Community

Paul Taylor is chair of the Fox Williams’ Social and Charity Committee.

Our people are committed to giving their time, energy and skills to helping those in the community. We also want to make sure that our impact on the environment is positive and makes a difference to the well being of our many stakeholders including clients, staff and the wider community in general.

The firm supports a nominated charity and encourages fund raising activities organised by the Social and Charity Committee.

The Sick Children’s Trust

Our new charity partner for the next two years from May 2023 is The Sick Children’s Trust.

The charity provides a welcoming ‘Home from Home’ where families with a sick child in hospital can stay with friendly, caring staff to support the families when they really need it.

The charity was nominated by an employee at the firm whose own four week old baby had been admitted to the high-dependency respiratory unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital. As the employee said:

“The Sick Children’s Trust arranged accommodation near the hospital for the next few weeks for which we will forever be grateful. At a time when our minds were so occupied with all the medical terms and procedures that were being discussed with us, The Sick Children’s Trust has supported my family during an extremely difficult and upsetting time and I know the firm’s contributions will make a huge impact.”

In early June 2023, a number of Fox Williams employees completed a 100km cycle which kicked off the fundraising for the charity. You can donate via the link.

 

Refuge 

Our previous nominated charity between 2021 & 2023 was Refuge. Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence and violence against women and girls is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety, they aim to empower women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear. Refuge opened the world’s first safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence in Chiswick, West London, in 1971. More information of Refuge can be found by clicking here.

As part of the firm’s fundraising efforts we raised in excess of £25,000 (with significantly more to come from the firm’s matched funding). This included hosting a number of events from pizza making, wine tasting and quizzes to the successful completion of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge by a large army of Fox Williams staff.

As a thank you for the firm’s efforts, Refuge produced the following video:

Environment

The firm is committed towards implementing and managing practical policies and processes which will reduce the impact of its operations on the environment.

To date, the firm has implemented the following:

  • Waste Recycling Policy: All general waste is taken from our offices and sorted to ensure as much can be recycled as possible. Separately, all confidential waste is shredded offsite and recycled. All electronic equipment is collected by contractors, dismantled and disposed of in accordance with UK WEE regulations with as many parts recycled for re-use as possible.
  • Drinking Water: Drinking water is provided to staff by means of a filtration system from the mains water supply. This prevents the need to supply mineral water bottles and reduces waste. Similarly, filtered water is bottled on site for use in meetings. The bottles are re-used rather than replaced. Drinking glasses are provided rather than disposable plastic cups to reduce waste.
  • Upgraded Lifts: Our buildings lift controls have been replaced with state of the art controls. One of many benefits is a reduction in energy use of 40%.
  • Chiller Use: The times when our chillers operate have been reduced with an average 30% reduction in energy consumption. Only one of the two chillers is used wherever possible.
  • Boiler Use: The times when our boilers operate have been reduced with an average 20% reduction in energy consumption.
  • Choice of supplier and contractor: As well as our own direct impact on the environment, the firm is conscious that its choice of supplier or contractor will also have an impact. With this in mind, the firm now includes either the achievement or the working towards of ISO 14001 (Environmental) accreditation within its tendering criteria.
  • Energy Audits: The firm has completed a detailed audit of energy use in conjunction with its Mechanical & Engineering contractors. The result of this has been to provide a strategy of ongoing investment in parallel with the firms annual repairs and maintenance strategy. Where investment in repair or maintenance is required, options that reduce the environmental impct are considered and wherever practicable, implemented. Two mini audits are carried out per year to ensure ongoing commitment and review. Meters are now installed throughout the building allowing greater analysis of energy use.
  • Upgraded Printers and Copiers: The firm is committed to reducing its printing and copying. To this end, all printers and copiers have been replaced by multi functional devices increasing the firms ability to operate a “less paper” Document Management System. Printer and copier use is regularly reviewed and operational working practices are regularly reviewed with the aim of significantly reducing the need to print or copy. All devices use less power than their predecessors and are set to save power when not in use. All toner cartridges are sent for recycling.
  • IT strategy: The firm is committed towards the implementation of IT systems and processes that reduce environmental impact. Significant investment continues to be made in Document Management systems and processes. The firms central comms room has reduced its air conditioning requirement by 50%. Software has also been introduced allowing the firm to regularly review its energy use.
  • Lighting: Wherever practicable, the firm has introduced PIR lighting to reduce the length of time lights are on when not required. Where not so practicable, processes are in place to ensure that areas are checked regularly and all staff are encourage by means of posters and the Intranet to turn off lights when they are not in the office.

Good governance & ethics

  • Our terms of business set out clearly responsibilities in relation to client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, fees and client care.
  • We have devised detailed Quality Service Standards to improve client care, from the moment client instructions are accepted to when the matter is completed.
  • The firm has an anti-money laundering policy.
  • The firm has an anti-bribery policy and slavery & human trafficking policy.
  • The firm has in place detailed Business Continuity and Risk Management plans.
  • The firm’s values (including Integrity & Professionalism) reinforce our approach to good governance and ethics in everything we do.

Our people

  • The firm is an equal opportunities employer and treats people equally regardless of their racial group, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or marital status.
  • The firm has policies on part-time and flexible working arrangements which support our people with family commitments and encourage diversity, learning and development.
  • Our ‘Outstanding Client Service Awards’ were created to recognise and reward all staff who go beyond the call of duty to serve clients. This is integral to the firm’s value of offering Great Client Service.

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