.
We are committed to the success of our three-year strategy plan and the continuous improvement of its SHEQ performance. As such we hold an annual SHEQ management review that considers progress against the key milestones within our three-year plan, trends identified in accidents, incidents, non-conformances identified, customer complaints and praise, the outcome of aspects and impacts identification and significance assessments, the results of risk assessments; and changing legislation.
Every one of us is working together to successfully deliver the high standards set out in our three-year SHEQ Strategy Plan.
- ISO policies 27001 / 140001
- Health and Safety Policy Statement 2022
- Achilles Verify Audit Certificate 2022
- Quality Policy Statement 2022
Environment
Ensuring our customers are supported in the transition to low-carbon energy while managing the environmental risks associated with our activities, producing less waste, and managing local ecosystems and surrounding communities.
We have the following policies and initiatives to ensure its operations remain sustainable.
Head of Sustainability
We don’t just help our customers reduce their environmental impact; we do it ourselves.
Our directors are actively involved in the effective management system that is certified to BS EN ISO 14001:2015 in maintaining a safe and healthy environment, believing that commitment to sustainable development whilst aiming to reduce our impact on the environment makes good business sense and should be a fundamental and integral part of the business strategy.
By continually monitoring our environmental performance and communicating this policy to all our staff, suppliers, and customers, we implement and maintain it by:
- Being aware of how our activities impact upon the environment, seeking to minimise any adverse effects and protect the environment by following official practices and ensuring due diligence in the control and prevention of pollution.
- Complying with our legal and statutory responsibilities and participating in maintaining the documented ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System.
- Applying the waste hierarchy principles of prevention; prepare for re-use; recycling; recovery; and disposal.
- Maintaining our gold certification to the Carbon Reduce Scheme.
- Target to achieve Net-Zero by 2040.
- Ensuring compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
- Conserving the use of resources, particularly those which are scarce or non-renewable.
- Reducing air, land, and water pollution.
- Being sensitive and responsive to the environmental concerns of our neighbours and the communities through which we operate.
Since 2012, we have measured, managed, and reported on our carbon footprint via the Carbon Reduce Scheme in accordance with ISO 14064-1:2006. We’re proud to have achieved gold certification status, the programme’s highest level of achievement.
Over the past five years, we have cut our carbon emissions intensity by over 14% per full-time equivalent (FTE) and realised a 4% reduction in our absolute emissions.
We have adopted a Carbon Reduction Plan in line with UK Government procurement policy with a target to achieve Net-Zero by 2040. We’re using a range of forward-looking initiatives to get us there, including renewable energy across our depot network, growing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and an electric LGV fleet, as well as exploring alternative sustainable fuels for our heavy goods vehicles.
To date, we have:
- Adopted a Carbon Reduction Plan for the Group.
- Installed tracking systems and speed limiters to improve vehicle routing and minimise diesel usage.
- Installed electric vehicle charging infrastructure at key sites.
- Implemented video conferencing to reduce the need for face-to-face interactions.
As an organisation we understand that our activities can have an economic, social, cultural, and environmental impact on the communities in which we operate.
We have chosen to support industry-specific charity SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. This UK charity provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependants. Given a number of our colleagues are ex-forces and our work in UK defence, this charity was a logical choice.
We understand our colleagues have individual charitable motivations and we encourage them to support their specific chosen charities.
Maintaining our social responsibility, we seek out opportunities to improve the communities in which we operate. We work with our clients to identify environmentally focused projects with added social value in the local areas. We have supported tree planting, peatland, seagrass, and community garden projects across the UK. We also provide training and skills to young people wanting to explore careers in the environmental sector.
Our colleagues are encouraged to take responsibility for engaging with and considering the views of the local community, addressing any concerns they might have regarding our impact, and ensuring that we have a positive effect.
- Carbon Reduction Plan
- Achilles Carbon Reduce Certification
- CDP score C
- EcoVadis
- Environmental Policy Statement 2023
Environmental permits and registrations
- Waste Management Policy 2022
- Environmental Permit (Waste Operations) EPR/BP3934MQ - Rainham, RM13 9UL
- Environmental Permit (Waste Operations) EPR/BP3934MQ/V003 - Rainham, RM13 9UL
- Environmental Permit (Waste Operations) EPR/NP3234LD/V004 - Manchester, M28 3GN
- Environmental Permit (Waste Operations) EPR/NP3234LD/V005 - Manchester, M28 3GN
- Environmental Permit (Waste Operations) EPR/YP3231TT/V004 - Standlake, OX29 7PL
- Environment Agency registered Waste Carrier, Broker or Dealer (CBDU88644) - Rainham, RM13 9UL
People
We are committed to developing engaged and motivated employees, recognising talent, providing opportunities for career progression, and improving diversity.
