Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK, bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment. Its role includes advising government on the Northern Ireland curriculum, monitoring qualifications and examination standards in Northern Ireland and awarding qualifications.
CCEA operates from three sites: two within the Clarendon Dock complex in Belfast and one in the Greater Belfast area.
CCEA seeks to fulfill its legal responsibilities in the areas of CSR but will go beyond statutory compliance in the workplace, its community involvement and in safeguarding the environment in which it operates.
CCEA will ensure that its strategic decisions and actions are based on a bedrock of corporate values and business ethics. CCEA will embed CSR into its mainstream business processes.
The rationale for CCEA’s approach to CSR starts with our mission: to enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised. At CCEA we recognise that the achievement of our mission requires more than effective management and delivery of our core products and services. It is also about creating a balance between developing customer focused services, working with our communities and sustaining the environment in which we operate.
CCEA’s CSR approach ensures that we operate our business in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable way. Our values, lived by all CCEA employees, enshrine the principles of CSR and commitment to the environment.
CCEA continually aims to do the right thing within our society by ensuring that we use our position of influence and accessibility in the business environment in which we operate and the communities in which we serve.
The Workplace
CCEA will adopt fair and equitable recruitment practices and adopt non-discriminatory practices in its people policies including: recruitment and selection; rewarding and promoting people on merit, helping employees to develop their professional skills and achieve a work/life balance, and treating people with equal respect.
CCEA will promote health and safety in its broadest context, with a particular emphasis on occupational health and employee welfare. CCEA will use the OHSAS 18001 standard to develop and implement an occupational health and safety management system.
CCEA will carry out organisational development in a socially responsible way, taking into consideration the interests and concerns of all of those who are affected by the changes and decisions. It will provide open information and consultation and will seek to reduce the need for redundancies.
The Community
CCEA will actively seek opportunities through its core business to ensure that activities enrich and add value to the society in which it operates. In addition, it will ensure that employees are provided with opportunities to make effective voluntary contributions to the society in which they live and to societal and environmental issues which matter to them.
CCEA will provide opportunities for all our staff to engage with CCEA’s indirect customers in ways that are supportive to the local community. This will in turn enhance CCEA’s understanding of the needs of those customers including young and adult learners, employers, businesses and voluntary agencies who provide support for the most vulnerable in our society. This mutual understanding will be conducive to creating the conditions where CCEA’s products and services can meet fully he needs of our society.
CCEA will respect its neighbours and its communities. CCEA will develop positive relationships with the local community and contribute to community causes.
CCEA will manage its business activities to ensure that they provide value for money. CCEA will work closely with business partners in achieving this.
CCEA will contribute to the economy by providing employment opportunities and wages.
The Environment
CCEA will establish environmental objectives which are in harmony with its environmental policy.
CCEA will use the ISO 14001 standard to develop and implement an environmental management system. CCEA will minimise our footprint on the global environment using a range of approaches designed to recycle materials, reduce waste and reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources.
CCEA will provide opportunities for staff to engage directly in programmes that safeguard the natural environment.
CCEA will monitor and review performance against its environmental policy.
Performance Management
The Business Assurance team will monitor and report on the impact of CCEA's CSR Strategy on a yearly basis against measurable targets and will report on these.
Neil Anderson,
Acting Chief Executive
Date 20 January 2010
This policy will be made communicated to staff through the CCEA Intranet site and through induction and cultural induction programmes. The policy will also be communicated to stakeholders through the Internet site.
CCEA staff working in the area of facilities management will ensure that CCEA's outsourced facilities management partner and any subsequent contractors employed are made aware of the requirements of its environmental policy.
