Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Our corporate social responsibility

As a progressive business, we recognise our role in helping to support our community, protect the natural environment and be a responsible company and employer.

Our vision is to lead the way – both within our sector and the wider community – as an organisation which not only understands its responsibilities but takes positive actions to benefit others.  

Our objectives

To help achieve our vision, our objectives are to:

• Support the business community and economic development groups with active engagement and pro-bono advice on IP law
• Contribute to the mentorship, development and support of those entering or studying to join our profession through universities and colleges
• Follow the codes of conduct of the professional organisations to which we belong, including the CIPA, CITMA, EPI and IPReg
• Monitor and increase our environmental sustainability by reducing waste and improving energy efficiency
• Encourage diversity, equality and inclusion and ensure our HR policies build the most supportive and rewarding working environment for our staff and their families
• Make ethical business decisions which balance commercial needs with the impact on our colleagues, society and the environment
• Make a positive contribution to the local community through active involvement and support of key charities

Our commitments

Charity and community support

Over the last 12 months we’ve supported a number of charities and community groups, including:

• Circus Starr
• Leeway Domestic Abuse Support Charity
• The Williams Syndrome Foundation
• Eaton Eagles Badminton Club
• Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers Cricket Club

As well as making donations, we aim to support or contribute to their awareness raising activities.

Where possible, we aim to support any other local or national charity which approaches us directly or is of personal significance to a member of our team.  

We encourage community involvement by giving our colleagues the flexibility to alter their working hours to support volunteering.

Environment and sustainability

We aim to reduce our environmental impact by:

• Avoiding non-essential travel and choosing sustainable alternatives when travel is required
• Monitoring energy use and changing to renewable alternatives including LED lighting
• Choosing paper and other consumable materials made from sustainable, recycled and recyclable materials

Employees, diversity and inclusion

We support IP inclusive, an award-winning network of intellectual property professionals who work to make our community more equal, diverse and inclusive.

As a responsible employer, we always act in a supportive way to allow our colleagues the time and flexibility to care for their family, when needed.

We embrace a culture of employee-led working practices, encouraging our colleagues to develop collaborative skills to share knowledge and best practice.

We are dedicated to training and professional development, actively investing in the skills development of our colleagues and establishing clear career paths.

We have a zero-tolerance policy towards conscious or subconscious discrimination of any type, including on the basis of gender, sexuality, race, culture, age or disability.

We are a Living Wage employer.

Contributions to academia and business

We have always taken an active role in promoting the local business community, supporting economic development groups and providing our expertise pro-bono to others.

ip21 as a whole, or representatives from the firm, have given/provide ongoing support to:

• governance boards and committees
  • We actively support CIPA, CITMA, CEIPI, INTA, LES, New Anglia LEP, Medtech Accelerator and Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.
• academia & mentoring
  • We believe in the importance of also individually supporting students and are regularly hosting interns at our head office in Norwich. Staff members provide business mentoring at the UEA (University of East Anglia) to students exploring aspects of IP, and also give ongoing mentoring to students studying IP Law at Queen Mary University, London.
  • Our staff have lectured in IP Law on the CIPA/TMPDF Core Skills course as well as providing IP lectures and advice to cohorts of students on various MSc courses at KCL (Kings College London).
  • Furthermore, we have provided support towards patent exam marking schemes and mentored trainees in the profession.

• innovation hubs and networks
  • We host regular drop-in clinics at Hethel Engineering Centre and have delivered several free IP workshops and talks, including for: the Bradfield Centre (Cambridge Science Park); Jamii (a platform for Black British creators); R3 (Blockchain-based tech firm in London); the Trinity Prize competition in Cambridge and for KTEN (Faraday Challenge) to name but a few.

• the local business community
  • We frequently speak at business community events held by organisations including Orbis Energy, Make UK, EEEGR, The Design Hub and MedBIC (ARU) and have also provided free advice to enquiries through the Business & IP Centre at the Forum Library, Norwich.