Corporate Sustainability

Creating Lasting Impact Through Sustainable and Responsible Practice.

At The Benchmarking Network, sustainability underpins how we work today and how we plan for the future. We are committed to delivering meaningful environmental and social value for our members, stakeholders, and the wider community.

Environmental Responsibility
Leading the Way to Net Zero

We have a clear Carbon Reduction Plan and are committed to achieving Net Zero by 2045. Our actions include:

  • Measuring and reporting our carbon footprint annually, aligned to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

  • Office relocation to a site designed for energy efficiency and improved public transport access.

  • Remote and hybrid working practices to significantly reduce commuting-related emissions.

  • Sustainable commuting and travel: We promote active travel (e.g., Cycle to Work), support public transport use, and encourage rail over air travel.

  • Waste reduction and recycling: Following a “reduce, reuse, recycle” approach, including IT hardware recycling and donating surplus materials to local charities.

  • Sustainable supply chain: We require our key suppliers to align with sustainability commitments, supporting the circular economy and ethical sourcing.

  • Transparent reporting: We provide regular updates on progress toward our Net Zero goals, including Scope 3 emissions initiatives.

These actions form part of a structured roadmap to reduce emissions by 5.4% year-on-year, reaching 55.86 tCO₂e by 2030.

Social Responsibility
Empowering People and Strengthening Communities

We are passionate about creating positive social outcomes alongside our operational impact. Our approach includes:

  • Employee wellbeing: We prioritise mental health, flexible working, access to counselling and wellness initiatives, and achieved a 7/10 employee happiness score in 2024.

  • Fair pay and development: As a Living Wage accredited employer, we support professional growth through CPD-accredited MAST training and offer clear career progression pathways.

  • Volunteering: Every employee is encouraged to take one paid day a year to support charitable or community causes of their choice.

  • Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: In FY25, we maintained a 50/50 gender split across our workforce and continued to foster an inclusive culture where every individual is valued. As our team grows and evolves, we remain committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level.

  • Social value delivery: Through our work, we address social determinants of health, support community wellbeing, and help achieve better health outcomes nationally.

Our achievements align with the Public Services (Social Value) Act principles and support strong ESG and TOMs credentials.

Supply Chain and Ethical Procurement
Building a Responsible and Resilient Supply Chain

We maintain the highest standards in managing our supply chain:

  • All suppliers must comply with relevant ethical and legal requirements, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

  • We prioritise suppliers who support sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and operate transparently and fairly.

  • Risk management is integral to our procurement practices, ensuring continuity, resilience, and responsibility across all operations.

We are proud to work with organisations who share our commitment to building a more sustainable and ethical future.

Governance, Risk, and Cybersecurity
Protecting Our Operations, People, and Partners

Strong governance and risk management underpin our corporate responsibility:

  • We proactively manage business risks through quarterly scenario testing, contingency planning, and senior leadership oversight.

  • We maintain Cyber Essentials and DSPT certifications, ensuring robust information security and data protection across all activities.

  • We regularly review and update our business continuity strategies to protect critical services and maintain seamless delivery even in disruptive scenarios.