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Why are the environment and society important to BDO?

Positive and sustainable performance is imperative to demonstrate our impact on the people and planet around us. It’s how we are, and will be, judged to be a responsible business. For you it’s the opportunity to build on the strength of BDO to help people, businesses and society flourish.

BDO UK

A purpose-filled career

Being a good corporate citizen doesn’t just happen when we take our ten Citizenship days. As auditors, tax professionals and business advisers, we play an important role in both the UK economy and society. We identify and promote the issues that the entrepreneurially-spirited, ambitious businesses of the UK face through our Rethink campaign.

ReThink

Rethink has helped our teams to have real business conversations with manufacturers, retailers, software companies, real estate developers, building societies, tech and media companies, law firms, private wealth individuals or private equity companies about sustainability and how to ‘Rethink’ how they operate in a post-pandemic world.

BDO UK

Did you know?

We currently offset carbon through ClimateCare’s Gyapa Stoves project in Ghana.

The Gyapa is an efficient cookstove which cooks food more quickly, uses 50% less fuel and is less smoky. This cuts carbon emissions, reduces exposure to toxic fumes, saves money and helps reduce deforestation.

In 2019/20, BDO became carbon neutral across its GB office network. Nine of BDO’s offices now hold a BREEAM rating of very good or higher for energy efficiency.

Over 25% of the company car fleet used by our staff is now made up of Electric Vehicles.

In December 2021, BDO in the UK made a commitment to go Net Zero. We are currently working with an external carbon consultancy to explore how soon we can get there and to create and publish our Transition to Net Zero plan.

BDO UK

Access to opportunity

Social mobility is about ensuring the opportunities open to an individual are not dependent on their economic and social background. At BDO, we believe where you start in life should not determine your future. Here, everyone can develop to their full potential regardless of their background, their parent’s income, or their education. 

Our initiatives

We’re committed to reducing workplace barriers, designing opportunities to level the playing field and broadening our talent pipeline. To accelerate progress we continue to collaborate with other accountancy and professional services firms to give our people a chance to get involved and give back.

Meet Paul

Who shares some insight into his own journey from school leaver apprentice to Managing Partner.

BDO UK

Early Careers

The Early Careers (EC) team are running ring-fenced insight programmes: Explore BDO is for school students who meet the social mobility criteria, and there is a programme for university students from Black Heritage backgrounds. In total we host around 60 students each summer, providing a variety of virtual sessions which enabled participants to meet colleagues from across the firm.

BDO UK

Access Accountancy

Access Accountancy is a collaboration of more than 25 professional services firms dedicated to improving access to the accountancy profession in the UK. We work together with other member firms on a series of commitments, including arranging quality placements for school students that meet social mobility markers, participating in working groups and workshops.

BDO UK

Rise

We have been working with the top accountancy firms and ICAEW on an outreach project RISE, targeting secondary schools in social mobility cold spots across the UK. The aim is to support students with the skills and aspirations they need for their future careers, whatever roles or sectors they choose to go into.

BDO UK

City of London Social Mobility Taskforce

A new taskforce has been launched to improve socio-economic diversity at senior levels in financial and professional services across the UK. BDO’s Sarah Hillary, Partner – Digital, Risk and Advisory Services, was appointed to support the incredibly important work of this Taskforce in her position on the Advisory Board.

BDO UK

Social mobility charity partnerships

We have a number of charity and school partnerships that tackle social inequality. From running competitions, mentoring, workshops, CV writing and mock interviews, our people use their citizenship days to make a difference for the communities in which we live and work.

BDO UK

Teach First charity partnership 

We're working with the charity Teach First to help improve social mobility within accountancy. The partnership will see us delivering inspiring workshops in schools in disadvantaged areas, coaching school leaders and investing in the charity to support their ongoing work to create lasting change through investing in the recruitment and training of quality teachers.