We’re committed to making a difference

When it comes to evaluating our impact long after the project has been completed, we only ever want to leave a positive footprint. We do this by working with the local community, supporting causes that are important to them and getting involved with raising the profile of construction and engineering. Together with the steps we’re making as a business to be sustainable and offset our operational activities. 

Delivering social value in 2024 

Our latest social value report shares the impact we’re making to support our communities, people and planet. 

READ THE REPORT

Engaging with the local community

From charity fundraising to attending local schools and college to talk about their future careers, we’re committed to supporting the local community in more areas than just providing employment. 

We work with key stakeholders on-site to identify the right corporate social responsibility objectives that will make a difference in the community. Before working in partnership with the main contractor and subcontractors involved in the project to bring these plans to life. 

Our CSR in action

Over recent years we’ve developed corporate social responsibility programmes that have delivered long-lasting local impact where they’re needed most. 

  • Colleagues dedicate time to work with local education leaders to deliver a range of interactive training sessions, including helping students prepare for the world of work and championing careers in construction and engineering. 

    This includes individuals volunteering to become STEM Ambassadors and mentors to students, delivering mock interviews and career workshops. 

  • Strategic support is provided to work with local charities aimed at engaging young people within their communities to encourage them to think more optimistically about their future. NRL colleagues are proud to have worked with initiatives such as AllChild and the High Tide Foundation to improve access to careers advice and support. 

    “NRL has been an invaluable supporter of High Tide for many years, dedicating countless hours to share their knowledge and expertise with hundreds of young people across Teesside. The career sessions delivered by the NRL team have made a profound impact on our students, inspiring them to explore the exciting engineering career opportunities right on their doorstep.” 

    Lauren Bywater, General Manager, High Tide Foundation 

  • Engaging university students earlier provides an important opportunity to shape their future career plans when it comes to the disciplines they’ll follow and the types of projects they want to experience. It’s therefore a crucial area of social value work that our colleagues get involved with, taking up opportunities to guest lecture to engineering cohorts to help raise awareness of skill shortages and future work opportunities. 

  • Giving back is one of NRL’s core principles, and it’s important to us that when we do well so do others. It’s the ethos behind our charity match funding scheme, that provides company fundraising in support of charity activities colleagues undertake. It also guides our regional CSR activity, as we look to partner with local initiatives that are delivering vital services within the community. 

    Our North East teams actively support Smart Works, a charity that helps women get back into work, through job opportunities and interview support, as well ensuring they look the part with the right wardrobe. Support provided by colleagues includes spending paid charity days assisting with DIY and wardrobe management and even signing up for the Great North Run to help with fundraising. 

  • NRL are proud of our track record supporting the nation’s Armed Forces, and as a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we were delighted to be awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award. 

    Recognising the invaluable skills those leaving the services possess, our partnership with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is extremely important to you. The Ministry of Defence’s official resettlement programme for services leavers, colleagues support personnel as they prepare for civilian life through job support and careers advice. Attending CTP employment fairs across the UK in 2024, our recruitment teams engaged with the 3,200+ service leavers in attendance, highlighting the fantastic job opportunities we have with our clients. 

Offsetting our carbon footprint

We work with the independent team at One Carbon World to review and analyse the carbon footprint each year across our businesses and operations, voluntarily working to achieve the Carbon Neutral International Standard. 

Looking for ways we can reduce our consumption and investing in carbon credits to offset our remaining carbon footprint is a key priority as our business continues to evolve. This is extremely important to us as a Group, because it allows us to support key development projects across the globe, including advancing renewable energy and tackling deforestation, whilst growing our business sustainably.  

To date we’re pleased to have reduced over carbon footprint by one tonne per employee.