CSR

Building Brighter Futures.

From Early Years to Lifelong Careers.

As a recruitment agency, our core purpose and competency is to connect individuals to great career opportunities. However, in socially deprived areas, some people face disadvantages from an extremely early age which can hinder their career prospects later in life. Time and time again, research has found that the first few years of a child’s life are critical for brain development and building the blocks for lifelong learning. 

Spencer Clarke Group is based in the heart of Preston; on our doorstep - and where most of our wonderful employees live - is Blackpool, Liverpool, Knowsley and Manchester which are regularly listed as the most socially deprived locations in the UK. However, we strongly believe that it doesn’t have to be this way if children are invested in at a young age. 

The five core aspirations of our CSR strategy is to take a holistic approach and drive change from an early age to help families break free from generational poverty cycles. With the right support and skills in place, children can dream and build a brighter future for themselves.

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Building Brighter Futures Together

We understand that for meaningful change to happen, it's vital to collaborate with charities and schools to leverage their expertise and maximise resources.

By working extremely closely with our incredible partners, we reach the children and families who need our help most. 

Download and read our 2024 CSR report now.

View 2024 CSR Report
COMMUNITY & WELLBEING

Support Early Years Development To Lay the Foundation for Lifelong Learning, Health, and Wellbeing.

The first few years of a child's life are critical for so many reasons - brain development, developing communication skills, emotional wellbeing, and nurturing a love for learning to name but a few. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds face multiple barriers which can hinder their success later on in life. 

We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive which is why we support early intervention initiatives to foster a fairer society and give children the tools to make their own way in the world.   

These are just some of the initiatives we support in our communities.

  • As part of our Big Community Build initiative, we renovated an entire playground at Mereside Primary Academy to create five learning zones. This included a construction zone, an outdoor library, a music wall, an art wall and a curiosity shed to ignite their imaginations. The playground was built adhering to the Curiosity Approach, a practice under the Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
  • In 2024/25, we’re proud to sponsor Active Lancashire, an initiative designed to embed sport and physical activity into the everyday life of young people in Lancashire. Sport has the power to transform young people due its positive impact on physical and mental health.
  • In 2024, we supported a SEND school to deliver a magical Christmas experience for all of its pupils. As well as supplying arts, crafts and nibbles, we brought a Santa into the school to deliver presents to every child.
  • In 2025, we proudly sponsored the Endeavour Awards, Endeavour Learning Trusts awards ceremony which celebrates the commitment and hard work of their staff and students. 
  • Each year, we sponsor a local football team to encourage sport which can positively impact physical and mental health.
  • Each November, the SCG team takes on an infamous BBC game to raise money for Children in Need. To date, we have tackled the Weakest Link twice and the Traitors.
  • We regularly run competitions across our social media platforms for schools to win exciting goodies! To mark the 2024 Olympics and National Writing Day, we hosted an Olympics themed poetry competition! Faheem from Haslam Park Primary School stole the gold medal with a fantastic poem which won his class a hamper of treats and stationery!

"Each day, we witness the significant impact of the playground."



Mereside Primary Academy logo

The EYFS Lead said

"The positive response from our community has been nothing short of extraordinary, with staff, parents, and children alike genuinely captivated by the transformation. By focusing on the Early Years Framework, we aimed to improve children's learning through play.

Each day, we witness the significant impact of the playground, with children fully immersed in their play, enhancing their communication skills, learning to share, and resolving problems collaboratively."

EYFS Lead and Primary School Teacher, Mereside Primary Academy

Teachers at Mereside Primary Academy
Construction Zone
Little Dreamers Library
Music Wall
COMMUNITY & WELLBEING

Support Basic Needs Which Are Essential for Survival and Wellbeing.

Over the last few years, the UK has lurched from one economic crisis to another which has heavily impacted on our local community in the North West. Many low-income families in our region now rely on charities just to survive. We believe that no-one - especially children - should have to live like this which is why we are so passionate about working with charities to support basic fundamental needs.  

As part of a local network of care, these are just some of the charities we work with in our community.

  • Each month, we volunteer 4 hours of time at Fylde Food Bank to support their vital operations.  
  • Each month, we donate 52kg of food and toiletries to Fylde Food Bank to provide emergency support to those in crisis. In December, we supply a larger donation to support seasonal demand.
  • In 2024, we supported family charity Home-Start Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre with over 200 pieces of school uniform, toys and games to support summer holiday clubs, and 30 Christmas hampers to support local families.
  • Each quarter, employees donate clothes, books and toys to Helping Hearts Fylde. The items are distributed to residents in Blackpool for free. 
  • Through the generous donations of our team, we support Lancashire Women with clothing and toiletries to support women facing homelessness or fleeing domestic abuse.

"Home-Start makes sure those years count, so that no child's future is limited. YOU have helped us do that."

Home-Start logo

Home-Start said

"Our parents have been overwhelmed by your generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to their children. Your donations of Easter Eggs, School Uniforms, and Christmas hampers full of seasonal food have been thoughtfully chosen and brought to us in plenty of time for our staff and volunteers to deliver them to families. Your team have been friendly, understanding and have ‘done what they said they would do’. 

