Corporate Social Responsibility statement

Ilika recognises the importance of approaching its responsibilities to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a co-ordinated and committed fashion and we aim to ensure our approach to creating business growth manages environmental and social issues whilst delivering value for the company and continued benefit for society.  This statement acknowledges our ambition to include CSR in all parts of our business.

Overall responsibility for developing and implementing our CSR policies on social, ethical and environmental matters and for reviewing their effectiveness lies ultimately with the Ilika Board. The board will regularly review the scope of the company strategy and report regularly to stakeholders to ensure we remain focussed on the material issues for the business.

Ilika’s policies and procedures, including those relating to social, environmental, health and safety, employment and ethical matters, are reviewed by the management team regularly and are communicated to all employees through  the staff handbook, email communications  and regular company meetings. The management team will report to the board every six months to ensure that the board are fully apprised of the status of the company’s efforts in this area.

The Main areas of CSR at Ilika are:

  • Health and Safety
  • Environment and sustainability
  • Employee rights
  • Values and ethics
  • Contribution to Society

Health and Safety

We recognise our responsibility to ensure the well-being, safety and welfare of our employees and to maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all of our employees and visitors. We understand that health and safety has positive benefits for the company and that a commitment to a high level of safety makes good business sense. As a business function, health & safety must continually progress and adapt to change.

Health and safety is considered at the highest level in the company with the ultimate responsibility resting with the board. Update reports are presented to the board at each board meeting and a full report is presented annually.  Policies and procedures are independently reviewed to ensure compliance with best practice and with the relevant health and safety legislation.

Environment and sustainability

Ilika is committed to achieving a real and sustainable positive impact on the broader community by adopting environmentally responsible policies.  We believe that it is essential that both as a company and as individuals we should operate in an environmentally conscious manner. Our objective is to minimise the impact of our business activity on the environment wherever possible.  This includes ensuring that our suppliers do likewise and that we proactively encourage others with whom we interact to consider environmental matters.

We recognise our impact on the environment comes from:

  • Electricity to heat, cool and power laboratory and office equipment.
  • Gas for heating
  • Business travel by air, road and rail
  • Water in laboratories and offices used for a variety of purposes.
  • Resources such as paper.
  • Waste including paper, plastic, chemicals and other laboratory waste and consumable I.T. equipment.


Our objectives are to:

  • Consider environmental issues in all of our decision making processes
  • Evaluate future energy usage to see how we can use low energy systems.
  • Advise staff on the efficient use of energy and other utilities
  • Avoid unnecessary travel on business by the use of video conferencing and telephone communication where possible.
  • Use the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, where necessary, consistent with business needs.
  • Encourage use of bicycles by offering our employees access to the HMRC Workcycle scheme
  • Reduce overall the resources we use.
  • Promoting waste minimisation by recycling or finding other uses of by-products whenever economically viable.
  • Reduce our letters and correspondence by using alternative electronic mechanisms.
  • Using either recycled or FSC paper for all hard copy correspondence, wherever possible.
  • Consider environmental criteria when choosing services and goods.
  • Develop relationships with suppliers and contractors so that we all recognise our environmental responsibilities.
  • Fundamentally Ilika will reduce its impact on the environment and ask that its employees, suppliers and customers do likewise.

 

Employee Rights

Ilika adheres to all legislation relating to employment rights and equal opportunities, with particular reference to non-discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, marital status, disability or sexual orientation. However, Ilika’s policies go beyond the legal requirements and the company acknowledges its moral rights to provide a safe and dignified working environment.

We ensure that we maintain the highest level of integrity with regard to employees, customers and all others with whom we interact.  We recognise the value that our employees create for the business and our commitment to training and personal development, together with remuneration policies, are designed to reward achievement and emphasise the importance of retaining staff.

Ilika will not tolerate discrimination, bullying or any other kind of harassment within our business community.  The concept of ’mutual respect’ will be one of our guiding principles.  Employees are expected to abide by company rules and to be honest and considerate in their various roles.   
Internal procedures have been established to report grievances or suspected inappropriate behaviour to other individuals or organisations. Equally the company will treat dishonest actions and accusations seriously; this may result in disciplinary action in accordance with company rules and disciplinary procedures.

Ethics and Values

Ilika supports the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through its business practices.  This means that it supports freedom from torture, unjustified imprisonment without fair trial and any other oppression.  In addition, Ilika supports the right of any individual to have freedom of expression and religion, political representation or in respect of any other matter.  Accordingly, Ilika will not support or work with organisations which fail to uphold basic human rights within their influence, which are involved in the manufacture or transfer to an oppressive regime, or are involved in the manufacture of equipment used in the violation of human rights.  Neither will Ilika work with organisations which are involved in the funding or carrying out of terrorist activities.

Ilika will not provide support or work with organisations which do not conform to the most widely accepted standards for minimum labour rights or which do not cover the use of under-age or forced labour.

Ilika does not give or receive any bribes, extra contractual gratuities, inducements, facilitation fees or similar payments.  Any gifts, whether in cash or kind, received by employees or the company in the course of normally accepted business entertainment are accepted subject to the prior written approval of the management.

Ilika does not donate (including sponsorship, subscriptions or provision of employee time or facilities) to any political party or similar organisation.

Contribution to society

Ilika accepts and acknowledges that we have a corporate responsibility towards society not only by paying taxes and creating and maintaining jobs but also by using our unique research skills to develop knowledge, skills and products which will ultimately benefit society.

Ilika actively supports and encourages the study of science at all levels from pre GCSE through to degree level.  We do this by sponsoring posters , hosting annual visits by groups of A level students and offering 6 month and 12 month placements to Masters students.