Corporate Social Responsibility

Community & Development

We have developed a comprehensive charity policy, focusing on support for smaller, local charitable organisations and activity for the business’s chosen national charity.

Our charitable giving

We encourage employees to maximise their potential and help others along the way. In 2017 we donated over £225,000 to charitable causes through match funding donations raised by our employees, while each office also nominates a charity each month to receive a £500 donation. We also encourage all our employees to support the causes most important to them through a paid volunteer day each year.

We’re working with FareShare as our nominated charity partner for the next three years. In 2017/18, we donated a total of £30,000 to FareShare, allowing them to provide around 120,000 meals via charities, shelters, community centres and schools across the UK.

Working with Young Enterprise 

We have also formed a partnership with Young Enterprise, which every year helps over 250,000 11 to 16 year-olds build connections between education and the working world by forming student companies and compete to develop and sell the best product, under the guidance of a business mentor.

We will be hosting groups of students at each of our sites, helping them build important skills such as communication, confidence, financial capability, initiative, organisation, problem solving, teamwork and resilience, with senior colleagues taking on coaching roles to act as an advisor for their business.

Inclusion & Diversity

As a leading financial services business, we are aware of the role we need to play to encourage greater inclusion and diversity, and ensure that all our employees can benefit from a sustainable and achievable career path.

Mentoring Circles

In September 2016, we introduced our Mentoring Circles programme. Initially aimed at mid-management female employees, the programme was expanded to all mid-level employees and we now have over 10% of our workforce actively engaged.

We have also introduced reverse mentoring, where junior members of staff mentor senior employees and aims to bridge the gap between generations, helping colleagues to understand each other’s expectations.

Reverse mentoring gives junior employees the chance to voice their opinions to senior colleagues and influence change while providing senior staff with a fresh perspective – something that is important in a world where the workforce demographics are continually changing.

Gender diversity

We are working to enhance gender diversity and are focusing on actively supporting female progression into senior roles. We are also working to minimise the impact that having children can have on career progression with initiatives including mentoring for returning mums, maternity champions and additional ways to keep in touch while out of the business.

Recognising the changing nature or work and demands that our employees have on their time, we are also implementing more flexible working options and more agile, ad-hoc arrangements where they do not negatively impact customers or stakeholders.

Business & Human Rights

Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC and its board are committed to high standards of corporate governance and we continue to review and refine our corporate governance structure as we work towards implementation of the FCA’s Senior Managers & Certification Regime, which will become applicable to Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC in 2019.

A culture of harmony

We aim to maintain a culture of openness, honesty and integrity and ensure that, as far as possible, there is an atmosphere of trust and harmony across the organisation, with all employees able to raise these matters without fear of retribution.

Our whistleblowing policy covers the airing of genuine concerns that might arise regarding malpractice or other unethical behaviour.

We are also committed to the prevention, detection and elimination of all forms of corrupt business practice and do not tolerate any form of bribery or corruption. This policy applies to all staff, including permanent employees, temporary agency staff and contractors. We expect business partners, especially those introducing business, to promote and follow this policy or equivalent policies of their own.

Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking

From a supply chain perspective, we expect our business partners to promote and follow our policy in relation to human rights, and we have strict guidelines of not entering into business arrangements with third parties that fail to demonstrate that their conduct is consistent with this policy.

You can read our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement online here.

Environmental

Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC ’s environmental policies are centred around a commitment to reducing energy consumption, preventing pollution and promoting awareness among our employees, and ensuring compliance with compulsory environmental laws, such as ISO 14001 standards.

Reducing our carbon footprint

As the UK transitions to a greener economy, it will be critical to ensure Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC is at the forefront of improving its environmental practices. We are already helping to deliver a lasting impact on our environment, by reducing our carbon footprint by 25% over the last four years, further demonstrating our commitment to local communities we serve.

These policies provide the opportunity to take bolder steps; improving reporting on CO2 emissions and finding ways to become a more environmentally friendly company.

Pioneering zero emissions vehicles

More widely, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions is a pioneer in alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs), helping fleets realise significant environmental and economic benefits through transitioning to lower and ultimately zero emissions.

Working with manufacturers, government and industry bodies, academics, and transport authorities such as TfL, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions is playing a vital role in helping to shape the debate around zero emissions vehicles and help parties understand what needs to be done for the UK’s fleets to transition to a low carbon economy.