Sustainability

Inspire is committed to promoting sustainability and our own sustainable development.

In the context of both the financial climate, and the increasing evidence, impact awareness of environmental change, sustainability is becoming a core consideration for organisations around the world.

For Inspire, it is something which is embedded within the fabric of our vision, mission and values, and concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to Inspire’s professional activities and the management of the organisation.

Inspire recognises that it is more important than ever before that we increase our sustainable development efforts, to not only maintain our sustainability, but also ensure that we increase the positive contribution we make to the wider community.

Inspire will aim to follow, promote and embed good sustainability practices across the organisation in order to reduce the environmental impact of all our activities and to increase positive social and economic impacts of our work. We aim to do this through our Services’ delivery and how we operate internally our day-to-day functions. 

This policy sets out the framework by which Inspire will undertake its approach to embedding sustainable actions throughout the organisation. Inspire will:

• Adopt a whole organisation approach: understanding the impact of our actions and taking practical action as individuals, teams and as a Charitable membership-based organisation
• Embed sustainability in all areas of Inspire’s business
• Apply value for money and fair and transparent principles and procedures to our procurement activities including sustainability criteria for all tender specifications.

To facilitate a whole organisation approach, staff are invited to contribute to the design of our sustainability action plans to ensure that these are achievable and effective through practical ideas and experience gained on the ground. Initiatives to achieve sustainability will be shared and celebrated. This will be achieved by the Health, Safety & Environment Working Group.

The action plan will be delivered through the Health, Safety & Environment Working Group and monitored by ILT.

Reports on progress will be regularly provided to the Inspire Leadership Team, alongside periodic reports to the Inspire Board. 

Inspire will aim to minimise its environmental impact by reducing consumption of energy and resources, whilst creating opportunities to raise awareness of environmental issues through reading, learning and cultural provision.   

• Compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and codes of practice
• Integration of sustainability considerations in all our business decisions and into our service delivery
• Ensuring that all staff are aware of our Sustainability Policy and accompanying action plan
• Including sustainability actions in Inspire’s business plans
• Regularly monitoring Inspire’s progress against specific agreed key standards
• Engaging staff to implement, contribute to the design and achievement of Inspire’s sustainability aims and objectives

All Inspire staff and governance are required to be aware of and adopt this policy within their areas of responsibility and across the whole of Inspire.  All are encouraged to share a sense of responsibility and purpose and collaborate to achieve Inspire’s sustainable development aims.

At a senior level, the Inspire Board has ultimate responsibility for the organisation’s continued sustainability and its environmental and societal contribution to the wider society. 

Key areas of focus will be, but not limited to:

• Energy efficiency plans
• Waste and disposal reductions
• Use of recyclable materials
• Water consumption

• Suppliers that publish sustainability policies
• Ethical practices and corporate responsibility
• Tendering processes

• Reducing costs through efficiencies
• Cost effective procurement

Date approved: 21 July 2016

Date amended: 8 October 2019

Date amended: 28 November 2023