Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Committing to a Sustainable Future: Nicoll Curtin's Pledges and Strategies

At Nicoll Curtin, we are committed to building a business fit for the future. We recognise the pressing need to address sustainability and have embarked on a journey guided by the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Through rigorous assessment, we are not only evaluating our current sustainability practices but also laying the foundation for short and long-term commitments that will shape the future of our company and the sector we work in.

Our ESG Committee

Our company's Head of Governance leads the ESG Committee, a dedicated team responsible for establishing and implementing pledges across all aspects of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) within our company. With offices in strategic locations, including the UK, US, Serbia, Singapore, Ireland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland, the committee comprises representatives from each of these regions. This committee framework not only ensures that our ESG strategy remains authentic but also allows the committee to voice local perceptions, needs, and unique considerations, thereby fostering a holistic and inclusive approach to our sustainability efforts.

Environmental Illustration

Environmental

Safeguarding the environment is a cornerstone of our commitment. Here's how we are making a positive impact:

  • All our offices across the company have embraced a paper-light approach, resorting to printing only when absolutely necessary, and when we do, we ensure it's done on recycled paper.
  • We have consciously chosen offices committed to environmental improvement - including those recognised with the Serbia Gold LEED certificate and Singapore BCA Green Mark 2020 Award - and green building credentials and renewable electricity supply are now a formal criterion in any new office selection.
  • Our Zurich office operates on 100% renewable electricity, and we are actively working to transition remaining offices, with Belgrade identified as the priority. 
  • Encouraging the use of public transport for daily commutes, providing loans for travel ticket purchases, and actively promoting sustainable commuting through staff communications.
  • Responsible consumption practices, including a ban on single-use plastics, efficient lighting systems, a commitment to recycling, and a process for responsible disposal of end-of-life equipment. 

Working with a specialist third-party partner, we completed our first Carbon Footprint Measurement using an activity-based methodology. Our annual carbon footprint is calculated in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e), covering all seven greenhouse gases listed under the Kyoto Protocol, weighted by their global warming potential - in line with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.

Our 2024 baseline footprint is 471 tCO₂e across all offices and remote workers globally. We have zero Scope 1 emissions. As a professional services business, over 97% of our footprint sits within Scope 3 - principally purchased goods and services, business travel, and employee commuting - which is where our reduction plan is focused.

You can request the full analysis document or our Sustainability and Science-Based Targets Report by emailing compliance@nicollcurtin.com.

We are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 and have created a Carbon Reduction Plan to assist us with this. Our targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) SME pathway, and we are working towards formal SBTi validation later in 2026. We are happy to share our plan in full upon request, but below are some of the targets we are working towards:

Our near-term targets

  • Set science-based targets by the end of 2026
  • Reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions to zero by 2030
  • Procure 70% renewable electricity by 2030
  • Reduce scope 3 emissions by 21% by 2030

 

Our long-term targets

  • Reduce our total market-based emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) by at least 90% by 2050
  • Neutralise any residual emissions using verified carbon offsets
Social Illustration

Social

Nicoll Curtin places people at the forefront of its business, ensuring a nurturing and inclusive workplace. Here is what we do to maintain an inclusive and happy work life for all of our employees:

  • We actively seek annual employee feedback to enhance our work environment.
  • Our diverse workforce comprises individuals from various nationalities.
  • All employees receive competitive base salaries and are paid above the minimum wage.
  • We offer bespoke training through our L&D programme, irrespective of gender, ability, or level.
  • Regular reviews with line managers, featuring 360-degree feedback, foster growth.
  • We provide clear career paths and expectations.
  • Our senior management proudly comprises 64% women.
  • Rigorous reviews of employment contracts, the employee handbook, and policies are ongoing.
  • Our offices are strategically located, offer excellent facilities, relaxation areas, and prioritise safety.
  • A comprehensive range of benefits, including financial wellbeing, health insurance, language classes, and more, is continually reviewed.
  • We equip all new starters with top-notch technology.

Our dedication to sustainability goes hand in hand with ensuring the satisfaction and wellbeing of our incredible team. We are proud to share some remarkable statistics reflecting our employees' contentment (Employee Satisfaction Survey):

  1. 100% of our team finds genuine enjoyment in their day-to-day work.
  2. 100% of our team acknowledges the abundant opportunities for skill development within the company.
  3. 96% of our team maintains a healthy work-life balance.
  4. 98% of our team appreciates constructive and regular feedback from their managers.
  5. 100% of our team expresses confidence in our senior leadership's ability to steer the Group in the right direction.

We are committed to a unified charity aim across the group, utilising our skills to support the local community.

  1. We will conduct regular benefits reviews to ensure they meet our team's evolving needs.
  2. We will implement long-stay interviews to improve team retention.
  3. We will introduce exit interviews for departing employees to enhance retention efforts.
  4. We are committed to explore ways to further enhance mental health support for our team across the Group.
Governance Illustration

Governance

Solid governance underpins our success at Nicoll Curtin:

  • We place great importance on creating robust governance structures. Our Head of Group Corporate Governance is tasked to create, update and implement a tailored ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy for Nicoll Curtin Group.
  • The Board actively participates in ensuring Nicoll Curtin maintains strong governance.
  • We conduct annual reviews of our supply chain.
  • All our office locations are carefully selected to be free from corruption. 
  • We value transparency and actively seek feedback from all stakeholders.
  • While we celebrate our successes, we remain committed to continuous improvement.

  1. We have created a framework for reporting on ESG across the Group.
  2. We carried out a comprehensive review, and as a result, updated our GDPR, CSR, Anti-slavery and Human Trafficking, ABC (Anti-Bribery and Corruption), Ethics and Conduct, and Information Security policies.
  3. We conduct an annual assessment of our supply chain to determine third-party commitments to ESG.