Corporate Social Responsibility at De Marco Solicitors
De Marco Solicitors now give serious consideration to its Corporate Social Responsibility in all aspects of its business practices. We look at how we can reduce, reuse and recycle in order to minimise the impact our working processes have on our planet. We also assess the impact of our business on our clients, suppliers, our staff and the local community.
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We are the first business in the UK to be awarded the Responsible Business Standard by ORB (Organisation for Responsible Business).
De Marco Solicitors' contribution to to corporate social responsibility includes:
Environmental responsibility:
- We operate a paperless office where possible minimising the use of paper and toner cartridges
- Electronic communication is our main form of corresponding with clients and suppliers avoiding duplication in hard copy.
- All our staff are able to work from home for a number of days per week, reducing carbon emissions
- We offer advice by telephone and e-mail, thereby reducing travel for clients
- We switch off equipment when we leave the office rather than leaving it on standby.
- The lights in our premises automatically switch off when not in use
- We ensure that we recycle our toner cartridges and paper.
Dealing responsibly with our clients:
- We communicate in plain English
- We aim to be transparent about what we will do and how much it will cost
- When something does go wrong we want to know about it and we tell you exactly how to complain
- We make our Complaints Procedure visible to our clients on the website and throughout our instruction
Dealing responsibly with our suppliers:
- Where possible we use local suppliers in order to further reduce carbon emissions. At present 80% of our suppliers are from the local business community.
- We choose our suppliers for their ethical practices and work closely with them to build relationships
- We communicate with our suppliers electronically only
- We aim to pay our suppliers on time, and many of our suppliers have also clients of the firm
- Read what our suppliers say about us
Work with the local Community:
- De Marco Solicitors are keen to build relationships with our local Community
- Each year we support a local charity. Last year our charity is Myton Hospice Our most recent fundraising activity was a team Fire Walk
- We sponsor Grange Farm Primary School, a local school football team
- We have recently supported Finham Park School with the donation of a trophy for their Annual Achievement Awards
- Sandra Garlick is working with Cardinal Wiseman School in support of the Coventry Careers Academy initiative
- Sandra Garlick is a Non Executive Director and Board Member at the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
- Sandra Garlick is a volunteer mentor
- Sandra Garlick is Chair of the Kenilworth Chamber of Trade
- Sandra Garlick is an Local Education Authority appointed School Governor at Whitley Abbey Primary School.
- Matt Shakesheff is a volunteer mentor for the Legal Practice Course student at De Montfort Univeristy.
- Matt Shakesheff carries out pro bono work at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Coventry
- Toni Sharp is Chair of the Coventry & Warwickshire branch of the Association of Women Solicitors
- Aaron Turnbull works with 6-18 year old children with additional needs
Taking responsibility for our Staff:
Sandra Garlick, the Principal recognises that our staff are our major asset. As a result she ensures that:
- We continually train our staff to exceed our clients expectations
- All of our staff are able to work flexible hours and work from home, subject to client deadlines
- Our staff have annual health checks and sight tests
- We have a Health & Wellbeing Policy in place for our staff which includes "Wellbeing Wednesdays"
- We provide a comfortable working environment