Jan 21, 2022

By Calum MacLeod  | Updated: 00:07, 21 January 2022 Easier access to your trusted, local news. Have a look at our digital subscription packages! Edwin James Group has committed to achieving net zero carbon output by the end of the decade. Engineering firm, Edwin James Group, has committed to a double zero target by aiming to achieve zero to landfill and net zero by 2030 with a milestone of a 50 per cent reduction by 2025. The business – which owns Inverness-based EJ Parker Technical Services, formerly known as Korrie Technical Services – laid out its plans for a sustainable future in its first Environmental, Social and Governance report. The company is already taking action to reduce its environmental impact including transport energy savings, vehicle tracking systems to help drivers reduce fuel usage and the conversion of the fleet to clean energy. Currently almost a quarter of company-leased cars are electric or hybrid and by the end of 2025 the aim is for 80 per cent of vans to be electric. The company has made significant progress in switching to renewable energy usage in its offices. In the past year, it sourced 89 per cent of its offices’ energy requirements from renewable sources and aims to source 100 per cent in 2022. Edwin James Group chief operating officer Christopher Kehoe. Christopher Kehoe, the group's chief operating officer, said: “The pandemic has impacted the world dramatically, including heightened awareness of a changing climate and a shift in ways of working. We’ve used this as a catalyst to look at the areas where we can play our part and make a real difference. "It’s been gratifying to see that we’ve already made some great strides along the way, but we know there is more to do and this first publication puts some milestones and commitments in place.” In addition to significant environmental commitments, the report outlines the approach to people and governance including the importance of attracting and retaining talent. Early in 2021, the group outlined the importance of learning and development to support growth with the launch of its new Academy programme and the largest investment in L&D in its history. Apprentices currently make up 12 per cent of the workforce and the business has committed to increasing this to 15 per cent within the next two years. The group recently announced resilient performance through the pandemic with a record order book of over £500 million. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.