There’s been a change in the way businesses are viewed by the wider public. With rising sea levels and headlines over exponentially rising wages, more people are asking ‘what have they ever done for us?’  

With this change, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a big factor for some customers and businesses when choosing who they want to purchase products and services from or partner with.  

Away from the potential impact on the business, CSR is about positively answering that ‘what do you do for me’ question and making an impact on the issues of the day, including climate change, unemployment and skills shortages, as well as drawing attention to hidden problems such as mental health and depression.  

One such business who has committed to having a positive impact on their surroundings is Dunfermline-based communications experts Exactive, who have recently published their plans to give back to their community.  

Key Features  

  • Certified carbon neutral   
  • Our CO2 calculator   
  • The digital skills training over 1000+ trained   
  • And our mental health fundraiser which is next week   

Digital Skills

The biggest challenges the IT industry faces in the coming years is a shortage of skilled workers able to carry out the jobs that keep businesses running.   

Research from Microsoft predicts 149 million new technology jobs by 2025 but how to fill those jobs is an issue that Exactive is actively trying to help resolve.   

During 2020 when the pandemic first set in, over 1,000 people were trained on Teams with help from Exactive. The communications expert also has further plans to donate used laptops to schools in need to provide children with laptops and inspire a future generation of IT professionals.  

Sustainability

From the biggest challenge in the IT industry to the biggest challenge facing the world. It’s been covered a hundred times over the damage we have done to the environment and the urgency with which we need to act.   

Exactive is proud to be associated with its parent company, Gamma, who made a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint across its network back in 2006, through investment in the efficiency of its IP based network and other assets as well as an active offset management programme. Gamma is a fully certified CarbonNeutral company making it one of the few communications providers in the UK to have a net zero carbon footprint.  

On top of this, recycling old laptops and giving to schools and charities has saved on potential eWaste from usable products.  Exactive has also built a working from home calculator to help employees understand how embracing modern working will reduce their carbon footprint. The communications expert has also committed to planting a tree for every 10 CloudUCX seats enabled this year, with the aim of planting 3,000 trees by partnering with Just One Tree.  

Mental health

Technology has come under a lot of scrutiny over the past five years, for its effect on the mental health of the people who are sat in front of screens all day.   

The average adult will spend 34 years of their life looking at screens. A scary stat and the reason why Exactive wants to promote healthy screen time and encourage everyone to take their mental health and wellbeing seriously. As a company, Exactive encourages healthy habits in order to prevent mental health problems before they arise. “Part of how we help clients is by enabling flexible and remote working. If implemented correctly, this has great benefits. It allows people to choose when to work in the office or from home, or anywhere else of their choosing for that matter” said Jamie Cole, Microsoft Partner Manager at Exactive “This is a big factor in helping people look after their mental wellbeing, it can free up time by cutting out the commute, allowing people to spend time with friends and family instead of sitting in the car or on a train. However we need to be mindful that it’s important to create a culture where the technology enhances work life balance and mental wellbeing rather than creating an “always on” culture which can lead to burn out.”  

Within Exactive, employees have a Well-being Teams channel to share personal experiences and connect with colleagues outside of work. Employees are also encouraged to talk about emotion in the workplace and help spread awareness of proven methods to help our staff feel better and able to control their emotions, contributing positively towards wellbeing.   

Exactive have organised a fundraiser where the donations will go towards the Mental Health Foundation. During Mental Health Awareness week, the Exactive team walked, ran, cycled and swam towards a group target of 585 miles; the cumulative distance between all of the Gamma UK offices, which encouraged the team to exercise and connect with nature, both known to help with well-being  

To find out more about Exactive’s CSR ambitions visit Exactive where you’ll also be able to donate to the fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation.  

  

 



from UC Today https://ift.tt/3oKFvbJ