Assay Office Committed to the Triple Bottom Line

We are proud to be a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The RJC is a standards-setting organisation that was established to advance responsible ethical practices throughout the diamond, gold and platinum group metals jewellery supply chain. The RJC has developed a benchmark standard and credible mechanisms for verifying responsible business practices through third party auditing.

As an RJC member, we commit to operating in accordance with the RJC code of practices. We commit to integrating ethical, human rights, social and environmental considerations into our day-to-day operations, business planning activities and decision-making processes. A key component of this commitment is to report on our progress on the route to corporate sustainability.

At Sheffield Assay Office we're committed to measuring our social and environmental impact in addition to our financial performance – sometimes referred to as the triple bottom line.

People

A sustainable business needs a dedicated workforce that is invested in its long-term success. That's why we pay all our employees at a rate set above the national minimum or living wages. Additionally:

• 42 % of our senior management team are female
• employee retention is at a high level – ten employees have at least 20 years’ experience
• health & safety is a key priority – we've had no reportable accidents in last 12 months
• we invest in staff training and development – many employees have completed training courses in order to develop their skills
• we supporting aspiring local silversmiths by sponsoring awards and offering discounted hallmarking costs for students.

We also place a significant emphasis on human rights. Our human rights due diligence assessment (which included general employment terms, child labour, forced labour, freedom of association and collective bargaining, non-discrimination, business partners, security, and legal compliance) showed no cause for concern.

Planet

Environmental stewardship is another key element of our sustainability.

Energy use is monitored, and measures have been introduced to reduce our environmental impact. We have switched to an energy provider with zero carbon tariff. Solar panels have been installed to reduce our reliance on the national grid. Low energy lighting is also being phased in to all areas of the company. Electric charging points have been installed for use by staff and customers. Also:

• single use plastic gloves have been replaced by longer lasting products
• operational hours for energy intensive equipment (such as furnaces) have been reduced without affecting performance or turnaround times
• our facility in Sheffield has been given an energy performance rating of 'A' which is classed as 'very efficient'
• paper usage is minimised wherever possible by implementing electronic means of recording data and information. Electronic invoicing is also now standard.
• we're significantly reduced our environmental impact of the transportation of goods by streamlining our deliveries around the country.

Profit

You can’t be a sustainable business if you don’t balance the books. Revenues, expenses, operating costs, employee wages, taxes, and community investments are reviewed continuously in order to maintain an efficient and viable business.    

By offering industry-leading levels of service, we're able to retain and expand our already diverse customer base. We have scrutinised all areas of income and expenditure in order to keep our balance sheet healthy. As a result, we've been able to invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in new technology across the laboratory and hallmarking departments. From laser marking machines to XRF and ICP-OES instruments, this improves operational efficiency and helps maintain our competitive edge.

Looking forward

The process of continual improvement is embedded in our culture at the Sheffield Assay Office, keeping us focused on the future while also celebrating our history and maintaining tradition.

The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.

To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,

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