Positive Impact on People –children, parents, colleagues, learners and the community.

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Our Purpose

 

Our purpose is to provide care and education to children, to support their parents, and these impacts are measured through our KPIs, and in line with the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Our expectation is for all children to reach at least good levels of development, ensuring that children meet the grade descriptors within their age bracket. Our purpose is also to provide meaningful careers to our colleagues and learners, and these impacts are also measured through our KPIs and in line with the United Nations Sustainability Goals.

We also promote our colleagues and volunteers’ health and well-being through a range of initiatives such as providing drinking water and fresh fruit at all locations, free snacks at meetings which take colleagues allergies and intolerances into account as well as being vegan and plastic free, free counselling (anonymous), financial contributions towards dental, opticians, prescriptions, and medical health (see staff welcome pack). We provide advice on our website for a range of conditions and support needs and demonstrate anti-discriminating and inclusive recruitment and retention policy and practices, as well as values that embrace British Values and family values. (See the Company Vision, Mission and Values statements).
Our recruitment and retention policies, procedures and improvements are documented to evidence the many improvements being made – see 52 improvements in 52 weeks for 2019.

 

Protecting people

We ensure that we:

Don’t risk the health and safety of our employees and community (see H&S Manual, Risk Assessments).
Avoid harming the lives of local people.
Support diversity and inclusion.
Take economic responsibility.
Risk Registers and Access Statements are kept for each building, for specific. vulnerable adults and children as appropriate, and will be kept for each department and for the entire company.

Volunteering

The company welcomes volunteers from schools, young people, adults exploring childcare careers, and community partners such as churches, hospitals, and care homes. Intergenerational volunteering is encouraged, benefiting both children and older adults. Colleagues are supported to volunteer through flexible time arrangements, either in company-led or external programs, though participation is entirely optional. The company also contributes to social impact through its core work in childcare, charitable fundraising (e.g., Rotary Club), and local initiatives like food banks, shared resources, and recycling collections.

Protecting people

We ensure that we:

  • Don’t risk the health and safety of our employees and community (see H&S Manual, Risk Assessments).
  • Avoid harming the lives of local people.
  • Support diversity and inclusion.
  • Take economic responsibility.
  • Risk Registers and Access Statements are kept for each building,
    for specific vulnerable adults and children as appropriate,
    and will be kept for each department and for the entire company.

Human rights

We are a committed equal opportunity employer and will abide by all fair labour practices. We ensure that our activities do not directly or indirectly violate human rights in any country (e.g. forced labour). We engage in quality of gender pay, reporting and reducing any gaps if identified.

Donations and aid

The company allocates 1% of EBITDA to each of its two core charities: GECCO and the Employee Trust. Colleagues may also contribute monthly to the Employee Trust and help decide aid beneficiaries. Donations focus on alleviating need, supporting sustainability education and actions, fostering intergenerational partnerships with hospitals and care homes, and engaging in local community events (e.g., fetes, fairs, carnivals). GECCO, a registered charity, promotes sustainability in the Early Years sector for children, parents, and colleagues. Staff may fundraise for GECCO by contacting trustees. The company also supports other charities relevant to nursery and office communities.

Transparency

The organisation is committed to honesty and openness in all communications, requiring colleagues to report truthfully in sustainability reports, self-assessments, financial reports, questionnaires, press releases, and both internal and external communications. Transparency is balanced with the need to protect commercially sensitive information, which is shared only on a need-to-know basis or under confidentiality agreements.

Learning and Educating

The company invests heavily in colleagues’ professional development, offering up to 32 days of training per year and supporting research and development projects like EYMAN to improve operations and reduce environmental impact. Good practices, particularly in sustainability, are shared internally and via the GECCO charity website.

Key initiatives and measurements include:

  • Tracking impacts on child development, use of one-use nappies, and staff progression via EYMAN.

  • Conducting Training Needs Analyses for each nursery to monitor qualification improvements.

