Summary

This case study details a few of the many steps Chess are taking to reduce the impact they have on the environment and ensure they are have a positive effect on society. Chess’ objectives are designed to deliver real business benefits and environmental impact.

Background

Chess plc is a business telecoms service provider based in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Started by Chief Executive David Pollock in 1993, it quickly took advantage of deregulation in the utilities market and commenced its operations by selling gas and electricity. In 1996, Chess began to specialise in telecoms. In May 2001 its sole supplier, ACC (based in the U.S), went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Chess turnover fell to zero overnight. The ability of the (then 25) employees to react, survive and commence billing customers on its own account, growing to a £20 million business within the next 6 years, is demonstrable of the underlying strength of the Company and its management.

Chess is now a communications reseller including products such as lines, calls, mobiles, broadband, BlackBerry, VoIP and associated products.

Responsible business objectives 

• To play a wider role in society in addition to generating employment opportunities, feeding the economy and providing quality products and services;
• To implement initiatives and adapt business processes to continuously reduce the impact Chess has on the environment;
• To educate and engage employees on environmentally and socially responsible ways of living and working;
• To establish itself as an example to inspire and encourage others in the local area and business community;
• To provide opportunities for people to realise their full potential;
• To develop innovative relationships with charitable organisations that provide sustained benefits for all parties involved.

How they do it

• Green Team: a team of representatives from all areas of the business that develop environmental initiatives and drive them through the business;
• Reduce, re-use and recycle;
• Hold regular ‘Green Days’ to distribute information and raise awareness throughout the business of climate change and wider environmental issues;
• Work with other businesses and brands such as fair-trade and Ecover to offer Chess people specially discounted ethical goods;
• Distribute ‘Hippy Shoppers’ (reusable shopping bags) to Chess people to reduce plastic bag use and raise awareness locally;
• Considerable investment in the technology to enable all customers to be switched to online billing, saving at least 3 tonnes of paper every year;
• Car share scheme: Chess people get priority parking for car sharing;
• Bike to work scheme: Chess people have the option of buying bike equipment at significantly reduced cost and are encouraged to cycle to work with the incentive of biker’s breakfasts;
• Loyal-tree points: Chess has a green benefits scheme where Chess people have the option to exchange loyalty points accrued through the scheme for carbon offsetting initiatives including plots of trees that they can go and visit;
• Run competitions with nights out as rewards for the team that reduces paper usage by the highest percentage each month;
• Chief Executive, David Pollock sits on The Prince’s Trust Northwest Development Committee with the challenge of raising £1million in 2 years;
• Chess people have the opportunity to work as development coaches on the 12 week Prince’s Trust team programme;
• Team of Chess people take part in The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Project;
• 118 520: Chess’ award winning directory enquiries number that donates 9p to the NSPCC for every call made – target: 1 million calls;
• Ideas for the future: May Day Marketplace with BiTC and MayDay summit, Chess allotment and gardening club, Carbon Credit Card.

What impact it has

• Virtually all office waste is recycled and recycling has gone up by 100% since the Green Team was established;
• Reduced costs through reducing paper usage;
• Raised environmental awareness among Chess people;
• Positive involvent in the local, national and global environment;
• Raised in excess of £10,000 so far for The Prince’s Trust;
• They have been invited, along with M&S, Royal Mail etc, to have a stall at a Mayday Marketplace to raise awareness of what they are doing for 200 delegates.

Business Benefits

• Recruitment: reduced recruitment costs as a result of a marked increase in recruitment enquiries;
• Considerable press coverage on their environmental and charitable efforts (almost £20,000 ROI on press coverage);
• Cost savings by reduction in use of consumables (such as paper) and utilities;
• People development as a result of involvement in schemes such as Prince’s Trust Enterprise Project and Team Programme;
• People motivation as a result of empowerment to suggest ways to make a difference.

Chess Say:

After attending the 2007 May Day Climate Change Summit we were struck by the enormity of the challenge we faced. There is a famous quote that says: "we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it for our children". In years to come, we don’t want to have to answer the question: "why, when you knew the consequences of your actions, did you do nothing?"

Business has a critical role to play: to reduce the impact we have on our environment, to motivate and inspire people inside and outside of our business on good social and environmental practice and to raise awareness of what we can and need to do. At Chess we’re committed to taking action and driving change. We have a strong culture and spirit and we know that in order to continue to grow a successful business we must protect and nurture our environment and the community in which we operate.