Corporate & Social Responsibility Policy
At Eleven, we are genuinely committed to making a positive difference — for society, for the environment, and for the future we all share.
Our greatest opportunity for impact lies at the heart of what we do: connecting exceptional people with organisations that are building a better world. We began our journey recruiting within the oil industry, but we’ve embraced the energy transition wholeheartedly and haven't looked back.
Today, the majority of our work is with clients driving the shift to low-carbon energy, renewables and climate technology — and we're proud of it.
But our commitment doesn't stop there. We see real and meaningful opportunities to create positive change within our own team, in the local communities we're part of, and across the business networks we're privileged to work with.
And even as an office-based business, we take seriously our responsibility to tread as lightly as possible — because every organisation, whatever its size, has a part to play.
Nick Smith, Chair at Eleven
Our Business Activity
Acknowledging our carbon emitting heritage, we have a special responsibility to do our bit.
- We have reduced our involvement with the oil and gas sector so that 88% of our net fee income (99% of our mandates) is now from low-carbon industries – renewables & infrastructure as well as alternative technology, including climate technology.
- We will further reduce recruitment within the oil & gas markets with a zero target within 5 years.
- We will play our role in the critical task of staffing up the renewable energy and cleantech industries from all sources including the fossil fuel industries.
Community
We engage both locally and nationally with organisations committed to climate positive action and sustainability, and with our wider business community by communicating our own activities, plans and impact, as well as promoting the activities and campaigns of our partner organisations.
We are a member of the Better Business Network, which connects purpose driven businesses that want to grow, collaborate and make a positive impact.
We are committed to becoming Better Business Standard accredited by the end of 2026.
We also support Business Declares in asking for stronger commitments from business in the face of the worsening environmental and social polycrisis.
We have joined the Better Business Act coalition, whose aim is to amend UK law so that every company aligns the interests of shareholders with those of wider society and the environment.
We support the Carbon Literacy project and offer Carbon Literacy Training to all employees. Our aim is for all employees to be certified Carbon Literate.
We support the recently created Life After Oil organisation which is a community focused on helping those that have left or are thinking of leaving the fossil fuel sector with their career transition.
We take part in local environmental projects every year through organisations such as Cheishire Wildlife Trus and City of Trees, and fundraise for a variety of community charities working for social good. For full details of projects we have been involved in please see our annual impact reports.
We commit to keeping our team engaged and updated with regular meetings where we review our activity and share ideas.
Our Business Footprint
We monitor and work to reduce our carbon footprint and report on our scope 2 and 3 carbon emissions annually.
We have offset our historic carbon emissions from 2020- 2024 (53.5 tonnes of carbon) via the Rewild Carbon programme, run by the Durrell Conservation Trust.
As a serviced office based business, our options for directly affecting our carbon emissions are limited, but we actively work to:
Reduce waste, energy usage and our overall carbon footprint:
- o Motion sensor lighting
- o Waste separation and recycling
- o Ecosia as default browser/search engine
- o Paperless processes
Minimize unnecessary staff travel and promote the use of public transport where possible:
- o Hybrid working to reduce commuting emissions
- o Cycle to work scheme
- o Season ticket loans to encourage public transport use at the lowest cost
- o Encourage train as first choice over car/flights where practical
- o Encourage car sharing to meetings and events
- o EV car scheme via Octopus
Promote sustainable procurement, assessing the climate and social impact credentials of existing and new suppliers, with a view to switching to suppliers more aligned with our values wherever possible
Engage employees, clients, and partners in environmental stewardship by directly supporting relevant organizations and promoting their activities to our business network
Our serviced offices use 100% renewable electricity and there are systems in place to minimise energy and water usage, and for recycling.
We changed our banking provider in 2024 to one with a stronger ESG commitment and also switched to a B-Corp outsourced accountancy & financial management provider in the same yeat.
We are currently researching moving to a new sustainable workplace pension provider in the near future.
Implementation & Review
This policy is written with advice and critique from specialist climate consultancy Small World Consulting.
- We will publish annual impact reports and update this CSR policy and transition plan annually.
- Progress will be communicated to all staff and stakeholders as well as to our wider professional network.
This policy marks a step forward in Eleven’s journey to becoming a leader in sustainable and responsible business practices. We understand that this is a long-term commitment and are dedicated to ongoing improvement.
Previous events at Eleven
- #FootballShirtFriday raising funds for Cancer Research - £208 raised
- 10K run for MIND - £716 raised
- Hedgerow planting at Greenhills Farm in support of Cheshire Wildlife Trust
- Kinder Scout, Peak District hike - raising money for MIND
- Sponsored hike to the Old Man of Conistion for Wood Street Mission - over £1000 raised
- Donation collection for Wood Street Mission Christmas Appeal