  • Assessing financial impacts on staff, noting that many are underpaid due to sector underfunding, and engaging with policymakers to improve conditions.

The company aligns with the United Nations Global Compact, promotes social responsibility at all levels, and ensures managers are supported in resolving CSR issues both locally and strategically.

Sustainable Transport Policy

Every location that the organisation works from has a green transport policy relevant to that location, including public transport such as bus routes, train stations, advice and information for walkers and cyclists, car sharing opportunities, moving to electric rather than petrol or diesel, with the aim of reducing our carbon impact and air quality impact on the community.

Volunteering

The company encourages volunteering from students, young people, adults exploring childcare careers, and community partners (e.g., churches, hospitals, care homes), promoting intergenerational engagement. Colleagues can volunteer through internal or external programs via flexible arrangements, with no obligation. Staff already contribute to social impact through their work, and may also participate in charitable events, fundraising, and local initiatives such as food banks and shared resource programs.

Supporting the community

Health, Safety, and Risk Management
The company prioritizes the health and safety of employees, learners, and the wider community, maintaining risk registers and access statements for each building, department, and vulnerable individuals. All operations are guided by the H&S Manual and relevant risk assessments.

Human Rights and Diversity
We are a committed equal opportunity employer, ensuring compliance with fair labour practices, gender pay equality, and avoidance of any human rights violations, including forced labour. Diversity, inclusion, and economic responsibility are integral to company operations.

Philanthropic Giving
The company allocates 1% of EBITDA to each of its core charities, GECCO and the Employee Trust, with colleagues able to contribute monthly and help determine beneficiaries. Donations support alleviating need, sustainability education, intergenerational partnerships with care homes and hospitals, and participation in local community events. Staff may also organize fundraising for GECCO and other relevant charities across nurseries and offices.

Volunteering
Volunteers from schools, young people, adults, and community partners are welcomed. Colleagues are supported to volunteer via flexible arrangements, with no obligation, while contributing to social impact through company activities and local initiatives such as food banks, shared resources, and charity events.

Environmental Protection
Beyond legal obligations, the company proactively protects the environment through sustainable purchasing, reducing single-use plastics, recycling, conserving energy, using renewable technologies, and minimizing fossil fuel use. Supply chains are monitored to reduce carbon and plastic footprints, and colleagues, learners, customers, and partners are engaged in learning, teaching, and role modeling sustainability.

Community Engagement and Cultural Support
The company supports colleagues’ personal charitable efforts and provides additional engagement through national and local initiatives, cultural celebrations, and environmental campaigns. Partner organizations and registered charities benefit from financial support, volunteer hours, and company-led programs to promote social, cultural, and economic development.

 

Leadership, Accreditations and Benchmarking

The company fosters leadership at all levels, encouraging colleagues to drive sustainability, ethics, health, and safety improvements. Leadership is demonstrated through awards, speaking engagements, PR, and founding the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Early Years.

Diversity and Inclusion

  • Board members are predominantly female, reflecting the company’s ethos; no glass ceiling exists.

  • Diversity is actively promoted, with achievements such as 7% male nursery practitioners (vs. 2% nationally) and 5% registered disabled colleagues at head office.

Standards, Accreditations, and Benchmarking

  • Engaged with ESOS and implemented action plans for improvement.

  • Held Investors in People (IIP) accreditation for 15+ years; continue internal surveys and external benchmarking.

  • Aspire Training Team holds the Matrix Standard for Information, Advice, and Guidance.

  • Developed Eco Awards to recognize excellence in sustainability initiatives across sites.

Stakeholder and Regulatory Engagement

  • Collaborates with Ofsted, DfE, pension providers, banks, and suppliers to embed ESG/CSER principles.

  • Maintains robust records and reporting on KPIs, risk assessments, H&S, training, pay rates, promotions, charitable contributions, and environmental impact.

References and Resources

Cheryl Hadland

Founder and Managing Director
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