Environmental, Social and Governance Statement

Last Reviewed: October 23rd, 2025

Jump to section:
1. Our Values
2. ESG Policy Objectives
3. Environmental Sustainability
4. Social Responsibility
5. Corporate Governance

1. Our Values

ESco are a dynamic publishing and digital solutions provider – where outstanding service with integrity is at the heart of everything we do. An idea born from two brave, ambitious women – founders Elaine Wright and Susan Duffin (the E & S in ESco) – today we focus on providing quality services through the conduit of excellent relationships through our core values:

We are open, honest and work with integrity
We are passionate about our brand and our work
We are commercially minded
We work in partnership
We are fun-loving

ESco are committed to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner. We believe that strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices are essential for long-term success and contribute to a better future for all stakeholders.

2. ESG Policy Objectives

This ESG policy statement reflects our commitment to improving how our business decisions and policies address opportunities for sustainability. We expect this policy statement to be upheld by all employees, including the Senior Leadership Team and Directors of ESco. As we look ahead to the future, we will continue to be transparent and remain focused on expanding our sustainability efforts.

Environmental Sustainability
We are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner to reduce our impact on climate change, conserve natural resources and operate in compliance with environmental regulations.

Social Responsibility
We are committed to being a socially responsible employer by fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion across our business, with a focus on empowering women and minorities, operating ethically and supporting our local communities.

Corporate Governance
We are committed to building a culture dedicated to ethical business behaviour and responsible corporate activity. We believe strong corporate governance is the foundation to delivering on our commitments.

3. Environmental Sustainability

In the undertaking of their daily duties, we accept that all staff associated with ESco will have an influence on the environment. We will commit to adopting working practices that will help to have a positive effect, assist towards continued environmental improvement, prevent pollution and reduce unavoidable negative influences caused by our working practices.

Waste Management
ESco maintains a policy of ‘minimum waste’ which is essential to the cost effective and efficient running of all our operations. Every employee has a responsibility to promote this policy by taking extra care when carrying out normal duties to avoid unnecessary or extravagant use of services, materials, lights, heating, water etc.

Where waste is generated, for example in the operation of our office, we ensure that all recyclable materials are dealt with appropriately. To encourage our employees to further reduce waste generation and optimise our disposal process, particularly in the areas of paper, food and equipment disposal, and the use of water we have colour coded recycling bins throughout our offices.

The print and fulfilment aspects of ESco’s operations do generate an amount of recyclable material, primarily paper and cardboard. This recyclable waste is kept in large-scale bins and collected on a regular basis by a recycling and waste management contractor.

Energy Consumption
As a services company, our energy consumption is largely limited to the operation of our office, including lighting, power sources, and heating. We approach the management of our energy consumption as an integral part of our overall environmental management approach. We have already installed energy efficient lighting PIR sensors in selected areas.

We run one self-charging hybrid corporate vehicle, and our fork-lift is lithium-ion powered as opposed to gas or LPG.

Our electricity is sourced from 100% renewables.

4. Social Responsibility

We are committed to providing a positive work environment that offers optimal support to our employees and we will continue to implement strategies that support flexibility that reflect the social impacts of working conditions and allows us to deliver excellence in service and products to our customers and the wider communities in which we operate.

ESco are a Living Wage Employer and have maintained our Investors In People status since 2003.

ESco have an organisational hierarchy ensuring all staff have a line manager. In addition, as an SME operating from a single geographical location, our Senior Leadership Team members are always available for any staff member to contact directly, should the situation require it.

Training and Working Conditions
We are committed to supporting the growth and upskilling of our employees to develop the best talent and expertise to maintain our reputation as industry leaders through internal and external training programs. A detailed health and safety policy/handbook identifying the roles and responsibilities of key staff members for ensuring that ESco meets its commitment to health and safety is provided to all staff. In addition, there is key information on health and safety displayed throughout office premises. Detailed risk assessments have been carried out on all aspects of ESco’s activities and steps have been taken to ensure that all work can be done safely. Any employee who is concerned that any aspect of ESco’s activities poses a risk to health and safety can report this to their line manager or any member of the Senior Leadership Team. Genuine concerns about health and safety will always be treated with the utmost seriousness and be thoroughly investigated.

ESco adopts a “Zero Tolerance” stance for unauthorised drugs, alcohol, weapons, pyrotechnic or other contraband items on company premises.

Regulatory Training
In addition to specific role-related training, regulatory training on matters such as data protection, information security, health & safety, and corporate compliance is undertaken by all employees, with a rolling campaign of refresher training as well as ad hoc awareness campaigns.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity
We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.
We are fully committed to:

Treating all of our employees and job applicants equally in all aspects of employment including recruitment and selection, promotion, transfer, opportunities for training, pay and benefits, other terms of employment, discipline, selection for redundancy and dismissal.
Creating a working environment that is free of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all, and where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued.
Training managers and all other employees about their rights and responsibilities under this equal opportunities, diversity & inclusion policy.
Employing, training, and promoting employees on the basis of their experience, abilities and qualifications, without regard to race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, age, marriage and civil partnership or disability. In this policy these are known as the “Protected Characteristics”.
Making opportunities for training, development, and progress available to all employees, who will be helped and encouraged to develop their full potential, so their talents and resources can be fully utilised to maximise the efficiency of the company.

