ISO14001

IFDS is represented in Essex by three premises - IFDS House in Basildon, Adams House and Fairbairn House in Chelmsford.

In 2007, IFDS decided to work towards ISO14001. Prior to this time, IFDS had no official environmental plan and now gives high priority to not only improving its environmental impact but also to raising the awareness of and engaging employees. To that end, IFDS identified the gaps in its environmental practices and issued a survey to all employees to gauge their awareness of the company's environmental procedures in the workplace and in their homes.

Using the survey results, IFDS began putting together an Environmental Management System (EMS), improve the systems already in place and bring about new initiatives. These included:

• Environmental Policy; including a register of legislation, energy conservation and recycling arrangements
• An environmental action plan
• Employee engagement and awareness campaign
• Recording and analysing data for all energy usage and waste
• Recycling facilities at IFDS premises

Further to this IFDS hosted a day of environmental awareness in 2007 and 2008 and invited along key individuals from both local and national government bodies. Employees are also kept up-to-date via Environmental Noticeboards and the Intranet. Both IFDS House and Adams House were awarded ISO14001 accreditation in 2007 and were successfully reaccredited in 2008. Fairbairn House will be going live in November 2008 and working towards ISO14001 accreditation during 2009.

Essex Wildlife Trust

Established in 1959, Essex Wildlife Trust depends on membership subscriptions, donations and legacies to fund the majority of their work. They are the leading conservation organisation of its kind in Essex and look after more than 7,250 acres of land on 87 nature reserves and one nature park in the county. They spend nearly £1.5m each year caring for Essex wildlife and encouraging others to do the same. Branches of the Trust Langdon Visitors Centre and Plotlands Museum site are raising money to build a classroom extension which will enable them to continue their good works by providing a venue for their education programme.

IFDS Limited became Corporate Platinum Members of the Trust in August 2008 and held a charity jeans day and art competition to raise money for this cause.