GWA Community Support – Winter 2022/23
We try to help out local causes and communities where we can and here's a round-up of recent activities we've been able to support.
Throughout our 100-year history we have contributed to the communities surrounding Berwick-upon-Tweed and Haddington where our offices are located. We believe it’s important to support our local area and also now the wider global environment.
As a firm, GWA’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) includes operating our business in a responsible way. This includes ‘doing our bit’ for a greener environment, offering pro bono work and supporting the communities where we work and live.
We try to minimise our environmental impact wherever possible. Our offices recycle paper, cardboard, print toners and plastic. We only print documents when necessary and have invested in new technology, including greater cloud capabilities, which will further reduce our overall carbon footprint. Our marketing material is printed on FSC certified paper and we use biodegradable bags for delivering and storing documents. We have a ‘switch-off’ policy to reduce our energy consumption. Our office lighting auto switches off when no movement is detected and office temperatures are regulated and reduced outside of working hours.
We have a policy of ‘giving back’ to our local communities. Many of the GWA team actively support local charities, clubs and causes – often volunteering in an advisory capacity or helping with fundraising initiatives. Our partners also assist many charities by providing business, accountancy and tax advice on a pro-bono basis.
We encourage all staff members to nominate a local cause which might benefit from a little bit of extra funding. Over recent years, this staff community incentive has seen GWA donate thousands of pounds to clubs and groups – from Kelso to Glanton and many places in between.
Our team has also pulled out all the stops for other regional and national charities. These include Children in Need, MIND, Movember, Jeans for Genes and the Great North Air Ambulance. Our offices are also collection points for the annual Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign.
Diversity and Inclusion
GWA is committed to treating every individual with respect and consideration. We understand the value a diverse workforce can bring. We believe people should be themselves and authentic at work as this helps build quality and integrity in the services we deliver. As an ICAEW accredited firm for probate services, we are required to collect, report and publish diversity data about our employees. This information helps us understand the profile of our current team and plan for future recruitment. You can read the results of our latest survey here.
