Introduction

At Answer, we understand that our role in society extends beyond simply providing excellent services. We are committed to creating a sustainable and inclusive society and creating social value is a key part of everything we do. This policy shows our strong commitment to making a lasting positive impact.

The policy is structured around three central pillars:

1. Protecting the Environment: Recognising our responsibility to the planet and striving to reduce our ecological footprint.
2. Building an Inclusive Workforce: Championing diversity and ensuring that every member of our team feels valued, respected, and heard.
3. Supporting Our Local Community: Giving back and nurturing the communities that have been pivotal to our growth and success.

Beyond these foundational pillars, we're also dedicated to enhancing awareness of social value's importance. We believe in not just contributing but also using our platform to spotlight these values and catalyse broader societal engagement.

To ensure we stay true to our vision and mission, we've incorporated a robust system of measurement. This policy outlines our commitment to monitoring our progress through meaningful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and maintaining transparency and accountability through robust governance processes. In doing so, we aim to provide a clear and honest reflection of our journey, celebrating successes, and continuously identifying areas for improvement.

Through this policy, we aim to act responsibly, ethically, and sustainably. Our goal is to benefit not only those directly connected to our business but also the wider community.

Our Pillars

Protecting the environment

Answer Digital firmly believes that our responsibility as a socially conscious entity extends far beyond our immediate business interests. It encompasses a duty to protect the environment for everyone around us and we acknowledge the pivotal role we must play in safeguarding the environment for current and future generations.

Action Steps:

• Carbon Neutrality: we commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 using accurate and measured methodologies such as the GHG Emission Calculation providing complete transparency of our climate impact and resulting actions. We continue to use an annual emission report produced by Carbon Neutral Britain to help track our progress in achieving emission reductions across the business. We are committed to continuing our efforts to being a Carbon Neutral Business, through annual monitoring of our environmental impact however to further our commitment, we have an action plan which looks at ways we can enhance our offering.
• Sustainable Operations: Reducing our power usage driving green travel. To help promote ethical and sustainable procurement. We commit to provide schemes to all our employees to help reduce carbon footprint when commuting to work, we currently provide EV chargers for all employees with electric vehicles and a cycle to work scheme.
• Green Volunteering: Commit to encouraging our employees to deliver meaningful green initiatives which consider the impact on the local area and support our pillar to protect the environment.
• Eco-Friendly Coding (also known as Green Coding): Answer commits to following sustainable software development practices. This will in turn help our clients to reduce their environmental footprint. Ensure a delivery approach that creates zero waste and emissions.

Building an inclusive workforce

We believe that the strength of a workforce lies not only in its diversity but in its inclusivity. Answer recognises that each individual brings a unique set of experience, perspective, & skill, and it is our collective responsibility to harness this richness to create a truly inclusive workplace. Through this policy, we pledge not only to remove barriers, but to actively cultivate an inclusive culture where all voices are heard, all ideas are valued, and all Answer colleagues are given equal opportunities to flourish and grow.

Action Steps:

• Equal Opportunity Employment: Implement both practices and policies to ensure equal employment opportunities, including recruitment and promotion regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.
• Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: We will work to establish and maintain diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure that all our workplaces are supportive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Establish leadership and mentor programmes to support underrepresented groups in advancing their careers within our organisation.
• Health & Well-being: To work with local organisations to focus on health and well-being both within our business and within the community.

Supporting our local community

Answer recognises that the strength of any community lies in the collective efforts of its members and the organisations that call it home. This Social Value Policy document reflects our profound commitment to Supporting Our Local Community, a commitment that defines our identity and guides our actions.

Action Steps:

• Charity Partnerships: We commit to working in partnership with local charities. We are keen to work with charities who support and work inline with our pillars.
• Community Engagement: Encourage and support employee involvement in community service and volunteer activities.
• Education & Skills: Help contribute to local educational institutions to enhance the skills and knowledge of people within our community by creating work placements, apprenticeships, internships and actual jobs. We currently partner with Lighthouse School, a local partner where we engage students for work experience. We plan to further enhance our partnership by offering taster sessions within the workplace, including workshops for CV writing and mock interview sessions.
• Employment Opportunities: Provide work opportunities for Local SMEs, Ethnic Minority-owned Businesses and Third Sector Organisations to help increase their capability and support their sustainability. Prioritise sourcing products and services locally whenever feasible to support the local economy.

Driving Awareness

Beyond merely delivering social value, we recognise the importance of amplifying its presence and impact. Raising awareness is a pivotal step in our journey towards a more socially responsible ecosystem. Here's how we plan to achieve this:

1. Facilitating Initiatives for Clients: We aim to support our clients in developing and integrating social value initiatives into their core strategies. By offering tools, resources, and knowledge, we empower them to champion and further their own causes.
2. Collaborating with Partners and Suppliers: Partnerships magnify impact. By teaming up with our partners and suppliers, we can co-create and promote social value projects that harness our collective strengths and expertise.
3. Leveraging Our Online Presence: Using our established online footprint, including our website, social media channels, and digital platforms, we'll spotlight social value causes, stories, and successes. This not only educates our audience but also sparks conversations around important societal issues.
4. Showcasing at Events: At every event we participate in or host, we will prioritise showcasing our commitment to social value. This provides a platform to discuss, share, and inspire others in the community to take action.

Through these strategies, we are not just contributing to social value but also actively propelling its awareness, inviting others to join us in this meaningful endeavour.

Monitoring and Reporting

We will regularly monitor and report our progress in achieving these goals through transparent and accountable reporting mechanisms. This will include annual reports on our environmental efforts, with the help of an external party (Carbon Neutral Britain), diversity statistics with the help of an external party (Tech Talent Charter) and community contributions.

We commit to produce an annual report in line with our financial year end of March, detailing performance against KPIs for each of the three pillars.

Policy Responsibility

Policy adherence falls within the remit of the Corporate Social Value Director. Our policies are reviewed annually to ensure they are up to date and relevant. We are committed to transparency in our internal policy review process, actively seeking input from our employees, partners, and the communities we serve. Together, we are dedicated to this Social Value Policy that reflects our core Answer values and our role within society.