GarsideLaycock believes that the following strategies are designed to retain staff and improve employee welfare and work-life balance.

• Implementation of Equal Opportunities and Race Relations Policies.
• Implementation of Investors in People.
• Specifically targeting young people and the under represented sectors of the community.
• Giving local people full access to all vacancies.
• Providing training that ensures people receive the skills necessary for long-term sustainability of their employment.
• Providing safe working conditions and excellent terms of employment.
• Helping to facilitate personal development at all levels.

GarsideLaycock maintains an exemplary Health and Safety record by consistent training regimes. Employees are subject to the following training:

• Pre start induction training.
• In house monthly CITB "Safe Start" training.
• CSCS accreditation (100% compliant).
• SMSTS (all Site Managers).
• NEBOSH (Health and Safety Manager).
• Risk assessment training.
• Site specific site induction training.
• Post contract review additional training as identified.

The Company is OHSAS 18001, CHAS and National Britannia "SafeContractor" accredited. GarsideLaycock has also been the winner of Royal Mail’s "Gold Award" as it’s best performing contractor for the past 5 consecutive years, a significant element of this award being based on the Company’s Health and Safety performance on site.

GarsideLaycock received accreditation to BS EN ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management System in April 2007.

Our Company strategy includes an analysis of the following:

• Assessing the impact on the environment.
• Minimising energy waste.
• Use of renewable energy sources.
• Use of recyclable materials.
• Comfort levels of the working/living environment.
• Lifetime costs and benefits.

The Company has adopted the following strategies to support its determination to protect and enhance the environment:

• Continued compliance with all relevant environmental legislation.
• Setting clear objectives and targets to ensure best practise in environmental performance is achieved.
• Commitment to the prevention of pollution through risk assessment and the careful monitoring of all operations.
• Regular monitoring and reviewing environmental performance with the aim of achieving continuous improvement.
• Waste stream management for all sites including identifying opportunities to recycle.

In the past GarsideLaycock has taken the opportunity with new contracts to employ and train local labour bringing new skills for the individual and benefiting the local economy. The Company employs local community people at each of its offices and sites wherever possible and will endeavour to ensure that any additional personnel are recruited from the local community. In the past local apprenticeship initiatives have been implemented to encourage young people from all backgrounds to join the construction industry, affording them safe structured training. GarsideLaycock would consult with local education leaders and training partners regarding the form of such initiatives.

Company policy on sustainability focuses on those factors which enable it to sustain its economic and business growth, illustrate its determination and commitment to protect and enhance the environment and its response to the needs of people at whatever stage of the construction process by providing high customer satisfaction and working closely with clients, suppliers, employees and the local community.