Our approach to ESG
Our purpose as a business is to power people and organisations to fulfil their unique potential. This guides everything that we say and do and is at the heart of our ESG and Corporate Responsibility programme.
Following a comprehensive materiality assessment, we developed and launched our new ESG strategy in 2023 which focuses on six priority areas: engaging our people; championing equity, diversity and inclusion both within our organisation and with our clients; promoting the transition to a more sustainable world of work; protecting the planet; giving back to our local communities; and operating ethically and responsibly.
We have set clear targets for each priority area to hold ourselves accountable for driving meaningful change and delivering positive impact for our stakeholders. We invite you to read more in our ESG strategy report.
How our purpose defines our strategy
2023 at a glance
£139k
Raised for local charities on our annual Global Charity Day
16,600
Trees planted through our 'Plant a Tree' initiative
15 years
As a FTSE4Good
constituent member
2040
Target net zero Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 2040
80
Charities supported and impacted by our people
79%
Of employees feel aligned to company purpose
73%
Employees feel a sense of belonging
98
Employee wellbeing champions across the Group
Areas of impact and opportunity
The Robert Walters Group has assessed three key areas where we believe we can create the most impact in making the world a more sustainable, equitable place. We continue to take action in the following areas to also help secure the future stability of our business and create long-term value for our shareholders.
Protecting the planet
The Group invests in a number of carbon reduction, reforestation and energy efficiency measures to reduce the impact of our business on the environment.
Powering people potential
We are steadfast in our commitment to supporting local communities, promoting social mobility and investing in future talent across society.
Responsible business
Ethical business practices are at the heart of what we do, from setting robust foundations of governance to championing an inclusive global workforce.
Measuring our progress
In addition to our Purpose, our strategy is informed and guided by external ESG bodies including FTSE4Good, MSCI and the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This ensures that our actions are aligned with the latest ESG thinking and best practice, and that we can respond to the most critical areas of concern in an effective, agile way.
FTSE4Good
In 2023, the Group was once again listed as a constituent member of the FTSE4Good index for the 15th consecutive year. This distinction recognises the measures we’ve taken to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and society while proactively investing in a sustainable future for people and communities around the world.
MSCI ESG Rating: AA
The MSCI ESG Ratings model identifies ESG risks (key issues) that are most material to a sub-industry or sector and measures a company's resilience to long-term material ESG risks. In 2023, the Robert Walters Group received a rating of AA in the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment.* While this rating positions the Group as an industry leader, we are working to improve our score to AAA.
Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015 as a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable for all'. The Group is doing its part by aligning our global environmental and humanitarian efforts and investments with relevant SDGs, thereby making as broad an impact on environmental and social issues as possible.