Corporate and Social Responsibility
Tessella sees Corporate and Social Responsibility as far more than a politically-correct-box to tick. Whilst the company exists to make a profit and to expand our operations, by the nature of the innovative work we do, we are quietly confident of the positive contribution we make.
Adding value through innovation
Tessella uses its unique blend of scientific, engineering and IT skills to solve the most complex of technical and business problems in a highly cost-effective way. We have a proven 28-year history of excellence, adding value to demanding public sector and commercial R&D based clients. ‘Innovation with dependability’ underpins everything we do.
From innovative projects to deliver better services to haemophiliacs; through developments to support safer drugs, minimize risk at oil depots, or explore Mars; to digital archiving systems to protect national assets, we are proud of the work that we deliver and the clients that we support. Our combined efforts make the world a better place to live in.
Engaging employees
We value our people and are well aware that they are our greatest asset. Tessella’s success has been built on recruiting and retaining the best possible technical and non-technical staff. We aim to be an employer of choice in the core industry sectors in which we operate. Via our Investors in People programme, all our staff are encouraged to develop to their full potential. Our technical staff receive 20 days training per year, three times the norm for our industry. We know that investing in our staff reaps rewards for our company and for our clients and for our staff.
We recognize that within a knowledge-based business such as our own, and with staff scattered throughout our UK, Netherlands and US offices … not to mention at numerous client sites … good employee communications are important. We run several Special Interest Groups via our company Intranet, and we issue a daily ‘Tessella News’ emailshot to all staff. We hold monthly evening meetings, where staff can hear about the plans for the company, can share experiences, and these occasions are particularly valued by site-based staff.
We hold annual appraisals where achievements are acknowledged, issues are discussed, and career development is mapped out. Our managers are accessible to staff at all levels in their Branches and on their projects, and staff are encouraged to contribute ideas for the development of their project and the business.
The health and safety of our staff, and our clients, is important to us. To ensure that our offices are safe and enjoyable places to work, we comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and regulations, together with best practice guidelines recommended by national health and safety authorities. All our staff attend a half-day first aid course.
We are an equal opportunities employer with a significantly lower churn rate than might be expected for our industry sector.
Respecting our clients
We believe that each project or development on which we work must meet our client’s real business need. This is achieved by careful discussion and documentation of the client’s requirement before work commences, so that we have a joint and clear definition of the task at the outset. Clients’ evolving needs are met by close liaison throughout the project life cycle.
We also assume that the project must be completed to the client’s time scale. This is related to the requirement and budget, and is agreed at the outset of the project.
Tessella’s Directors believe that the company’s solutions and services should bring value to clients in a socially responsible and ethical way.
Respecting our partners and suppliers
We strive to build ethical relationships with our business partners, to mutually support each other’s businesses. Each year, a number of new contracts come to our attention because of our close working relationships with key partners.
We pay our bills promptly and treat our suppliers in an ethical way. We value their contribution to our business.
Protecting our environment
Protecting the environment is now the responsibility of all, and few organizations or individuals remain unconvinced about the dangers of not acting. But not everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
By the nature of our operations, Tessella could be thought of having a minimal impact on the environment. However that is not true.
Our involvement in several leading projects … including the UK National Flow Forecasting System and Waste Management at West Sussex County Council … means that we can proudly say that our business makes a positive impact on the environment.
Over a number of years we have supported Shell Global Solutions HSE Consultancy who specialize in the management of loss prevention and accident hazards at large chemical and industrial sites; key work to minimize the risk to our client’s business.
Trivial compared to the above, but from 2007 our Abingdon head office and largest branch is operating a two-bin system whereby recyclable materials (including paper and magazines, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans, and plastic bags) can be placed in office bins and are then transferred to a recycling bin. Other waste is disposed of in the kitchen bins and collected by the Waste Contractor separately.
We aim to minimize the amount of electricity that we consume and for many years have operated a policy of IT equipment being switched off every night at the socket, ie not being left on stand-by. We are proud to have been ahead of the game on this issue.
Responsible independence
We are vendor independent and always propose the solution that we believe will benefit our client the most, however we do this from an ethical standpoint and would never knowingly contribute to a development which would be detrimental to the countries and the communities in which we operate.
