Ethics and Sustainability Statement
At Priory Translations, we believe that what is good for others is also good for us. To be a responsible and sustainable company, profit should be just one pillar of our business, and in order to flourish, our actions also need to benefit our colleagues, our industry and our planet.
Our Colleagues
Our in-house team
Our in-house team is the foundation of our organisation. We are committed to supporting their wellbeing and creating an environment where their skills are appreciated and everyone's voice is heard. We have policies on equality and diversity, and bullying and harassment which set out our expectations and help define our company culture. In addition, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, support for ongoing training and development, a flat hierarchy and collective decision-making on key issues are just some of the ways we promote an inclusive professional environment.
Our freelance network
We value the knowledge and experience of our freelance colleagues and recognise the importance of relationships built on respect and cooperation. We believe that paying fairly, negotiating mutually acceptable agreements and collaborative working are the best ways to produce high quality translations and to acknowledge the skills and time it takes to do a job well.
Our Industry
We are proud to belong to a diverse and evolving profession, and we believe it is important to promote high standards and contribute on a company level to the development of our wider industry. We are committed to respecting the laws and regulations which govern the work we do and the country we live in, paying fair tax, adopting good business practices and supporting initiatives which raise the profile of translation and improve conditions for those who work in our field.
The Good Business Charter
We're proud to have achieved Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation!
The Good Business Charter is an independent certification that recognises responsible business behaviour across ten key components.
These components are designed to ensure that businesses operate with integrity, fairness and respect for all stakeholders, including employees, clients, suppliers and the environment.
Achieving this accreditation means we have met the rigorous standards set by the GBC, demonstrating our commitment to ethical practices.
We also support the next generation of translators by offering meaningful work placements which allow budding language professionals to gain experience and additional skills in the workplace.
Our Planet
All businesses, whatever their size, have a role to play in protecting our planet. We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and are working to cut the quantity of physical resources we use. As an office-based small business, energy consumption, paper waste and transport are the areas in which we have started to make changes.
Currently, we:
• use digital systems and paperless billing to reduce the amount of paper we use
• follow a hybrid working model, meaning we commute to the office less often
• limit the amount of single-use paper and plastics used in our office
• choose recycled and biodegradable options where they are available
• recycle any paper we use through a certified carbon neutral company
• prioritise public transport and car sharing for business travel
• make the best use of natural light and fresh air to cool our office, only light spaces when they are being used and use power management settings on our office devices
We recognise that this is just a start and that there is still more that we can do. We are committed to improving by monitoring our CO2 emissions annually and investigating ways to reduce them further. In particular, we want to learn more about the impact of our digital resources and what we can do to minimise this.