The defence industry carries a colossal responsibility to help keep nations safe and secure. This is the cornerstone of society and without it there can be no sustainability, but achieving sustainable growth means creating value beyond the bottom line.

In its latest report Thales has demonstrated its long term commitment to the UK , outlining its approach to social value with a collection of programmes designed to deliver a positive contribution to its communities, the environment and society at large.

Thales has created a framework that’s centred around four pillars of living net zero; making a contribution across the UK; supporting cohesion and inclusivity in our local communities; and promoting digital citizenship.

This approach builds on a comprehensive study carried out by Thales in partnership with the Social Value Portal to understand social needs in its local communities as well as identifying the areas around which Thales is best positioned to make the biggest material difference.

	Living Net Zero As world leaders came together at COP 26 to address the greatest challenge facing humankind, Thales took the UK’s climate change targets a step further and committed to achieve net zero in its UK operations by 2030. This report outlines the way in which Thales will deliver on its ambitious targets by incorporating eco-design principles into all new products by 2023 and identifying new ways to apply its technologies for broader environmental and societal benefit.
	Making a contribution across the UK With its unique geographic footprint, Thales is well positioned to add economic value across all four nations of the United Kingdom. Building on the recommendations from its study with the Social Value Portal, Thales has designed a series of initiatives to address the needs in its local communities today while leaving a positive legacy for future generations. This extends to working with supply chain partners to help them on their journey of continuous improvement and growth.
	Supporting cohesion and inclusivity in our local communities This pillar outlines Thales’ employee-led activity and is underpinned by its volunteering policy, with access to over 160,000 hours of employee-delivered volunteering each year. Thales will work with partners, including the Prince’s Trust, to establish programmes that support people from disadvantaged backgrounds and targets 13% of all hires each year to be from under-represented groups.
	Promoting digital citizenship Digital citizenship is essential in today’s society. Put simply, it’s the ability to access digital technology safely and responsibly. Thales has outlined the work it is doing to increase awareness and to support vulnerable groups in society, with a particular focus on STEM activity to encourage people into careers in Cyber Security and Space. It is also equipping our customers with technology that will help increase digital resilience for society in an increasingly interconnected world.

 

Alex Cresswell, Chief Executive and Chairman, Thales UK said:

Social value is not a new concept to Thales, we’ve been committed to helping our local communities and the environment for many years but now, we’ve created a framework and a set of targets against it, pushing us to achieve even more.

I believe our approach has the power to deliver lasting benefits to our communities and stakeholders thanks to our unique capabilities, inspirational employees and wide-reaching geographic footprint. It makes me feel proud to be a part of Thales, a company that’s helping the UK become a safer, greener, more inclusive and prosperous society.

Webinar

View our  Webinar: How can the defence industry truly deliver social value, a discussion exploring how defence companies can take the lead on adopting social value models to prove their commitment to responsible business practices and ensure that their activities create positive outcomes for all stakeholders.