Human Resources Director
Our mission is to be trusted partners to our customers, providing outstanding environmental consultancy. In a service business, it is our people and values which set us apart.
Expertise
- Going beyond the ordinary
- Continually investing in training and development
- Developing and implementing innovative techniques and practices
Well-being
- Creating a happy and healthy workplace
- Identifying and providing opportunities for career development
- Recognising and rewarding achievements and contributions
Working together
- Working towards a common purpose
- Communicating effectively and sharing knowledge
- Respecting and valuing all contributions
Service
- Putting the customer first
- Bringing together knowledge, expertise and equipment to provide a professional service
- Delivering on our commitments
Safety
- Continuously assessing risk and taking action to enable safe working
- Providing appropriate training and specialist equipment
- Always complying with health and safety policies and procedures
Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we believe that promoting diversity, reducing gender inequality and supporting equal opportunity in the workplace is vital to delivering the best quality services to our customers.
We recognise that inequality in the workplace and occupational segregation will have a negative effect on addressing or upholding the core principles of equality in the workplace.
We commit to:
- Endeavour to operate a pay strategy that promotes and encourages equal pay for work of equal value and single status terms and conditions of employment.
- Challenge expectations that employees in certain posts should work longer or unpredictable hours.
- Appoint and reward on merit, assessing each case fairly and applying the same approach to recruitment and promotion.
- Make reasonable adjustments to support employees to undertake work and/or tasks offering promotive opportunity.
- Maintain a culture that challenges any stereotypes relating to any element of an employee including ability to undertake any work, particularly of a higher grade.
- Respond to grievances and complaints relating to any alleged prejudicial treatment relating to opportunity, pay, reward and promotion.
- Consult and plan actions in consultation with employees, designated representatives, or any other employee body, including trade unions or professional organisations.
- Review progress every twelve months.
In the environmental consultancy sector, the gender pay gap is currently 14.1%. We are highly committed to addressing the gender pay gap and has policies promoting gender equality.
Of the 393 employees in Adler and Allan at the end of the 2022 financial year, 20% were female and 80% were male, and the median gender pay gap was 10.5% with 17% of all employed women in the upper pay quartile. We are committed to the principal of equal pay for all its employees and aims to identify and eliminate any bias in pay and reward related to any of the protected characteristics defined in the Equalities Act 2010.
In addition, we acknowledge it makes good business sense to have fair and transparent systems of pay/reward and can contribute to and understanding costs. We also understand that the analysis of pay and reward and in some cases, the greater availability of part time and senior positions being available to all employees may have a positive impact on pay gap.
Copies of our Gender Pay Gap Statement are available to download: 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019.
The continual professional development of our colleagues is key to ensuring we provide the services and trusted consultancy our customers expect.
We hold a central database with all our 5,000 + group qualifications. One of our key differentiators is our nationwide coverage, which means it is vital we have our core skills available at each of our depots.
This is achieved through a continual programme of training and development with our engineers. This ongoing learning is crucial in supporting our colleagues’ ambitions and career development.
Our approach to training and development supports our growth, ensures we are qualified to respond to evolving challenges, and improves employee satisfaction and retention.
Colleague engagement is fundamental to establish a positive working environment.
Communication
We encourage open and clear communication in the workplace which helps us to maintain employee satisfaction and motivation. The group’s objectives and achievements are regularly communicated to colleagues through our fortnightly TeamTalk publication as well as weekly team meetings.
Annual appraisal
All colleagues can raise issues relating to their work and professional development during the annual appraisal process.
We are committed to operating in an honest and transparent manner and in accordance with internationally recognised ethical, professional and legal standards and principles.
Human rights
We are committed to driving out modern day slavery or human trafficking within our own business and supply chains. We provide training for all employees on issues relating to slavery and human trafficking and ensure that any concerns can be raised through our whistleblowing procedure.
We carry out regular audits to ensure that all our employees are paid at least the National Minimum Wage and have the right to work in the UK. All commercial agreements include an obligation on our customers, suppliers, and sub-contractors to operate in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Information security
To protect our customers data, we have an information security and GDPR policy which is reviewed annually through the use of internal audits, penetration testing and training. Information security awareness training is delivered to all staff at least once a year. Employees are given training in the classification and protection of data to ensure they are responsible for, and able to demonstrate, compliance with the principles.
