Whatever we do we know that there is an effect on or interrelation with our local community and we embrace that close relationship. Our policies aim to maximise the benefits for local communities from our activities. In 2010 we were awarded the Social Responsibility Award at the Yeovil Business Awards for the Firm’s charitable work, involvement in community initiatives and internal systems and processes. We continue to build on that approach.

    We are involved in a large number of events across the region, including Taunton Flower Show, Sherborne Abbey Festival, and Agricultural Shows such as Dorset County, Dunster, Melplash and Gillingham & Shaftesbury. We support numerous Business and Community Awards, including the Somerset Business Awards. South West Tourism (Somerset & Dorset), Somerset Food & Drink and Dorset Food Drink and Farming. In Dorset, we have been an integral part of the Wessex FM Local Heroes Awards from their inception, which recognise extraordinary community contributions by individuals.

    Our business depends on, and thrives in, the communities which surround our offices. We make it our business to work with local organisations to help develop local projects, consider our environmental impact and give voluntary help or raise funds for good causes locally.

    Each year every one of our offices chooses a local charity to support. Various activities through the year will lead to funds being raised, or our people taking part in major fundraising events such as Somerset & Dorset Air Ambulance’s Coast To Coast cycle ride or St. Margaret Hospice’s Great Walk.

    Many of us are involved with the running and organisation of local charities and other community and vocational groups including Round Table, Rotary, Yeovil Young Achievers Trust, Dorset Historic Churches Trust, to name but a few. Similarly, we work closely with local schools projects, regularly talking to students, helping with business and careers projects as well as advising those running the schools through our Education Team.

    These activities, along with active involvement in local business group such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Federation of Small Businesses immerse our people in a wide spectrum of local social, charitable and business activities. We are passionate about encouraging our people to engage and gain a rounded experience of the community around them, and to help to promote commercial activity.

    We also take our environmental impact seriously, and in line with our Renewables Team’s progressive approach to the sector, we have fitted Photovoltaic panels to the roofs of our Taunton offices. This reduces our energy consumption and allows us to feed power back into the grid when the offices are unoccupied. Combined with our responsible approach to recycling we aim to minimise our carbon footprint and waste.

    Finally, we strive to provide a rewarding career for our staff and currently employ approximately 170 people across Somerset, Devon and Dorset and enjoy a high degree of loyalty from those who work here.