Social value policy

Social Value Policy

Scope

Flag Studio is committed to creating a sustainable inclusive society actively managing operations in ways which optimise our value to the communities in which we work. Social value is intrinsic to everything we do, for this reason we manage it through a suite of interdependent policies and procedures which collectively deliver our objectives.

This policy applies to all Flag Studio employees, associates, secondees, agency staff and third parties who undertake activity for and on our behalf. It applies to the goods and services we procure, our direct operations and the services and products we provide to our customers.

Purpose

We are a values based organisation whose purpose is to deliver growth with passion; creating a future where everyone has the chance of a better quality of life, through new skills, investment and opportunity. Our staff promote, influence, train, explore and advise to deliver maximum benefit for the communities in which we work.

This policy provides an effective framework for realising our commitment to maintaining and where possible enhancing the Social Value we create in the communities we work within, both as an employer and a provider of services.

Responsibilities

All employees, associates, secondees, agency staff and third parties are responsible for ensuring that this Policy is adhered to in accordance with our shared Values: Make a positive difference; Stronger together; Empower people; Do the right thing and build on success. As referenced some activities within the scope of this Policy are covered by additional dedicated policies and procedures to ensure that our Social Value objectives are delivered.

Policy

We are a micro manufacturing business driving forward economic development within localities by boosting investment, skills, employment and enterprise to benefit the lives of residents and the wider community.

In recognising this we are committed to contributing to a more sustainable society and to continually improve the positive impacts we make. As a micro organisation we recognise the contribution we can make to increasing social value through our own direct impact as an employer. Our impact can be categorised in terms of four key areas:

1. Our supply chain and the goods and services we buy
We use our purchasing power to support, influence and secure social value from our suppliers, and we ask our suppliers how they can support our six key Social Value objectives, namely: promote employment and economic sustainability; promote equity and fairness and raise the living standards of local residents; promote participation and citizen engagement; build capacity and sustainability of the voluntary and community sectors and promote environmental sustainability. This forms part of our evaluation process.

2. Our environmental impact
We have identified the key aspects where we have a negative impact on the environment, namely: heating and cooling, travel to clients, IT and paper; and we have a policy and systems in place to manage and reduce these impacts.

We recycle packaging whenever possible and prefer to use paper based products rather than plastic based products when shipping their orders to them.

We buy our goods from other small businesses whenever possible and almost exclusively buy raw and finished goods in the UK.

We make our products exclusively in the UK.

3. Our organisational development
We use our training policies to ensure roles are designed such that the broadest possible range of people can apply and that positions are advertised in ways to ensure they are aware of the opportunities.

We are a living wage and disability confident company, although uncertified. We do what we say we do and invest in our people and products rather than in paperwork and badges.

4. Our support for our local communities
In addition, we can make a positive difference by ensuring we continually review how we can make improvements to the Social Value we create in the communities we support.

This includes supporting:

people to enter or return to the labour market after periods of exclusion
people to realise their potential in higher paid roles by increasing their skills
businesses to grow and connect with their communities while reducing environmental impact
businesses to grow and develop creating good jobs in good companies
businesses to buy locally wherever possible
employers to develop and retain their staff in fulfilling roles
employers to recruit staff from local or excluded communities

To realise our Social Value objectives we recognise the need for and are committed to communicating our objectives to our suppliers, potential and existing employees, customers and wider stakeholders.