Corporate Social Responsibility

At NECS, we care about our colleagues, our customers and the environment around us.

We are committed to our social purpose of reducing inequalities, creating jobs and generating wealth for communities. NECS2028, our very own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, has been developed to support this in line with our values and vision which define how we act.

NECS2028 embodies who we are as an organisation and is there to help us meet local and national legislation and guidance. We want to help keep sustainable business at the heart of our success and create a more sustainable, more inclusive society.

NECS has established board level responsibility for CSR with Claire Lake, NECS Organisational Development and Corporate Services Director. We have established CSR workstreams which are accountable for the delivery of the objectives and success measures detailed in our action plans, with oversight and assurance for delivery through our Integrated Resilience, Safety and Sustainability Committee. The workstreams have representatives from our Estates, IT, Governance, HR, Communications, Procurement, Provider management teams. We also have a CSR Champions Network which offers colleagues a chance to contribute towards our CSR agenda and make a positive impact personally.

Net Zero Commitment Statement

NECS is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040 for emissions scopes 1 and 2 and achieving emissions targets by 2045 for emissions scope 3.

The commitment was made in early 2025 by the Executive Committee.

Key areas of focus for NECS2028 are:

• Carbon reduction (including travel and transport, estates and facilities).
• Digital transformation.
• Social value (people and place), supply chain (planet and place) and procurement.
• Workforce and leadership.
• Adaptation (climate change and business continuity).
• Engagement and communication (underpinning enabler).

Our achievements to date include:

• Achievement of ISO 14001 Environmental Management systems standards and ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management systems.
• Achievement of the Better Health at Work Award for maintaining excellence along with the ambassador award.
• Our carbon footprint has reduced by 70% since the baseline of 2017/18.
• Achieving social value through our supply chain.
• Working with our NHS partners in the North East and North Cumbria to deliver their ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030.
• Membership of the CSU sustainability network, established by NHS England, to share sustainability and carbon reduction best practice and learning.
• Training programmes where all NECS colleagues are encouraged to complete online training modules to help us work together to meet our targets.
• Charitable support and fundraising: NECS colleagues have taken part in a number of activities including charity golf days to raise money for the Toon Angels, a local Macmillan volunteer group; dress down Fridays, raising money for Winston’s Wish collections for foodbanks across the country; coffee mornings and bake sales, sponsored runs and more.
• Increased up take of ultra-low emissions and electric cars by staff through salary sacrifice schemes.
• Printed sheets of paper have reduced by 40% since 2022.
• A Carbon Reduction Plan to help us achieve Net Zero by 2045.