Carbon Reduction Plan

Last updated 12/16/2025

CARBON REDUCTION PLAN

Philosophy Education

1. Commitment to Net Zero

Philosophy Education is committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the UK Government’s Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 and wider national decarbonisation objectives.

As an education recruitment provider operating across schools, academies and multi-academy trusts, we recognise that our environmental impact extends beyond our direct operations and into the behaviours we influence across candidates, clients and supply chains. Our approach therefore focuses on direct reduction, behavioural change, and indirect system-wide impact.

2. Organisational Boundary & Methodology

This Carbon Reduction Plan covers  –

• Corporate office operations
• Staff commuting and business travel
• Recruitment and administrative processes
• Candidate engagement and behavioural influence
• Indirect support to schools through digital and low-carbon workforce models

Emissions have been calculated using UK Government GHG Conversion Factors, applying conservative, realistic assumptions appropriate for an SME operating within a serviced office environment.

3. Baseline Emissions (PPN 06/21)

4. Carbon Reduction Targets

Philosophy Education has set clear, realistic and measurable carbon reduction targets that reflect both our current operational footprint and our anticipated growth over the next few years. Our targets focus on achievable year-on-year reductions, prioritising behavioural change, digital optimisation and low-carbon travel, while recognising the limitations of operating within a serviced office environment.

Our approach aligns with PPN 06/21, balancing ambition with deliverability, and demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement rather than one-off measures. Targets will be reviewed annually to ensure they remain appropriate, evidence-based and aligned with evolving best practice and government guidance.

These targets are underpinned by practical actions already in place and by planned initiatives that influence not only our own emissions, but also those of our candidate workforce and the schools we support, delivering wider system-level carbon reduction over the life of the framework

5. Measures Already Implemented

Philosophy Education has already embedded a range of practical, low-carbon measures across our operations, workforce policies and day-to-day service delivery. These actions focus on reducing avoidable emissions at source, particularly in relation to energy use, travel and waste, and demonstrate that our carbon reduction commitments are already active rather than aspirational.

The measures outlined below form the foundation of our Carbon Reduction Plan and provide a robust platform for ongoing improvement over the life of the framework, ensuring that sustainability is integrated into business-as-usual operations and service delivery for schools and academies

Office & Operations

• Electric-only office (no gas)
• Automated lighting controls
• Digital document storage and online registration
• Reduced printing and stationery procurement

Workforce Travel

• 100% public transport commuting
• Cycle to Work scheme for staff post-probation
• Electric vehicle purchase scheme for Directors

Waste Reduction

• Reusable lunch box and cup scheme
• Reduced single-use packaging
• Supplier preference for low-waste options

6. Candidate & Supply-Chain Carbon Reduction

Philosophy Education recognises that the largest indirect carbon impact of recruitment is candidate travel and placement patterns. We actively reduce this through  –

Candidate Engagement

• Encouraging local placements to reduce travel distance
• Promoting public transport and active travel options
• Prioritising long-term and block placements to reduce repeat journeys
• Digital interviews and onboarding to reduce travel

Candidate Education

• Sustainability guidance issued during onboarding
• Promoting schools with strong sustainability practices
• Supporting candidates to align with low-carbon school initiatives

7. Supporting Schools & MATs Indirectly

Philosophy Education recognises that, while our direct operational carbon footprint is relatively modest, our greatest opportunity to support Net Zero objectives lies in the influence we have across schools, academies and multi-academy trusts through our recruitment and workforce-planning activities.

We actively support schools and MATs to reduce carbon emissions indirectly by promoting efficient, localised and digitally enabled staffing models that reduce unnecessary travel, minimise last-minute supply requirements and support more sustainable workforce planning.

Key areas of indirect support include  –

Localised recruitment  – prioritising the placement of candidates within reasonable travel distances to reduce commuting emissions and reliance on long-distance supply staff.

Reduced reactive staffing  – supporting longer-term and block bookings where appropriate, reducing repeated daily travel and associated carbon output.

Digital service delivery  – enabling remote candidate registration, digital compliance checks and online interviews, reducing travel and paper use for both schools and candidates.

Sustainable candidate behaviours  – encouraging public transport, cycling and active travel among candidates, aligned with many schools’ own sustainability and travel plans.

Alignment with school sustainability strategies – supporting schools that are working towards their own Net Zero, Climate Action or Sustainability Plans by providing staffing solutions that complement these objectives.

Through these measures, Philosophy Education helps schools and MATs to embed sustainability into workforce delivery, contributing to carbon reduction at a system level rather than solely within our own organisational boundary.

8. Planned Measures (2025–2030)

Philosophy Education will continue to strengthen and formalise its approach to carbon reduction through a programme of planned, proportionate and deliverable measures. These measures focus on reducing emissions within our control, influencing behaviour across our workforce and candidate base, and supporting schools and MATs to achieve their own sustainability objectives.

Planned measures include;

• Enhanced data and monitoring – working with our serviced office provider to improve access to building-level sustainability and energy efficiency data, enabling more accurate Scope 2 reporting where feasible.
• Low-carbon travel incentives – expanding uptake of the Cycle to Work scheme, promoting active travel options and maintaining public transport as the default commuting method for staff and candidates.
• Electric vehicle transition – completing the transition of Director vehicles to electric and reviewing opportunities to extend EV incentives as the business grows.
• Digital optimisation – further reducing the need for travel and paper through expanded use of digital onboarding, remote interviews, electronic documentation and online contract management.
• Candidate engagement and awareness – introducing structured sustainability guidance during candidate onboarding to promote low-carbon travel choices and alignment with schools’ environmental initiatives.
• Supplier sustainability – embedding basic environmental considerations into supplier selection and review processes, proportionate to our SME status.

• Continuous improvement and review – reviewing progress annually, updating this Carbon Reduction Plan in line with business growth, regulatory guidance and evolving best practice.

These planned measures ensure that Philosophy Education’s carbon reduction approach remains progressive, evidence-based and aligned with PPN 06/21, delivering ongoing environmental benefit.

9. Governance & Monitoring
   

10. Declaration

Declaration

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 and associated guidance and represents a true and accurate record of Philosophy Education’s current carbon footprint, carbon reduction commitments and planned measures towards achieving Net Zero by 2050.