Children’s earliest years make the biggest difference. Home-Start makes sure those years count, so that no child's future is limited. YOU have helped us do that."

CEO, Home-Start Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

Education team with games
SCG education team with a collection of food hampers for Christmas
SCG education team with a collection toys
SCG education team with a collection of school uniforms
COMMUNITY & WELLBEING

Support Individual Career Growth.

Whether you’re a child developing foundational skills in school, a young person stepping into the workforce, or a mid-career professional looking to progress, everyone faces unique challenges on their career path.

We believe that every business has a duty to support the career development of their own employees and the communities they serve. While the government has outlined their ambition to ‘level up’ the North/South divide, we feel that employers can still play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve higher earnings, financial security and personal fulfillment. 

These are just some of the measures which we implement to support our communities.

  • Published 280 blogs on our Career Hub to provide career advice across the industries we serve. The Career Hub serves as a centralised platform to empower individuals, enhance their career prospects, and align their ambitions with well paid career opportunities.
  • While the relationship can be difficult to establish, a good education and knowledge has been linked to better employment opportunities, higher income and improved health and wellbeing.
  • Work in association with respected industry professionals (who share our passion for educating younger generations) to help and inspire young people with career choices and career progression.
  • Provided work experience for two students from Preston College. Following the placement, one of the students has joined us in a full time position.
  • Deliver a Wellness Project initiative to support emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. The project aims to provide constructive advice and coping mechanisms to positively impact lives. 

“I’m proud to support Lancashire Mind through the Spencer Clarke Group team taking on Tough Mudder."

Luke Meeks

Luke said

I’m proud to support Lancashire Mind through the Spencer Clarke Group team taking on Tough Mudder. 

Unfortunately, I've had three male suicides in the family and it was simply because these men didn't have the right services for them to use. Lancashire Mind offers free counselling and workshops to everyone who is struggling with their mental health.

It's important for everyone to talk and I believe there has been a real let down in the current services for men and it has had devastating consequences.

I’m pleased to say that we raised nearly £3K from Tough Mudder and I hope we can continue to raise money through Spencer Clarke Group for this extremely deserving cause.”

Luke Meeks, Creative Lead

Two male Spencer Clarke Group employees celebrating after completing Tough Mudder
Spencer Clarke Group employees at Tough Mudder
Spencer Clarke Group employee at Tough Mudder
A male Spencer Clarke Group employee completing Tough Mudder obstacle
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI)

Champion People and Diversity.

As an agency, we are committed to championing people and diversity through treating people how we would want to be treated, and by interrupting and challenging unlawful discrimination. As recruiters, we believe that every job applicant should have equal opportunities regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation and any other factors which could be discriminated against. 

We oppose unlawful discrimination which relates to pay and benefits, terms and conditions of employment, dealing with grievances and discipline, dismissal, leave for parents, requests for flexible working and selection for employment or promotion. 

Our aim is for workforces, whether that be our own or the clients we serve, to be fair and truly representative of all sections of society. If we see or suspect that bias might be present in our clients recruitment process, we believe that it is our obligation to interrupt and challenge it. By removing the inequalities which restrict equal opportunities, positive change can happen. 

These are just some of the measures which we implement to facilitate an equal, diverse and inclusive workplace.

  • Commitment to review DEI Policy annually. The DEI policy extends to all internal employees, contractors and agency staff.
  • Regularly review the portrayal of under-represented groups within marketing materials to ensure they are balanced and don’t reinforce stereotypes. 
  • Commitment to review marketing materials and offer recommendations to improve the diversity of candidates without being ‘tokenistic.’
  • Regularly explore and examine SCG employees privilege, unconscious bias and assumptions. 
  • Provide education and internal training to share strategies on testing and eliminating unconscious bias. 
  • Use of intelligent data to drive decisions to minimise the impact of unconscious bias. 
  • Ensure job adverts use the correct language and avoid any stereotyping which may deter candidates from applying.
  • Use of structured interviews to enable a candidate's skills, qualifications and knowledge to be fairly measured against each other rather than from impressions. 
  • Market career opportunities at targeted networking events and advertise on niche/specialist job boards.
  • Conduct anonymous employee and agency staff (past and present) surveys to understand what specific issues of unconscious bias and unfairness might exist. 
  • Zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination. All complaints are taken seriously and such acts are dealt with as misconduct under the Spencer Clarke Group grievance and disciplinary procedures. (The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination in the workplace. If harassment relates to a protected characteristic, this is a criminal offence and will be dealt with through official channels.)
  • As nominated by one of our employees, we raised £3,423 for brain injury charity Headway by taking on Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder provided an excellent opportunity for team bonding and facilitating physical & mental health.  As nominated by one of our employees, we raised £2,984 for mental health charity, Lancashire Mind by taking on Tough Mudder. 
  • By playing ‘The Traitors’ twice in 2024, we raised £1,180 which was split between the winners chosen charities - Lymphoma Action, Dementia UK and Children in Need. 
  • Two of our employees, John Shorrock and Joe Penny, raised £870 for Macmillan Cancer Support by ‘braving the shave.’ Macmillan Cancer Support is a cause close to John and Joe’s heart as their families have been impacted by cancer. 

