What ESG means to EMS

Whatever we do, we try to build a company that makes us proud. So we do what’s right, even when it’s difficult. Environmental, social, and governance criteria will always be central to our business.

We’re committed to building a sustainable business. From the beginning, we set out to minimise our environmental impact. We achieved Environmental ISO 14001 in 2007 and haven’t stopped since, because our mission is to build a company that makes us proud. We address serious issues in depth in all three strands of our ESG strategy.

• Environmental: energy, waste, transport, carbon emissions, climate change
• Social: relationship management (employees, customers, suppliers, communities)
• Governance: policies, committees, stakeholder engagement, compliance

By partnering with Sustainable Advantage (SA), we have shown our commitment to developing a world-class ESG programme. Already, we’ve calculated our baseline emissions and devised a plan to reach Net Zero by 2045. SA is also conducting a gap analysis across our business, including a Life-Cycle Assessment assessing the environmental impact of our mobile units.

Powering into the future

With 100+ vehicles in our fleet, we’re proud of the scale of service we can provide and the healthcare challenges we can tackle. But we must always do more. Standing still is not an option, especially when it comes to our environmental impact. In 2022, our first electric vehicle (EV) hit the roads. Outreach, our first self-drive, solar-powered unit, came into service. And we are actively replacing all vehicles that don’t reach the Euro 6 emissions standard.

Hydrogenated vegetable oil could cut our per-kilometre carbon emissions by 80%, so we are exploring how to use it to power our diesel fleet. At the same time, we now aim to reuse and repurpose 80% of internal equipment from our units.

We are making changes at our HQ, too. Six EV charging points are now in place. By the end of 2023, that figure will double. An salary sacrifice scheme for EVs is also persuading many of our employees to switch to newer vehicles that reduce our commuting carbon emissions.

An environment for change

EMS has two main environmental ambitions: carbon neutrality by 2030 (which we achieved in 2021) and Net Zero by 2045. Those targets put us ahead of the goals set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as it attempts to keep global warming with 1.5°C of pre-industrial temperatures.

Our baseline emissions were calculated for the 2021 financial year across Scope 1, Scope 2 and seven material categories in Scope 3, including:

• Category 1: Purchased goods and services (the extraction, production, and transportation of products purchased or acquired)
• Category 2: Capital goods (the extraction, production, and transportation of capital goods purchased or acquired)
• Category 3: Fuel- and energy-related emissions (the extraction, production, and transportation of fuels and energy purchased or acquired, not already accounted for in Scope 1 or 2)
• Category 4: Upstream transportation and distribution (the warehousing and transport of goods from our Tier 1 suppliers conducted by a third party)
• Category 5: Waste generated in operations (the disposal and treatment of waste generated in our operations)
• Category 6: Business travel (the transportation of our employees for business-related activities)
• Category 7: Employee commuting (the transportation of our employees between their homes and our worksites)

Over the next few years, our carbon reduction glide path will give us annual targets to keep us moving forward. In 2023, we’ll set a science-based target with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We’ll also dedicate time to considering the risks climate change poses to our businesses and develop a strategy to mitigate those risks while capitalising on any opportunities.

We continue to send no waste to landfill (everything is either incinerated or recycled). Our HQ and factory use only renewable electricity and gas, with our roof solar panels generating 109,077 kWh of electricity per year. Upgrades to our monitoring systems mean we’ll soon be able to analyse half-hourly energy readings. And energy surveys will help use identify our next energy reduction capex projects.

People are what truly matter

We recognise, value and encourage diversity, inclusion and equality opportunity (DE&I). Policy documents, regular training and our Employee Handbook reinforce this stance to every employee. Hiring managers are trained to avoid bias in recruitment, diversity data is gathered and analysed, and targets are set to address any gaps. In 2023, we’ll form an employee-led DE&I council and ensure our DE&I strategy is embedded in everything we do.

We can only make an impact on healthcare if we operate at our full potential, so our staff receive ongoing information, instruction, training and supervision. This enables them to do their job to the highest standard and progress professionally.

In 2022, five management training modules were made mandatory for all managers. A talent plan is under construction to identify high-potential employees. And our staff can always monitor and understand their position through our career development framework, clearly defined levels, and twice-yearly performance reviews.

Without our employees, EMS is nothing. Their value is intrinsic to the entire business, so we:

• Conduct engagement surveys bi-annually to inform our social strategy
• Provide an expert wellbeing hub, including 24/7 support and counselling services, to all employees
• Invest in a growing team of Mental Health First Aiders
• Pay all employees above the Real Living Wage
• Commit to compiling an internal gender pay gap report in 2023

Care in the community

There are economic and health disparities in our local areas. By committing to support our communities through decentralised healthcare, we can take vital services to those who need them most. In 2023, we’ll also support the local community by building an apprenticeship programme. We already pay in the Apprenticeship Levy. Any apprentices we recruit are likely to be local candidates, with a particular focus on social inclusion and improving social diversity.

We encourage our employees to give back to the local community through fundraising and volunteering activities. EMS supports a hospice and several other charities in the Ellesmere Port area. In 2022, we established a designated company colleague charity. In 2023, we’ll put in place a charitable events calendar.

Accreditations and memberships

Our accreditations and memberships demonstrate our expertise and professional intent.

Attained

• ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001, ISO 14001:2015
• Cyber Essentials Certified
• Investors in People Silver Award

Targeted

• ISO 27001:2022, ISO 15189:2012
• Cyber Essentials Plus

Because good isn’t good enough

We are committed to giving our clients the care and service they deserve. Our ESG activity reflects that commitment, but we understand there will always be more work to do. In 2023, we’ll embed our ESG strategy and set SMART goals to manage our impact. Throughout our history, we’ve adapted and embraced challenges. We look forward to turning our ESG vision into an everyday reality.