Oxygen Talent and ESG

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Oxygen Talent Solutions Ltd

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Policy

1. Policy Statement

At Oxygen Talent Solutions Ltd, we recognise that recruitment plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of work and influencing the economy, communities, and the environment. As a people-focused business, we acknowledge that our responsibilities extend beyond commercial success to include sustainable and ethical practices that create long-term value for our employees, clients, candidates, communities, and stakeholders.

This Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Policy sets out our commitments and framework for embedding sustainability and responsible business practices across our operations. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, promoting fairness and inclusion, operating with integrity, and supporting a resilient and diverse labour market.

Our goal is not only to minimise negative impact but also to drive meaningful and measurable positive change in the recruitment industry and beyond.

2. Environmental Commitment

Although our business operates within a service industry with relatively low direct environmental impact, we recognise that we still have an important role to play in tackling climate change and environmental degradation. We are committed to managing and reducing our environmental footprint through the following actions:

2.1 Carbon & Energy Management

• Hybrid      & Remote Working: Encouraging flexible and hybrid working models to      reduce unnecessary commuting and business travel, supported by virtual      meeting tools.
• Energy      Efficiency: Monitoring and reducing energy consumption within our offices      by adopting energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and heating/cooling      systems.
• Travel      Reduction: Prioritising public transport, car-sharing, and sustainable      travel options for client meetings and events wherever feasible.

2.2 Sustainable Operations

• Digital-first      Processes: Reducing paper usage by operating predominantly through digital      platforms for contracts, candidate documentation, and marketing.
• Recycling      & Waste Management: Ensuring effective recycling facilities are      available in our offices and minimising single-use plastics.
• Responsible      Purchasing: Procuring office supplies, equipment, and services from      sustainable and ethical sources.

2.3 Supply Chain Responsibility

• Green      Partnerships: Working with suppliers and service providers who share our      sustainability values and demonstrate clear environmental credentials.
• Due      Diligence: Assessing the environmental impact of key suppliers, including      office facilities, IT providers, and outsourced services.

2.4 Continuous Improvement

• Performance      Measurement: Setting annual environmental objectives (e.g., reducing      carbon emissions, energy use, and waste) and monitoring progress.
• Employee      Engagement: Raising awareness of sustainability within the business,      encouraging staff to make environmentally conscious decisions.
• Reporting:      Publishing progress against environmental targets where appropriate, in      line with industry best practice.

3. Social Commitment

As a recruitment company, we are uniquely positioned to positively influence careers, workplaces, and communities. Our social commitments reflect our belief that people are at the heart of sustainable business success.

3.1 Employee Wellbeing & Development

• Training      & Development: Offering structured training programmes, mentoring, and      continuous professional development opportunities to support career      progression.
• Health      & Wellbeing: Providing access to wellbeing initiatives, including      mental health support, employee assistance programmes, and flexible      working arrangements.
• Workplace      Culture: Fostering a positive and inclusive culture where employees feel      valued, supported, and empowered.

3.2 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

• Inclusive      Recruitment: Promoting diverse shortlists, using bias-free recruitment      tools, and ensuring fair selection processes for candidates.
• Internal      DEI Commitment: Building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities      we serve by ensuring equality of opportunity within our own organisation.
• Client      Education: Working with clients to promote inclusive hiring practices and      challenge bias within their recruitment processes.

3.3 Community Engagement

• Charitable      Partnerships: Supporting local and national charities through fundraising,      donations, and pro bono recruitment services.
• Volunteering:      Encouraging staff to participate in volunteering initiatives by offering      paid volunteering days each year.
• Youth      & Employment Support: Partnering with schools, universities, and      community organisations to support employability initiatives, internships,      and career guidance.

3.4 Candidate Safeguarding

• Fair      Treatment: Upholding fairness, dignity, and respect for all candidates      throughout the recruitment process.
• Ethical      Standards: Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, right-to-work, and      employment checks, particularly for roles involving vulnerable groups.
• Transparency:      Providing clear communication with candidates regarding opportunities,      feedback, and processes.

4. Governance Commitment

Strong governance underpins everything we do and ensures that we operate ethically, legally, and with accountability.

4.1 Ethical Business Practices

• Integrity      in Recruitment: Ensuring that our dealings with clients, candidates, and      suppliers are conducted with honesty, fairness, and transparency.
• Conflict      of Interest: Identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest in a      transparent and responsible manner.
• Anti-bribery      & Corruption: Maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to bribery,      corruption, or unethical inducements in any form.

4.2 Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• Employment      Law: Complying with UK employment law and industry regulations governing      recruitment agencies.
• Modern      Slavery Act 2015: Conducting due diligence to prevent modern slavery and      human trafficking within our operations and supply chains.
• GDPR      & Data Protection: Adhering strictly to the UK General Data Protection      Regulation (GDPR) and ensuring secure handling of personal data.

4.3 Data Security & Privacy

• Cybersecurity:      Implementing robust IT systems, firewalls, and encryption to protect      personal and business-critical data.
• Confidentiality:      Ensuring all employees receive training on data privacy and the      responsible use of information.
• Data      Breach Response: Maintaining clear processes for identifying, reporting,      and responding to potential data breaches.

4.4 Accountability & Oversight

• Board      Oversight: ESG strategy and performance are reviewed regularly at Board      level to ensure alignment with corporate objectives.
• Policies      & Controls: Maintaining clear governance frameworks, policies, and      procedures to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Transparency:      Providing stakeholders with accurate, timely, and transparent updates on      our ESG commitments and progress.

5. Implementation & Responsibility

The success of this ESG policy relies on commitment and accountability across the business.

• Board      of Directors: Holds ultimate responsibility for ESG strategy, governance,      and reporting.
• Managers:      Accountable for embedding ESG principles within day-to-day business      practices, setting team-level objectives where appropriate.
• Employees:      Expected to align with this policy, uphold its values, and actively      contribute to its implementation.
• Stakeholders:      Encouraged to provide feedback and collaborate with us on ESG-related      initiatives.

6. Review & Reporting

• Annual      Review: This policy will be reviewed annually, or more frequently if      required, to ensure continued alignment with legislation, client      expectations, and industry best practice.
• Monitoring      Progress: We will track and evaluate ESG performance against key      objectives, seeking to improve year-on-year.
• Stakeholder      Reporting: Where appropriate, we will publish updates on ESG performance      and share case studies of positive impact.
• Continuous      Learning: We will remain committed to learning from evolving ESG      standards, regulatory changes, and stakeholder feedback.

Approved by:
Board of Directors
Oxygen Talent Solutions Ltd
02/09/2025  

Oxygen Talent Solutions Ltd