In 2021, we launched our Environmental and Social Governance Programme (ESGP).

Since our foundation in 1979, we have maintained our core principles of honesty, ethical practice, professionalism and responsibility.

The measure of our success is not just based on our business acumen or our clients’ satisfaction: the impact we have on our community and upholding the values that underpin how we operate are key to our integrity and longevity.

Our new ESGP has further established a ‘can-do’ attitude for Anglia Research and ignited a sense of united effort for social responsibility.

Charitable work

In 2022, for the first time, we adopted a ‘Chosen Charity’ scheme. We chose two charities (East Anglia Children’s Hospices and Claire House, both providing end-of-life care for children), for whom we raised £2,080 and collected 100 bags of goods to be sold in charity shops.

For 2024-2026, following a staff vote, we have elected to support Barnardo’s, and we are liaising with them to cement a solid and fruitful partnership.

We have also recently appointed a dedicated ESG officer who will work closely with the charity.

Some of our previous successes include;

• Six of our team signed up for a challenge to walk 1000 miles each before the end of January 2023, which they completed by the end of the month with two miles to spare!
• We ran a Valentine’s Day charity raffle, raising over £220. The prizes were donated by Riverhills Health Club and Spa, Orwell Lady River Trips, Sweet William’s Coffee Shop & Bakery, The New Wolsey Theatre Company and Empire Cinemas. The most coveted prize was an extra day’s holiday, donated by our Directors. It was won by our Ipswich Office Administrator, who cashed in her win by taking a trip to Ireland. (Thanks to all who donated prizes.)
• In July 2023, Southport-based case manager Carl Bargh abseiled 150ft down Liverpool Cathedral to raise money for Claire House Children’s Hospice. We were incredibly proud that he raised a whopping £1500! As a double amputee and acrophobic, this was a very challenging feat for Carl.

Staff wellbeing

Every member of our team has access to company-provided wellbeing services from Health Assured (a highly respected Employee Assistance Programme). We also have two Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) and an experienced HR Manager outside of the Directors’ circle. Our happy and positive work environment is fostered by a culture of mutual support.

We have a programme of Continued Professional Development (CPD): we hold monthly ‘Lunch and Learns’, open to all staff to learn from their colleagues’ expertise in specialist areas of work. We are also proud to assist our staff when they seek to advance their careers through accreditation and extra training, by providing support and funding.

We conduct annual employee satisfaction surveys for staff to provide feedback anonymously to the managing body, allowing us to clearly measure our performance and improve the quality of the workplace for our team.

Environmental

We have made huge strides in creating a greener working environment. Currently, we are in the process of securing green funding for solar panels in our Ipswich Office, which we hope to have installed this year.

We have always been ahead of the curve, having had two electric car charging ports in our Ipswich HQ since 2019. This year, we have expanded our capacity to twelve ports, making it ever more possible for our staff to drive greener vehicles, moving towards a Net Zero future.

We recognise that we have a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance to reach carbon neutrality with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon negative.

We have recently been awarded Bronze Carbon Charter Approval by the Suffolk Carbon Charter.

(Our full Environmental Policy is available on request.)