Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate and Social Responsibility
We are acutely aware of the need to manage our business in a manner which takes account our social, economic and environmental impact on the communities within which we work, and our contribution to these communities. We try and achieve these objectives in a number of ways – we help out local communities wherever and however we can, we fundraise for charity, sponsor sports teams and events and assist in the education of future solicitors as well as rolling our sleeves up to volunteer. As a result, in most months of the year our staff can be found taking part in charitable or neighbourhood events across the City and Shire.
Charitable Donations
The firm supports and encourages a Charity Committee which chooses a local charity for our fundraising focus – normally on a two year cycle. We choose charities which have had helped or impacted on the lives of our staff and/or their families. This year we are supporting Friends of Anchor, an important cancer and haemotology charity operating from Aberdeen to support patients across the North east. Previously we have supported SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), Friends of Roxburghe House, the Cyrenians and Sue Ryder.
Fund-raising takes many forms, and the Charity Committee encourages staff from every branch and department to take part in and indeed to propose fund-raising ideas. Last year, fund-raising activity included running, cycling, hill walking, bake sales, an inter-department quiz and our annual Bake Off. There are also events to mark important dates throughout the year – such as Burns Night and Pancake Day. In that regard, the Charity Committee also acts as the hub of the firm’s social activities.
We are also actively involved in aiding charities supported by other local businesses and organisations, and representatives from the firm can regularly be found at dinners and other events across the year.
Community Initiatives
We seek to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate by helping out local causes and charities. In the recent past this has included supporting local children’s’ football teams – by donating football strips – running badminton teams, taking part in the Cyrenians’ sleep out to help tackle homelessness, assisting in the Cyrenians Harvest Festival and donating swimming costumes to a local swim team.
Future Solicitors – Education
We are enthusiastic about encouraging and developing future solicitors. We support local school careers events, meeting pupils and parents to explain what professional life in a North East law firm is like. We attend both RGU and the University of Aberdeen Law Careers fairs and we provide work experience opportunities for school pupils and law students. More directly, several members of our legal staff tutor on a range of subjects at both local universities.