Carbon Reduction Plan for Evolution

1. Introduction

Evolution is committed to reducing our carbon emissions and contributing to global and national efforts, particularly in alignment with the UK Government’s Net Zero target by 2050. This Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) has been developed in compliance with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 and considers the specific requirements outlined for government contracts worth over £5 million annually, as well as NHS Net Zero goals.

2. Commitment to Achieving Net Zero

Evolution commits to achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2050. We will actively engage in and adopt best practices in environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and waste reduction, as we recognise the importance of these areas for business operations and society.

3. Current Carbon Emissions Footprint

Evolution is in the process of quantifying our current carbon footprint in alignment with government guidelines. In future reports, we will publicly disclose our annual UK energy use and carbon emissions as per BEIS requirements, provided the company meets two of the following criteria:

  • Annual turnover of £36 million or more.
  • A balance sheet total of £18 million or more.
  • A workforce of 250 employees or more.

4. Carbon Reduction Targets

Evolution adopts the following targets to contribute to the UK’s Net Zero goal:

  • Short-term goal: Reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, focusing on areas such as energy management, transport minimisation, and waste management.
  • Long-term goal: Achieve Carbon Net Zero by 2050, ensuring that business operations align with the UK Government and NHS sustainability goals.

5. Carbon Reduction Strategy

5.1. Energy Management

We are committed to implementing energy-saving measures such as energy-efficient lighting, equipment, and controls. Where possible, we will switch to renewable energy sources to power our operations and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Our building energy management systems will be regularly assessed and upgraded to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

5.2. Water Management

System infrastructure maintenance will be prioritised to prevent water leakage, optimise water use, and reduce wastewater generation. Efficient water management systems will be introduced where applicable, alongside rainwater harvesting for non-potable water use.

5.3. Waste Prevention and Management

Evolution will adopt the waste hierarchy of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ across all operations to minimise waste generation. Waste will be segregated at the point of disposal to maximise recycling rates and reduce landfill usage. We will ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Regulations 2020 and equivalent regulations across devolved UK administrations, specifically in reducing single-use plastics.

5.4. Minimising Single-Use Plastics

We will phase out the use of single-use plastics wherever possible in our operations and adopt alternatives. The company’s procurement team will prioritise suppliers who demonstrate similar commitments to reducing single-use plastics.

5.5. Minimising Transport Use

We will reduce transport-related emissions by encouraging remote working and virtual meetings to reduce travel requirements. Where business travel is necessary, preference will be given to low-carbon transport options such as public transport or electric vehicles. We will introduce a cycle-to-work scheme to encourage eco-friendly commuting options.

6. Reporting and Governance

6.1. Public Reporting

Evolution will report on our UK energy use and carbon emissions annually within the Director’s Report, aligned with the latest BEIS guidance. These reports will be made publicly available, particularly if our company surpasses two of the three thresholds regarding turnover, balance sheet, or workforce size.

6.2. Monitoring and Evaluation

We will monitor the progress of our carbon reduction initiatives on an annual basis and assess our performance against the set targets. Continuous improvement strategies will be adopted where necessary to ensure we remain on track to meet our 2030 and 2050 goals.

6.3. Responsibility

The responsibility for delivering the Carbon Reduction Plan and meeting our Net Zero target rests with the senior management team, under the leadership of the Sustainability Director, who will ensure the plan’s implementation and ongoing progress.

7. Conclusion

Evolution is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and supporting the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Our Carbon Reduction Plan outlines our approach to embedding sustainability into our business operations in line with government and NHS sustainability goals.

Introduction

At Evolution we are committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all our business activities and ensuring that our supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking. This statement sets out the actions we have taken to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in our organisation or our supply chains.

Our Organisation

Evolution Recruitment Solutions is a medium size company with the main activity in providing high standards services within the IT specialists recruitment. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and human trafficking, and we expect all of our employees, contractors, and suppliers to adhere to our values and principles.

Our Policies

  • Code of Conduct:Our code of conduct sets out the ethical principles and standards that all of our employees, contractors, and suppliers must follow.
  • Supplier Code of Conduct:We require all of our suppliers to adhere to our supplier code of conduct, which includes provisions on human rights, labor standards, and anti-corruption.
  • Due Diligence:We conduct due diligence on all of our suppliers to ensure that they are not involved in modern slavery or human trafficking.
  • Training:We provide training to our employees and suppliers on modern slavery and human trafficking and how to identify and report any concerns.
  • Whistleblowing:We have a whistleblowing policy in place that enables employees and suppliers to report any concerns confidentially.
  • Equal Opportunities and Diversity:Our Equal Opportunities and Diversity policy implements a fairness attitude without prejudice across our employees and possible jobs applicants.

Our Supply Chains

We recognize that our supply chains are complex, and there is a risk of modern slavery and human trafficking occurring in these chains. Therefore, we have taken the following steps to ensure that our supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking:
  • Risk Assessment:We have conducted a risk assessment of our supply chains to identify the areas where there is a higher risk of modern slavery and human trafficking occurring.
  • Due Diligence:We conduct due diligence on all of our suppliers to ensure that they are not involved in modern slavery or human trafficking.
  • Audits:We conduct regular audits of our suppliers to ensure that they are complying with our supplier code of conduct and our ethical standards.
  • Collaboration:We collaborate with other organisations and stakeholders to share best practices and address the root causes of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Conclusion

Evolution Recruitment Solutions Limited is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all of its business activities and ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking. We will continue to review and improve our policies, processes, and procedures to ensure that we are doing everything we can to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking from our organisation and supply chains.
Signed by Jeni Howard, Director of Risk and Compliance
Date: 1st April 2024