Sustainability

We want to become recognised as a leader in sustainability in our industry.

We believe that acting conscientiously as a business, through understanding our dependence on natural and social capital, and investing responsibly to achieve positive social and environmental outcomes, are critical to our long-term success. Our sustainability plan charts our progressive journey from risk management to providing social value and driving opportunities for sustainable growth. We collaborate with our stakeholders, including patients, colleagues, consultants, local communities and partners to ensure that the positive impact we generate goes further.

We have reviewed our sustainability goals to ensure our objectives are as targeted as possible and have reduced them from 17 to 9. Our previous limited scope net zero goal of 2030 has been updated to a science-based target inclusive of all 3 scopes of carbon emissions and with an extended deadline of 2045. This change was made to ensure the goal was comprehensive, in line with best practice and aligned to the NHS, with a more cost-effective emissions reduction approach.

We seek to manage waste efficiently, save water, contribute to the UK’s healthcare workforce, focus on diversity and ensure we have engaged and supported colleagues, embedded in the communities they serve. We work hard to share a welcoming culture which is open, collaborative, and focused on safety and a spirit of continuous improvement.

Respect the environment

• 1. Achieve net zero, inclusive of all scopes, by 2045
• 2. Manage our waste more efficiently while minimising detrimental effects to our planet
• 3. Identify and acting on water saving opportunities

Engage our people and communities

• 4. Contribute to the UK’s healthcare workforce through innovative schemes
• 5. Ensure that the ethnic diversity of our executive team and its line reports is in line with the Parker review target
• 6. Achieve and maintain balance of at least 40% female representation across the executive team and its line reports
• 7. Maintain an overall colleague engagement score of at least 80%
• 8. Build strong connections between Spire Healthcare and local communities

Operate responsibly

• 9. Develop our approach to controls around modern slavery

Read more on the progress we’re making against these goals in the our sustainability section of our annual report for 20245.

We strive to be a sustainable company, delivering environmental, social and economic benefits while caring for our patients. ‘Social value’ means what we are doing for our communities, our colleagues and our planet that adds value above and beyond our core work.

These extra benefits may be in:

• Work: contributing to training healthcare professionals through our apprenticeship programmes
• Economy: delivering good quality healthcare to patients who need it the most
• Community: community efforts to support local businesses and charities
• Planet: managing waste sustainably
• Innovation: finding new ways to deliver services which are better for people and the planet

Read more on how Spire Healthcare contributes to society and the environment.