ESG

BWP GROUP 2026 ESG POLICY

1.PURPOSE & COMMITMENT

At BWP Group (“BWP”), we believe that long-term commercial success is inseparable from our responsibility to people, communities and the environment. Our purpose is to create meaningful commercial growth for places and spaces while acting responsibly and ethically in everything we do. 

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles are embedded into our culture, leadership approach and day-to-day ways of working. We recognise that our activities have an impact beyond our business and we are committed to managing that impact carefully, transparently and with intent to improve over time. 

This policy sets out how we approach ESG across our operations and how we govern, monitor and continuously strengthen our performance. 

2. SCOPE & APPLICATION

This policy applies to all BWP employees, directors and officers and informs how we work with suppliers, partners and clients. It applies across all BWP offices and business activities. 

3. ESG GOVERNANCE & OVERSIGHT 

Strong governance underpins our ESG approach. 

  • Board oversight: ESG performance and targets are reviewed quarterly at Board meetings. 
  • Executive responsibility: Overall accountability for ESG sits with the Managing Director. 
  • Operational delivery: ESG initiatives are supported and delivered through dedicated action groups within the business, including a Climate Action Group. 
  • Transparency: ESG performance and progress are shared internally with employees and made available to investors as part of regular reporting. 

This structure ensures ESG considerations are embedded into leadership decision-making and business strategy. 

4. ENVIROMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

We are committed to minimising our environmental impact and using resources responsibly. 

Energy and emissions 

  • All electricity used across our offices is sourced from renewable energy. 
  • We actively monitor energy consumption and encourage energy-efficient behaviours, including switching off equipment and using energy-saving settings. 
  • Our offices utilise energy-efficient lighting and equipment wherever possible. 
  • For 2026, we have set a target to reduce total energy consumption by 5% compared to our 2025 baseline. 
  • Our building holds an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C. 

Travel and transport 

  • We encourage walking, lift-sharing and reduced travel where possible. 
  • A hybrid company pool car is available for business use. 
  • We work with a corporate travel provider to measure and manage the environmental impact of business travel and continue to reduce emissions through the use of video conferencing. 

Waste reduction 

  • We provide comprehensive recycling facilities across our offices, including glass, paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and batteries. 
  • We have significantly reduced paper usage through digital systems and discourage printing wherever possible. 
  • We work only with licensed waste management providers. 
  • We track waste and recycling performance and, for 2026, have set a target to improve recycling rates and reduce general waste by 10% year-on-year. 

Environmental performance is monitored regularly and targets are reviewed annually. 

Short-Term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy (2026) 

BWP’s short-term GHG strategy focuses on practical actions to reduce emissions associated with our current operations. 

Scope and focus 

Our short-term strategy prioritises emissions within our direct control, including: 

  • office energy consumption 
  • business travel 
  • waste management 

Key actions and targets 

For 2026, BWP has committed to the following actions: 

  • Energy: Reduce total energy consumption by 5% compared to the 2025 baseline, while continuing to source electricity from renewable suppliers. 
  • Waste: Improve recycling performance and reduce general waste by 10% year-on-year, supporting lower emissions associated with waste disposal. 
  • Travel: Continue to prioritise lower-carbon travel options, including rail over air and car travel where feasible, and the use of video conferencing to reduce unnecessary travel. 

Governance and monitoring 

  • GHG-related performance is monitored internally and reviewed as part of BWP’s broader ESG oversight. 
  • Progress against targets is reviewed quarterly at Board level. 
  • Performance and progress are shared with employees and made available to investors as part of ESG reporting. 

BWP will continue to refine its GHG measurement and reporting as data quality improves and as expectations from stakeholders evolve. 

5. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our people 

Our people are our greatest asset. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive working environment where everyone can thrive. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

  • We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristic. 
  • Expected behaviours are set out in our Company Handbook, supported by a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination. 
  • We undertake regular Equality, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training. 
  • We monitor diversity, equity and inclusion indicators and review pay and progression to support fairness and opportunity. 

Training and development 

  • We invest in continuous learning through the BWP Academy and structured development programmes. 
  • All employees have a personal development plan and clear progression criteria. 
  • Progress is reviewed regularly through one-to-one conversations and formal review cycles. 
  • We track participation in training and development activities to ensure opportunities are accessible and aligned with career growth. 

