RES has put sustainability at the heart of its activities since commencing operations in 1981, engaging with local communities throughout the wind and solar farm development process, supported by a full-time community engagement team.
The social initiatives implemented by RES include:
- The launch of five, employee-led global Affinity Networks: An Affinity Network is a group formed around a shared experience or concern for a given issue (e.g. racial equality, sexual identity). RES’ five Affinity Networks each have their own distinct committee and executive sponsor. This is an evolution of RES’ Diversity and Inclusion strategy, ensuring teams receive the support required in their aim to build a common understanding of the different challenges and barriers experienced by under-represented groups, while working to address these issues and improve inclusivity.
- Volunteering Days: A continuation in offering all staff four days paid leave a year to participate in charity and non-profit initiatives, supporting their RES national charity. Despite the pandemic, in 2020 there were 435 hours of volunteering recorded within office hours.
- Family leave provision increased: Family leave provision for all employees with a new child was increased, enabling all employees to take 13 weeks of paid family leave on full pay.
- Donation matching: Matching by RES of up to £500 a year per person for staff fundraising activities and personal donations.
- RES Covid-19 Fund: In 2020, RES were able to support over 40 charities and community groups, thanks to the nominations of employees across the globe. The fund was also used to support RES staff facing hardship, helping to reduce stress and anxiety by creating a safety net for anyone who needed it during a difficult time.
- Wellbeing Week: At the end of 2020, RES launched the ‘Reach the Moon’ initiative as part of the Wellbeing Week, a challenge to encourage staff members across the globe to collectively log 384,400km in distance through exercise.
- Mental Health Awareness Week: In 2020, mental health awareness revolved around connecting with nature, and experiencing the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors. The week also provided further support activities such as access to private financial coaching and a cook-along virtual lunch.