At Burnetts we're doing our very best to be a responsible business and so we have launched a range of new initiatives under the umbrella of Best Behaviour to promote social awareness in our business activities.

Environmental

The mainstay of Best Behaviour is the new Environmental policy which was outlined to teams at meetings earlier in the year but is currently being presented formally to every Partner and member of staff. Burnetts’ Sustainability Champion is Jonathan Marshall.

So far, so good

• In April, Burnetts was awarded CBEN’s Bronze Award for our policy and commitment to environmental improvement.

• Working with OyezStraker we have audited our office supplies’ needs and switched to greener “Ecoteam” products. We’ve also signed up to OyezStraker’s “Close the Loop”  recycling scheme.

• Our water coolers are now mains-fed reducing the need to transport plastic water barrels.

• 70% of our waste is currently recycled. Our target is 85%.

Equality & Diversity

Meanwhile we've also updated our Equality and Diversity policy and Partner Natalie Ruane has taken on the role of Diversity Champion, overseeing the Diversity Awareness sessions being provided by the firm’s Employment Law team.  

Our Local Community

Burnetts is the largest legal firm in Cumbria and takes its responsibility to its local community seriously.

Through volunteering, charitable donations and fundraising Burnetts is determined to give share its knowledge and resources with its local and
regional community.

* Volunteering

Everyone at Burnetts is encouraged and supported with their voluntary work. Local schools, colleges, sports clubs and charities are amongst the organisations where Burnetts’ people are governors, trustees, committee members or volunteers.

In 2006, a team from Burnetts took part in ITV’s Big Clean Up and spent a morning clearing rubbish from Knowlfield Wood in Carlisle.

* Pro Bono

As well as volunteering, Burnetts also participates in the Cumbria Pro-Help scheme whereby professionals from Cumbria donate some of their time and expertise to community projects. Through Pro-Help Burnetts solicitors have worked, at no cost, on projects such as incorporating charities or drafting contracts.

In order to support new businesses, Burnetts is part of the Lawyers for Your Business Scheme which offers free advice to start up and new businesses.

Additionally in 2006, the firm offered free legal advice for victims of the Carlisle floods after it was revealed that local families were suffering increased stress from rogue builders.

Sharing expertise is an important element of our social responsibility. Many local and regional organisations have found our free legal briefings worthwhile and useful. 

* Charitable Giving / Sponsorship

Burnetts has been a corporate member of the Cumbria Community Foundation since 1999. By making an annual donation, Burnetts has helped to improve quality of life for people experiencing disadvantage in Cumbria. In 2008 Burnetts made an additional donation to become one of the Foundation’s Challenge members.

As a Cumbrian business, Burnetts has strong agricultural links. We support, through sponsorship, rural events such as the Penrith, Cockermouth and Cumberland Shows.

Burnetts is a long-standing sponsor of Young Enterprise.

* Fundraising

The firm’s partners and employees are keen fundraisers. Events such as the MacMillan Coffee Morning each September and the annual Christmas collection for the Jigsaw Appeal are enthusiastically supported.

Gruelling fundraisers like The Cumbrian Run and The Great North Run always include participants from Burnetts. 

In June 2007 one fifth of Burnetts’ workforce joined Eden Valley Hospice’s Midnight Walk in memory of our former colleague Shirley Green who had died of cancer the previous month. The Burnetts team raised the most money and will be taking part again in 2008.

* Burnetts’ Bursary Scheme

Burnetts’ Bursary Scheme was set up to ensure that students from all backgrounds were able to obtain the higher education qualification necessary to become a solicitor: this non means-tested benefit helps students to meet the cost of their Legal Practice Course.

For further information on Burnetts’ Social Responsibility contact Managing Partner Tom Leach.