Driving Positive Change: Our Evolving CSR Journey
We’ve always believed that doing the right thing goes hand-in-hand with doing great business. That belief drives our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, from empowering our people and uplifting our communities, to taking real action on sustainability.
2023 marked a major turning point in our CSR journey. It was the year we brought together all acquired entities under the Node4 umbrella, creating one unified strategy and one powerful opportunity to make a bigger impact. That year became our new baseline, the starting line from which we’re measuring progress and driving change across the business.
“Our CSR strategy is built on four key focus areas: environmental, philanthropic, ethical, and economic. By dedicating each quarter to one of these areas, we ensure that our actions are targeted and impactful. We believe in making a difference where we can and encourage everyone to get involved.”
Jenny Cooper, Quality Manager
So, what have we done so far? And where are we heading next?
Protecting the Planet: Sustainability in Action
As a tech company with high energy demands, especially in our data centres, we take our environmental responsibilities seriously. In late 2022, we committed to powering our data centres with renewable energy tariffs, and despite the energy crisis of 2023, we’ve stuck with it.
We’re proud holders of ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 certifications, and our emissions reporting has grown more comprehensive and transparent. In fact, we go above and beyond legal requirements, measuring things like employee commuting, remote working, supply chain emissions, and more. We’ve just recertified, valid until 2028, and, in line with the recent entity merger, we’ve broadened the scope of our ISO 14001 certification to include Stafford and Newbury. ISO 50001 remains focused on our four data centre sites (4DCS).
We’ve also partnered with an offsetting partner that supports environmental projects in developing countries, many of which are led by majority-female teams. These projects don’t just reduce carbon; they also create jobs and uplift communities. In February 2025, we funded our first project, a hydropower initiative in Brazil that provides clean, renewable energy to the region while supporting local employment and infrastructure development. It’s an exciting first step in our journey to make a meaningful, global impact.
Innovation with Impact
Sustainability also shows up in our approach to technology. Our Office of the CTO, ‘OCTO’, leads on innovation and R&D, helping us build resilient, efficient infrastructure and drive forward sustainable digital transformation. We’re aligning our innovation efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, making sure our progress contributes to broader global objectives too.
Giving Back to Our Communities
Beyond the business, our people are out there making a difference. In May 2024, we hosted Volunteer Week, where employees connected with local charities, donated time and skills, and explored new ways to support causes close to their hearts. We’ve also deepened our partnerships with charitable organisations such as The Trussel Trust and we invite all colleagues to bring forward groups they care about.
Listening, Learning, and Acting on Feedback
One of the most important things we did in 2023 was make space for honest conversations. We launched Quarterly Development Reviews, giving every employee a regular, one-on-one touchpoint with their manager. These check-ins go beyond performance, they’re a chance to talk about goals, growth, and anything else on people’s minds.
We also introduced an Employee Pulse Survey, our way of listening to how people are really feeling. It’s anonymous, if employees choose, and the feedback helps us keep improving. We don’t just gather input; we also share what we learn with the business and take action. Because when our people feel heard, they thrive. And when they thrive, so does our business.
Supporting Women in Tech and Beyond
Equity matters to us. That’s why we launched ‘4Women’, our Women in Leadership initiative, in March 2023. Timed with International Women’s Day, this event brought women from across Node4 together to share their experiences, insights, and advice, from tackling imposter syndrome to balancing family life with leadership roles.
According to our 2023/24 Gender Pay Gap Report, women hold 11% of our top-paying roles, higher than many in our industry, but we know we can always do more. The numbers reflect progress, not perfection. We’re continuing to champion gender equity, creating more opportunities and support systems to help women advance at every level of our business.
To learn more about why initiatives like ‘4Women’ matter, and how they align with broader efforts to inspire inclusion, check out our recent International Women’s Day blog. It highlights not only the achievements of women within Node4 but also the importance of building a truly inclusive culture where everyone can lead, thrive, and feel valued.
Building a Culture That Supports the Whole Person
We want our people to feel like they can bring their full selves to work, which includes their family responsibilities, mental health, and personal goals. In December 2023, we launched our Employee Family Friendly Handbook, offering guidance on everything from flexible working to bereavement leave, fertility treatment, and our ‘Work from Anywhere’ policy. It’s all about helping people balance life and work in a way that works for them.
Mental health is another big priority. We have trained Mental Health First Aiders across all offices, a dedicated internal community, and line managers trained to spot when someone might need support. Adding to that, our BUPA healthcare access (which includes mental health services for employees and their families), and we’re proud of the safe, supportive culture we’re building.
Growing Our People at Every Stage
Investing in people is just part of our DNA. From apprenticeships and graduate programmes to our internal Node4 Academy and Trans4mation Leadership Programme, we’re committed to helping everyone develop, grow, and succeed, regardless of where they’re starting from.
In 2023, 84 employees joined our leadership training, and 17 were promoted to People Manager roles. Our talent pipeline continues to strengthen, with 40 new hires coming through our emerging talent programmes last year and 33 of them now in full-time roles across the business.
We’ve also partnered with the Early Careers Foundation, offering mentoring to A-Level students from underrepresented backgrounds. It’s all part of our mission to create opportunities, widen horizons, and support the next generation of talent. Not just in tech, but across all business areas. We had 19 employees sign up for this program last year, and we’re excited to be doing it again this year.
What’s Next?
We’re excited for what’s ahead. Building on our 2023 baseline, we’ve set bold goals like becoming carbon neutral by 2030. In 2024, we’ve already onboarded new graduates and apprentices, welcomed participants from the Microsoft Reskill Programme, and expanded our leadership training with 148 people managers now engaged.
As we grow, we’re focused on unifying our approach and keeping our CSR values front and centre. That includes tightening our supplier assessments to ensure they align with our ethical, environmental, and social standards. Most importantly, we’re committed to shouting louder about our CSR efforts, because our people, our clients, and our communities deserve to know the role we’re all playing in shaping a better, fairer, greener world.
Latest news
Node4 Successfully Achieves ISO 27017 and ISO 27018 Certifications
Long-Term Strategies for Sustainable Productivity Growth
What Node4 is Doing to Support Learning At Work Week 2024