Corporate Social Responsibility
Through a series of focused and strategic CSR initiatives we intend to offer our employees, stakeholders and clients the optimum opportunity and support to conduct their business at ACC Liverpool in an ethical, sustainable and responsible manner.
In doing so, we aim to ensure that ACC Liverpool’s business performance impacts in a positive way on our local communities, partners and stakeholders, as well as minimising the negative impact that our business may have on the natural and citywide environment.
Aims
The aim of developing a CSR Strategy is to ensure that ACC Liverpool continues to build upon its position as a responsible business for both its customers and its employees.
ACC Liverpool is committed to sustaining a well managed, profitable business that is ethical and responsible in terms of its impact on the environment, employment policy, and social and economic contributions to the local community. It is through the development and delivery of the CSR strategy that this position will be monitored and measured and through which further opportunities will be identified.
ACC Liverpool’s CSR Objectives fall into five CSR Commitments
1. Committed to our Community
Through community investment, educational initiatives and employee volunteering, ACC Liverpool is committed to supporting the local community.
2. Respectful of the Environment
Through the development and delivery of sustainable initiatives, both linked to the building and infrastructure of ACC Liverpool and also to its employees, clients and customers, ACC Liverpool is committed to respecting its environment , reducing the impact its business has upon the local and general environment as well as being an industry leader in sustainability.
3. Committed to Responsible Purchasing through the Supply Chain
Through our procurement and supplier management processes, ACC Liverpool is committed to always acting as a fair partner, both for suppliers and service partners.
4. Accountable in the Marketplace
We aim to extend this commitment to our clients where possible, to assist them with their own CSR objectives, facilitating their presence in our local community and allowing their events to have a lasting legacy in Liverpool through our support of the third sector.
5. Responsible in the Workplace
Through responsible Human Resource processes and policies and an aligned Internal Communications framework, ACC Liverpool is committed to diversity, inclusion, education, training, development and the promotion of health and wellbeing in the work place.
Achievements to date
Community
In August 2011, ACC Liverpool deployed more than 95 employees to help develop and transform a plot of land in Speke, south Liverpool. The open space was regenerated into an allotment which the Liverpool Food Alliance will now use to produce locally grown food for organisations such as the YMCA to benefit from.
Environment
ACC Liverpool hosted what is believed to be the UK’s first carbon neutral business dinner on 14th March at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. The entire event was carbon neutral, from the locally sourced ingredients being delivered by bicycle through to car sharing and ‘green travel plans’ developed for guests. The dinner will help raise awareness amongst business leaders of the complex challenges around managing food, water and energy consumption and how they interrelate.
Many of the portable ingredients were delivered by bicycle; delegates were encouraged to take public transport or car share and provided with a ‘green travel plan’. The three course menu of local speciality dishes were prepared and cooked by Heathcotes, with help from Liverpool Community College students and all of the ingredients sourced from within a 50 mile radius of the venue. All event correspondence was electronic and the only paper materials used were on tables and handmade using recycled materials by Liverpool Community College Art Department. Heathcotes, the venue caterers, worked with suppliers to reduce packaging and waste.
Responsible Purchasing
We are committed to supporting local suppliers and in 2011 held our inaugral Supplier Innovation Day - an annual event where we actively engage with new and existing local suppliers to communicate our sustainable and CSR commitments and objectives and keep them informed of new initiatives and goals going forward.
Marketplace
In January 2012, we helped retailer Asda leave a lasting legacy in Liverpool following its annual staff meeting by donating food to hundreds of homeless people across Merseyside. The team at ACC Liverpool introduced Asda to the Liverpool branch of the YMCA to arrange the donation of non-perishable items to the YMCA which went on to support 262 homeless people across the region.
Workplace
85% of our workforce have been employed since we opened in 2008 and 93% of our workforce have been recruited from the Liverpool city region.
Our people are at the root of the venue's success and, as such, are engaged on a regular basis to support, promote and provide ideas for our sustainable activities.