Nichols Policy on Sustainability

We aim to contribute as positively and significantly as we can to the environment and society in which we operate, and indeed towards initiatives to deal with wider global challenges – such as the United Nation’s Millennium Goals.

Our policy includes:

• Ensuring in every project we undertake or advise on that the environment is protected as fully as is feasible – so that not only are negative effects minimised, but a positive contribution is made to enhance the environment and social conditions.
• Briefing our staff and associates on the importance of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Proselytising increased awareness of and effective response to the need for greater sustainability among our clients, suppliers and other business partners.
• Complying fully with all relevant legislation, our own codes of practice and clients’ requirements.
• Applying our policy of pollution prevention and high sustainability in all our business operations – including business travel, building management and energy consumption.
• Ensuring that project appraisals, with which we are involved, consider not only economic factors, but also social and environmental implications (the so-called “triple bottom line”). Similarly, our risk management approach covers social and environmental aspects as well as economic impacts .
• Pursuing best practices in this, as in our other areas of activity. For example, in September 2007, we obtained accreditation under the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard to manage continual improvement in the relationship between our company and the environment.
• Taking our Corporate Social Responsibility extremely seriously. For example, we are concerned about the welfare of all our staff and associates, and help them achieve their full potential whilst encouraging them to maintain a sensible balance between their work and home lives.
• Engaging in a series of pro bono activities, including supporting professional organisations (eg ICE, MPA, APM, etc) and contributing to the development of new approaches in programme, project and risk management. We also support a number of charitable organisations – eg Engineers Against Poverty, Tomorrow’s Company, etc.
• Reviewing and improving this policy at least annually. Responsibility for this rests with Creative Director and Board Member, Frances Nichols.

Our business focuses on enhancing infrastructure and delivering beneficial change. By doing this effectively and efficiently, we believe we are making a big contribution to improving the environment and society so as to enhance the quality of life for a large number of people now and well into the future. We are also minimising the waste of scarce resources.

We are now going further to develop a new business area which will help client organisations improve their own performance in achieving greater sustainability.

I, other members of the Board and the entire Nichols team are strongly committed to achieving an outstanding level of demonstrated success in pursuing our sustainability strategy.

Mike Nichols
Chairman & Chief Executive

Kathryn Nichols
Company Secretary

Frances Nichols
Creative Director