SCG Takes on The Traitors

After intense lunch time round tables, shock banishments, murders galore, shield games and nerve wracking grand finals, Mike Shorrock and Kaylah Henderson won series 1 as faithfuls, but sneaky Anna Cochrane won series 2 as a deceitful Traitor! 

By playing The Traitors twice in 2024, we raised an incredible £1,180 which was split between Lymphoma Action, Dementia UK and Children in Need. 

SUSTAINABILITY

Protect the Environment and Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2045.

As Mike Berners-Lee famously once said, there is no planet B, which is why protecting our environment and achieving net zero emissions by 2045 is one of our core CSR aspirations. 

Every 12 months, we calculate our Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) emissions and produce a comprehensive Carbon Reduction Plan which is in line with the latest government recommendations. Emissions are calculated in accordance with the UK Government’s Environmental reporting guidelines and The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. 

These are just some of the initiatives which we facilitate to reduce direct emissions, indirect emissions and indirect value chain emissions. 

  • Support UK and worldwide climate and forestation projects. Since 2023, we have helped to fund 16 projects including repairing water boreholes in Eritrea, peatland restoration and conservation in Indonesia, a wind power project in Mexico, generating renewable solar electricity in Egypt, and conserving the Amazon in Brazil.
  • Through Ecologi, we have planted 2,470 trees between 2023 and April 2025.
  • In 2024, we supported a number of worldwide carbon avoidance projects which have resulted in 120tCO2e avoided.
  • From May 2025, we planted 222 trees per month through Carma Earth.
  • Offer employees to join the UK Government EV Scheme.
  • Onsite EV charger for employees. 
  • Commitment to minimise and recycle waste. We provide dedicated bins for cardboard, plastic, cans and batteries. 
  • Reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency through energy efficient lighting within the offices.
  • Virtually paperless.
  • Champion video meetings to minimise business travel. 
  • Encourage car sharing and use of public transport to reduce travelling. 
  • Use of sustainable suppliers and thoughtful purchasing wherever possible. 
  • Provide employees with personalised water bottles to reduce the number of single use plastic bottles used. 
  • Provide employees with the opportunity to volunteer hours in the community. 

What is SCG's Big Community Build?

Over the 2024 school summer holidays, we embarked on a mission to turn a local primary school playground, Mereside Primary Academy, into a world of fun and creativity for 2-5 year old's.

Learning through creative play and exploring new environments is essential for a child’s development and exactly why we were so passionate about transforming a playground into five extraordinary learning zones.


How Did We Build the School Playground?

After liaising closely with the primary school, we assembled a team of willing SCG employees and enlisted the help of local tradespeople, PGA Contractors to assist with the larger aspects of the build.  

The build took place over five days and included: 

  • Sanding, painting and decorating 2 wooden pallets to create a music wall. The music wall features a timeline of how music has transitioned through the years (from vinyl to Spotify) and includes musical instruments which the children can use to make their own music. 
  • Sanding, painting and decorating a wooden pallet to create an art wall. The art wall features handmade bunting and hand painted designs painted onto wooden slices.  
  • Sanding, painting and dressing the Little Dreamers' Library. The outdoor library now contains children's books, jigsaw puzzles, building blocks and soft toys. Two picnic benches now sit outside the library so the children can explore their new books and toys comfortably. 
  • Sanding, painting and dressing the curiosity shed. The shed now comprises many unique and interesting items (such as Russian dolls, a boomerang and a vintage typewriter) to spark the children's curiosity. 
  • Repainting a tired cycle track to give it a new lease of life. 
  • Building 2 sand tables to encourage messy play. 
  • Replacing worn structures with new chalk boards. 
  • Building a construction zone from scratch to enable the children and early years to explore the benefits of construction play.

The children now have access to a construction zone, an outdoor library, a music wall, an art wall and a curiosity shed to ignite their imaginations!

"I am so proud of what we have built for the children and our local community."

Debbie Holden

Debbie's Story

"The first time I ever discussed this idea, I was sitting having lunch with a friend. When I went to pay the bill, I discovered that a lovely couple (complete strangers!) on the next table had paid for my lunch and I couldn’t understand why. 

The only reason I could think of was that they were “paying forward” because they believed in this idea as much as I did! 

After pitching the idea to everyone at Spencer Clarke Group, they were as enthusiastic as I was - and so, we got to work! 

Having never built a playground before in my life, I spent a few weeks planning to make sure that everything was child friendly, weatherproof and as sustainable as possible. 

It was quite a long process but having seen the final result, I am so proud of what we have built for the children and our local community. 

I can't thank the whole team enough for helping my on this project - they really went above and beyond to bring my ideas to life!"

Debbie Holden, Head of Marketing

Two Spencer Clarke Group employees building a music wall out of old pallets.
Spencer Clarke Group employee, Debbie Holden, smiling while holding a paint brush.
Spencer Clarke Group employee, Debbie Holden, smiling in front of a construction zone.
Two Spencer Clarke Group employees hanging a basket in the outdoor library.