CEF has announced the release of its Sustainability & Social Value (SSV) Impact report.
The report provides actionable insights into how the electrical industry can advance in sustainability, while exploring CEFβs journey towards social responsibility within key areas including product development, supply chain management and community partnerships. The report further aims to inspire wider stakeholders as it outlines CEFβs current progress, priorities and future commitments for the coming years.
Product Development and Supply Chain Management
One of CEFβs key missions is to manage and reduce their environmental and ethical impacts across their operations and value chain. As part of this commitment, CEF leverages EcoVadis to assess the sustainability efforts of their supplier partners. In November 2023, 82 of CEF suppliers were engaged in the programme growing to 104 suppliers by April 2024. With this momentum, CEF is targeting engagement with 80% of suppliers (by spend) to achieve an EcoVadis rating of their sustainability maturity before the end of the reporting period.
In addition to supply chain initiatives, CEF has taken significant steps to reduce its operational carbon footprint by introducing Electric Vehicles (EVs) into its operations. CEF now operates 17 electric vehicles with plans to increase in the coming years. Notably, the milage covered by EVβs increased by over 400%, demonstrating CEFβs commitment to scaling sustainable transportation solutions.
CEF is also taking meaningful action to address the national skills gap, a critical issue given the UKβs shortage of approximately 150,000 qualified installers needed to support the transition to green energy and heating solutions. To tackle this issue, CEFβs Technical solution team has developed a training programme focused on upskilling electricians. By equipping professionals to confidently work with sustainable products, the initiative directly supports the UKβs target of achieving net zero emissions by 2040.Β
Community Partnerships
CEF is committed to supporting local communities and contributing to meaningful change. By collaborating with organisations that share a focus on improving lives, CEF seeks to make a positive impact both within and beyond the electrical industry.
As part of this commitment, CEF has partnered with the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) to help the well-being of individuals in the industry. Recently, the business has funded the development of an online training platform for the EIC, which is designed to benefit the overall well-being of 10,000 apprentices. Alongside this, CEFβs has committed to raising Β£1m for Macmillan through national and local funding. Since the partnership launched in 2017, CEF have raised over Β£800,000 and will continue to progress towards the goal through people powered fundraising. Additionally, members of CEF are also dedicated to the causes that matter to them and their communities. For example, the CEF Isle of Man branch raised Β£1,000 for the Forget Me Not charity, which supports people on the Island living with dementia.
Team Member Engagement
Health and safety is a top priority for CEF, which established its first Health and Safety Policy in 2003. The policy undergoes an annual review to ensure it remains robust and up to date, while a dedicated Health and Safety Team works to monitor and promote safer working practices across the organisation. In addition, all CEF branches hold bi-annual health and safety meetings, providing team members with a platform to raise concerns and contribute to a safer workplace and further enhancing CEFβs commitment to Health and Safety.
CEF has introduced a new Health and Safety Management system designed to improve accessibility and usability. This system will make it easier for team members to navigate and engage with health and safety processes effectively.
CEFβs Director of Sustainability Connor DaltonΒ says: βAs we strive to be leaders in our sector, weβve embraced the imperative of sustainability & Social Value, not just as a business priority but as a moral commitment to people, the planet, and the communities we serve. This report is a testament to collaboration, innovation, and the enduring impact we aim to create. We hope that our full transparency will encourage open dialogue about challenges and opportunitiesβ
The business aims to inspire peers, customers, supplier partners and industry bodies to adopt similar practices, fostering positive change. CEF is dedicated to proving that business growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand, setting an industry standard and contributing to a more sustainable future.
To read the full 2024Β Sustainability & Social Value Report, visitΒ cef.co.ukΒ
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