Striving to make a positive impact on the community
Niall Harkin, executive director of Almac Group, on its support for the ESG category in our Business Awards
THE Almac Group is a global leader in providing a range of expert services and support across the drug development lifecycle. Being a responsible business has always been ingrained in our culture at Almac.
ESG (environmental, social and governance) is key to how we do business, and it is of growing importance for our clients, our people, and our potential new employees.
According to a survey commissioned by Deloitte last year, 44% of respondents said sustainability efforts positively benefited customer satisfaction and 42% agreed that it benefited employee morale and well-being.
And 27% reported they would consider a potential employer’s position on sustainability before accepting a job.
So, what is our approach? At Almac we endeavour to take care of our people, protect our planet and make a positive impact on the communities where we operate. This is especially relevant as we continue to grow, with ongoing expansion, investment and recruitment programmes across the globe.
In this period of rapid growth we are working hard to reduce our environmental footprint.
By weaving sustainable business practices into how we operate, embracing green energy, and physically expanding through the application of green construction standards, we’re actively working towards a low-carbon future.
However, it is important not to forget the environment is just one facet of an ESG strategy. Prioritising employees, while also investing in the local community, must also be top of mind. Almac’s people are our core asset; without a healthy, engaged and motivated workforce, we cannot deliver for our clients or our mission to advance human health.
This extends to supporting the health and well-being of our local communities.
Most importantly, we’ve placed transparency at the centre of our ESG strategy, and I encourage any business leader considering their own approach to do the same.
Companies serious about ESG should be collaborating with bodies who can guide, support, and, importantly, critique and validate as they make decisions.
At Almac this has borne out in multiple ways. In 2022 we announced our commitment to reach net zero by 2045 and appointed a dedicated global energy manager to drive actions to meet this goal. We’ve joined the Science Based Targets Initiative, which defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting for reducing greenhouse gases, and report all our activity via Ecovadis and the Carbon Disclosure Project, leading tools and programmess for measuring CSR impact.
We recently announced a 15year virtual power purchase agreement providing access to electricity generated by the newly-constructed Murley wind farm which will reduce carbon emissions by over 95% from electricity consumed at Almac’s global HQ in Craigavon.
Now more than ever it is imperative that companies act on ESG.
Given its rising importance, it’s crucial to acknowledge the changes you need to make, be transparent about the progress made, and then take steps to make the changes happen.
We are pleased to support the ESG category at this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, to recognise a company that has demonstrated excellence in this area with an ambitious ESG agenda right at the heart of its organisation. I imagine there will be a wealth of strong entries from local businesses showcasing a drive towards more sustainable business practices.