ESG Policy

1. Environment

Touchstone wants to play its part in contributing to the UK Government’s targets of cutting greenhouse gases. It recognises the potential impact of the business on the local and global environments and aims to minimise the negative environmental impacts arising from those activities and has put in place a number of processes to help us reach carbon neutrality. To help meet its targets, Touchstone purchases 100% of its electricity from verified renewable sources, eliminating its Scope 2 carbon emissions.

This policy states Touchstone’s commitment to environmental sustainability and applies to all premises and activities within the control of the Touchstone Group.

Touchstone has the following key objectives:

• Efficient energy & water consumption
• To minimise waste production as far as is practicable and to reuse or recycle waste where appropriate
• To dispose of equipment, and any other physical assets by using environmentally responsible organisations
• To minimise pollution where practical
• To promote environmentally responsible procurement of goods and services
• To raise staff awareness of the Company’s environmental impact; to promote sound environmental awareness and provide employee guidance
• To off-set the remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutrality, by purchasing credits from carbon offsetting projects
• To seek to improve its environmental performance.

1.2.  Sustainable travel

Business travel forms part of the company’s carbon footprint. The company aims to minimise business travel and the associated environmental impact through the following measures:

• Promotion of an agile/hybrid working mode
• Provision of appropriate technology that enables employees to communicate effectively from home
• Using varied means of travel: walking, cycling or public transport or car sharing
• Approval process for overseas travel prior to booking
• Ongoing promotion of the UK ‘Cycle to Work scheme’
• Continued measurement of business travel as part of the annual carbon footprint assessment

2. Social

2.1. Employees

The company is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and supports a diverse workforce. It believes diversity, inclusion and equality are key principles necessary for it to operate successfully across its many sectors of business activity.

The company ensures that it will not discriminate against job applicants or employees on the grounds of their sex, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation, disability, age, race (including colour, nationality or national or ethnic origins), religion or belief or gender reassignment. It is the company’s policy to make every effort to provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and discrimination.

The company is dedicated to providing support for employee mental and physical wellbeing and provides an employee assistance programme (EAP), mental health first aiders and mental health awareness training.

2.2. Health & Safety

Ensuring the provision of a safe working environment.

3. Company Ethos

Being fully responsive to the needs of the client and providing an assured service that fundamentally incorporates all relevant legislative considerations.

4. Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance covers the rights and responsibilities for the management of the company. Touchstone ensures that its management structures and policies reflect the need for clear leadership, accountability, equality and probity in the management of the business. As a well-established private business in areas of specialised technical expertise Touchstone seeks to maintain an appropriate balance of duties between its management, shareholders, and employees.

These relate to the following areas:

• Management structure – it has an appropriate division of powers and responsibilities between Its, CEO, Board & Chairman and has checks and balances for its management team
• Employee Relations and workplace grievances
• Monitoring Supplier relationships

5. Charitable

5.1. Charities/Community Engagement

Touchstone Group is committed to sharing its success with those less fortunate by providing resources to important causes. Every year, the Charity Committee, with input from employees, selects a number of charities, national and community, to support and for which employees can be directly involved in fund raising and volunteering.

6. Reporting

Through its commitment to ESG, Touchstone plans to maintain internal reporting on its ESG approach and performance each year.

Version 1.0. Last Reviewed: April 2025. Next Review Date: April 2026.