At Year End 2024 the workforce was made up of 62% women and 38% men.

Non-Discrimination
We are committed to supporting the principle of equal opportunities and oppose all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of age, colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, marital status, disability, part-time or fixed term status, parental responsibilities, religion, or sexual orientation. Our aim is to recruit, train and promote the best person for the job, to make full use of the talents and resources of all our employees and to create a working environment free from unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment in which all employees are treated with dignity and respect.

Bullying and Harassment
We are committed to providing a working environment free from harassment and bullying and ensuring all staff are treated, and treat others, with dignity and respect. This includes harassment or bullying which occurs at work and out of the workplace, such as on business trips or at work-related events or social functions. If any member of staff feels they are being harassed or bullied, and unable to address the problem informally with the person responsible, they can speak in confidence with either their line manager, the HR Manager or any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We have a formal Grievance Procedure documented and available to all staff should an informal solution not be appropriate. All complaints will be investigated in a timely and confidential manner by someone with appropriate experience and no prior involvement in the complaint, where possible.

Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing
ESco are committed to creating a mentally healthy and supportive workplace for all employees. We recognise that employee mental health is crucial to individual well-being, team productivity, and overall company success. We believe that a healthy and supportive work environment is essential for attracting and retaining top talent, fostering innovation, and building a strong and resilient company culture.

Our Commitment:

Prioritise Employee Well-being: We will prioritise employee mental health by creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and comfortable discussing their well-being.
Promote Open Communication: We will encourage open and honest communication about mental health within the workplace, reducing stigma and fostering a culture of support.
Provide Access to Resources: We will provide employees with access to a range of mental health resources, such as:
- - Employee Assistance Program: This program provided by AXA Health is freely available to all staff
  - Resources Portal: Providing staff with contacts for a range of metal health support agencies (e.g. Samaritans etc.) and cost of living advice
Lead by Example: We will demonstrate leadership commitment to mental health by prioritising self-care and modeling healthy behaviors.

We believe that by prioritizing employee mental health, we can create a thriving workplace where everyone can reach their full potential.

Modern Slavery
ESco Business Services Ltd’s own operation is relatively low risk and does not tolerate any form of enslavement or exploitation. We are committed to ensuring measures are in place to minimise the risk of modern slavery in our business and in our supply chain.

Customer Privacy
All customer data – both ESco’s own customers and our clients’ customer databases which ESco are contracted to maintain, are handled in strict accordance to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Additionally ESco commit to annual compliance to the BACS Approved Bureau and PCI DSS Compliance standards for payment processing and associated information security. We maintain a fully documented Data Policy Framework including a detailed Information Security Policy, the model for which is based on “Defence in Depth”, meaning that no one security mechanism is relied upon in its entirety to protect and defend the confidentiality and integrity of the data held on ESco’s systems. This Data Policy Framework is continually reviewed and updated as required.

Community
ESco is proud to support our local community and we run a program allowing employees to partake in local volunteering in the community during working hours. To further support the wider community and the planet we support a range of local and national charities on a monthly basis, each chosen by our employees, some for very personal reasons.

5. Corporate Governance

ESco Business Services Ltd are committed to upholding strong business governance practices that foster ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability throughout our operations. As a small business based in the UK, we recognise the importance of maintaining high standards of corporate governance to build trust with our stakeholders and drive sustainable growth.

We expect our employees to uphold the highest standards of conduct and comply with all relevant legislation. ESco’s Code of Conduct clearly outlines our expectations and guidelines for ethical behaviour in the workplace. We regularly review and improve this code, including training initiatives, to ensure its effectiveness and address any breaches that may occur.

We adhere to the relevant laws, regulations, and industry best practices that govern our business operations. Our commitment to sound governance is reflected in the following key areas:

Whistle-blower Policy
ESco encourages employees to raise any concerns that they may have about any wrongdoing at any level within the business. Wrongdoing in this context means any breach of a legal obligation, risk to health and safety, a criminal offence being committed, a miscarriage of justice occurring or likely to occur or damage to the environment. Any initial concern should be raised with the employee’s line manager. However, if this is not appropriate then they can contact any member of the Senior Leadership Team who will ensure that their concern is properly addressed.

Anti-Corruption and Bribery
ESco strictly prohibits any form of bribery or corruption. We expect our employees to demonstrate honesty, integrity, and fairness in all their business dealings. We promote awareness and compliance with our policies through effective dissemination, procedures, policies, and training programs.

Good Faith and Loyalty
The employment relationship is one built on trust and we all have a mutual interest in making the relationship a success. ESco has a duty to provide reasonable support to employees and employees have a duty of good faith towards ESco. In practice this means not doing anything that undermines ESco’s position by acting in competition with it, providing information to competitors or undermining ESco’s standing with clients, customers and fellow employees.