- Modern Slavery Policy Statement 2022
- GDPR Policy
- Employee privacy notice
- CEMARS 2021
- Cyber Essentials Certificate
- Information Security Policy Statement 2020
- Gender Pay Gap Statement 2023
- Gender Pay Gap Statement 2022
- Gender Pay Gap Statement 2021
- Gender Pay Gap Statement 2020
- Gender Pay Gap Statement 2019
Governance
Our long history and continued success is testament to long-term partnerships with our customers while maintaining a steady financial performance. Our ambitious plans will be achieved by investing in sustainable growth and responsible business practices that demonstrate our governance and integrity. Our financial performance and governance is continually monitored by key stakeholders and updated where relevant.
Building long-term partnerships with our customers, we offer them goods and services appropriate to their specific challenges. We work with a range of trusted suppliers which ensures our services provide cost savings and high quality as well as being part of a sustainable supply chain.
Our network of depots ensures nationwide coverage for our customers while delivering economic growth to the local communities.
Chief Executive Officer
Our financial performance is key to the sustainability of our business, supporting for long-term growth.
In November 2020 we secured a new financial partner Sun European Partners to support the Group in its next stage of growth both organically and through further acquisitions.
In 2021 we announced the acquisition of four companies into the group: electrical specialists AMGS Electrical, hazardous material specialist Flotech Performance Systems Limited (Flotech), industrial sewage specialist and underground infrastructure specialist Oneline Surveys and drainage infrastructure experts Jet Aire.
In 2023 we announced two more strategic acquisitions into our water division, consultative asset management, engineering, and commercial services Aqua Consultants and sewer and wastewater network monitoring and management specialist Detectronic.
These acquisitions reinforce the company’s strategy to support more businesses by engineering innovative solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges.
We are an indispensable consultancy, trusted source of valuable information and strategic partner for hundreds of customers nationwide.
The work we do has a societal value protecting the environment, ensuring compliance and contributing to the local economy. We work with 1,600+ customers across a diverse range of sectors including logistics, manufacturing, facilities management, energy, public sector, water treatment and chemical production.
Our customers operate in the public and private sectors and are both blue chips and SMEs. We understand their operations and locations, the risks, and pressures they work to and their local ecologies.
Our customers face scrutiny from regulatory and inspection bodies, government agencies and insurers. Our expertise and industry knowledge allows us to suggest solutions which ensures they remain compliant, whilst offering time and cost savings.
Ways of working
We have introduced new ways of working to some of our bigger clients with multiple operations where the contact and delivery is managed centrally. This allows us to communicate with stakeholders and manage projects more effectively as well as identifying and progressing other opportunities across the Group. Our new way of working has led to multiple operational efficiencies both within Adler and Allan and with our customers resulting in both time and cost savings.
Customer portal
We have updated our portal for customers to access important certificates, reports and other documentation. The portal has been developed under ISO27001 & Cyber Essentials accreditations for added security. It has been designed to be easy to use and can be accessed no matter the device a customer may be using. It has also been built with the ability to evolve as the business evolves.
We operate an approved supplier policy and as such employs a strict process for approving new suppliers to the group to prior to them undertaking any work or activity on our behalf and to ensure we fully mitigate supply chain risks.
All suppliers used by the group are assessed based on a combination of their safety policies, management system and safety record, past performance, recommendations from clients and subcontractor references.
Each supplier is required to complete a comprehensive supplier evaluation form, those that do not meet the criteria will not be added to the approved supplier data base and are not permitted to work with us.
As part of our supplier management processes, we review supplier performance on a regular basis. This is supported by the undertaking of annual SHEQ inspections and audits on approved suppliers to ensure the required safety and compliance standards are being followed, with these audits occurring on a more frequent basis for any supplier deployed on high risks sites or complex activities.
This ensures that all suppliers working on behalf of Adler and Allan maintain the necessary standards for safety and compliance. Suppliers that fail to meet the required standards for safety and compliance can be removed from the approved supplier data base.
We operate from over 25 depots across the UK.
Our commitment to the local economy means we recruit and train locally, sharing knowledge and resources across depots.
Where possible we try to engage with local suppliers to our customer sites, to reduce our carbon footprint and support the local economy.
As we have expanded, we have committed to retaining the specialist suppliers built up by our acquisition companies.
- Contractors All Risks insurance 2022
- Group insurance 2022 - Employers' Liability, Public & Products Liability, Motor
- Group Professional Indemnity insurance 2022
- Owned Contractors & Hired in Plant insurance 2022
- Professional Indemnity insurance 2022 - OHES Environmental Limited
- UK Tax Strategy website disclosure
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