Consultancy Vail Williams reduces emissions by 42 per cent

South coast property consultancy Vail Williams has voluntarily published its annual carbon reduction statement for the 2023/34 financial year, which shows the firm has reduced its emissions by 42% since starting its journey towards net zero by 2030.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions have reduced from the baseline year of 2020-21 by 42% from 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCo2e) to 57 tCo2e, it said.

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Scope 1 refers to direct emissions are from sources that an organisation owns or controls, such as burning fuel in vehicles, while Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions from the use of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling.

Scope 3 encompasses emissions not produced directly by a business but occurring in its value chain, such as through suppliers.

Vail Williams said its Scope 3 business travel carbon emissions had reduced from 2022-23 by nearly 17% to 59.9 tCo2e.

The firm is looking to improve this further with initiatives such as staff being able to save up to 40% on an electric vehicle (EV) through a salary sacrifice scheme in partnership with Octopus energy.

It added that it is projecting that Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions will decrease over the next three years to 50 tCO2e by 2027 - a reduction of 50% from the baseline calculation of 2021-22.

"With a reduction of nearly 17% of tCo2e of Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 business travel since the last financial year it shows that the decisions and changes implemented by the wider business at the direction of the executive board are working and making a positive impact in the right direction," said Matthew Samuel Camps, Vail Williams managing partner.

"We will continue to make these positive changes in order to mitigate our impact on the planet together with encouraging staff in their charitable work and social impact through our volunteering gift days."

Samual Camps is responsible for ensuring that sufficient resources are made available to enable the business to achieve its environmental targets and that the environmental policy is implemented.

He added: "Using carbon calculators we are now beginning to capture wider Scope 3 emissions which will enable us to monitor and make positive choices through our procurement of goods and services going forward.

"From a governance perspective we have updated our Criminal Finance Act Policy to reference the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and have rolled out training to all staff," he added.

Also in the last financial year, the company has increased its social impact through a review and selection for six new regional charities representing the firm’s six regions.