Corporate Social Responsibility

Close places the highest importance on integrity in all its activities, considers its impact on society and the environment, and seeks to maintain high ethical standards.  The main Social Responsibility focus is on its staff and customers, the local communities where it operates and the environment generally.

Staff

Social Responsibility goals with respect to Close staff are intended to: 

  • Attract high calibre employees
  • Encourage all staff to maximise their talent
  • Recognise and reward staff for strong performance and initiative
  • Provide a healthy workplace 

Close gives appropriate consideration to applications for employment from all sources.  

Local community and environment 

Close looks to encourage employees’ charitable activities and donations and to support them in performing volunteer work in their communities.  We continue to look to improve staff awareness of charitable fundraising and encourage participation within the workplace.

Dress-down days are organised every month, involving staff from across the business in order to raise money for local and national charities.  A number of other fund raising events are regularly arranged, including swimathons, book sales and one-off charity days in order to support many worthwhile charities, both at home and abroad. Recent charitable challenges undertaken by staff include: 

  • The New York marathon in aid of Children with Leukemia
  • Trek to Everest base camp to raise funds for Macmillan Nurses and Cancerbackup
  • Relay walk of the Isle of Man TT course to raise money for Hospice Care
  • Walkovers cricket team 4 islands’ challenge in aid of Cystic Fibrosis
  • Parachute jump in aid of Claire House Children’s Hospice
  • Walk for Life in aid of Cancer Research

Procedures have been implemented to manage environmental risks so as to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce and recycle waste materials, and we explore further improvements wherever possible.  The Close Brothers Group plc continues to be a signatory to the Carbon Disclosure Project, which encourages all businesses to disclose their climate change risks, opportunities and impacts.