Wellbeing 

Employee wellbeing is central to our culture. 

  • We provide access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 support. 
  • We utilise wellbeing and coaching platforms to support mental health, resilience and personal development. 
  • We invest in mental health training, including Mental Health First Aid and ongoing leadership development. 
  • We monitor engagement and wellbeing feedback and act on insights to improve the employee experience. 

Health and safety 

  • The health and safety of our employees is paramount. 
  • We maintain trained fire marshals, first aiders and mental health first aiders. 
  • Regular health and safety training and assessments are carried out to maintain a safe working environment. 

6. COMMUNITY & SOCIAL IMPACT

We aim to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate. 

  • All employees are offered two fully paid volunteering days each year. 
  • We support charitable organisations through fundraising, donations and pro-bono work. 
  • Recent initiatives have included local environmental clean-ups, community maintenance projects and sponsored fundraising events. 

In 2025, BWP began a new charity partnership with Age Concern UK, supporting the charity’s work to improve the quality of life for older people through fundraising, awareness activity and employee involvement. 

Our charitable activity is reviewed regularly to ensure it aligns with our values and enables meaningful impact for both our people and the communities we support. 

In 2026, we will also begin a partnership with Gateway, a charitable organisation providing access to meaningful work experience opportunities for under-privileged children. In June 2026, we will welcome eight children to BWP to undertake a week of work experience including an introduction to marketing alongside support with vital developmental skills such as CV writing, interview techniques and presenting skills. 

7. HUMAN RIGHTS 

BWP supports and upholds the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation’s core labour standards. 

We are committed to fair working conditions, freedom from forced or child labour, and the rights of individuals to organise, bargain collectively and express opinions freely. 

8. GOVERNANCE, ETHICS & CONDUCT

We are committed to operating in a fair, honest and transparent manner and to complying with all relevant laws and regulations. 

  • Policies covering fraud, bribery and whistleblowing are in place and supported by regular training. 
  • We do not offer, solicit or accept bribes or inducements of any kind. 
  • Employees are encouraged to speak up and raise concerns without fear of retaliation. 

9. RESPONSIBLE MARKETING PRACTICES

We commit to: 

  • Complying with all applicable advertising regulations and self-regulatory codes of practice. 
  • Avoiding misleading claims, including in relation to social, environmental and human rights issues. 
  • Ensuring our work does not knowingly offend public decency or unfairly disadvantage minority groups. 
  • Acting transparently and ethically in all client communications. 

10. RECOGNITION & ACCREDITATION

Our commitment to people and responsible business has been externally recognised, including: 

  • Sunday Times Best Places to Work – 2025 (first-time accreditation) 
  • ESG & Sustainability Award 2025, awarded in partnership with a client at the Sustainability & Purpose Awards for Best Impact Report 

11. MONITORING,REPORTING & REVIEW

  • ESG targets and performance are reviewed quarterly at Board level. 
  • Progress is shared internally with employees and made available to investors. 
  • This policy is reviewed annually and updated to reflect evolving best practice and business priorities. 

12. LONGER-TERM GOAL SETTING

Decarbonisation Approach (Longer-term Direction) 

BWP recognises the role businesses play in addressing climate change and the transition to a lower-carbon economy. While our operations have a relatively low environmental footprint as a professional services business, we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions where it is practical, proportionate and within our influence. 

Our decarbonisation approach focuses on: 

  • prioritising emissions reduction over offsetting 
  • embedding carbon awareness into operational decision-making 
  • improving data quality and transparency over time 
  • aligning ambition with business growth and stakeholder expectations 

We recognise that the majority of our emissions arise from energy use in offices and business travel. As our business evolves, we will continue to review our approach to decarbonisation and strengthen targets, governance and measurement in line with best practice and relevance to our operations. 

This approach is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains proportionate, credible and aligned with our ESG priorities. 

Net Zero Commitment (Future Development) 

BWP recognises the importance of net zero commitments in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Given the nature of our operations and the need for robust data and proportionate targets, we have not yet set a formal net zero target. 

Over the next two years, we plan to: 

  • improve the quality and coverage of our greenhouse gas data 
  • assess the relevance and feasibility of a net zero commitment for our business model 
  • develop an appropriate roadmap aligned to stakeholder expectations and best practice 

This approach ensures that any future net zero commitment is credible, achievable and supported by meaningful action.