Royal approval for DRPG’s sustainability work
Creative communications group DRPG received a Royal visit from The Earl of Wessex to find out how the business has coped with Covid-19 and continued its contribution towards sustainability.
The Earl of Wessex visited DRPG’s studios in Hartlebury to commend the team on its rapid and continued response in upholding the highest standards of health and safety during the pandemic which enabled many clients to continue their own communication efforts to their organisations.
During the visit, he toured its Covid testing centre and spoke with many of the team about how the pandemic had affected the business. With a 60 per cent drop in sales he was keen to understand how the team extended the virtual event offering into a £9 million business in its own right and also took the opportunity to implement the biggest investment programme in the company’s history, with more than £4m being spent on infrastructure, facilities and employing over 80 new people.
His visit coincided with the launch of DRPG’s corporate social responsibility review – its annual progress report on the sustainability objectives set out in the group’s 2020 CSR Charter. It was also Day 17 of DRPG’s #40Reasons countdown to the close of its 40th anniversary, a fitting tribute to the contribution the group is making towards the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals.
The Earl was invited to plant a tree to mark the occasion, alongside members of the sustainability team who were creating a new initiative to encourage biodiversity and increase environmental awareness on the 4.5-acre studio complex.
Dale Parmenter, group chief executive, said: “Despite the challenges of the last 14 months the DRPG team have really taken sustainability to another level. Our CSR Charter cements our position in really driving this into the business agenda, we all have a responsibility to positively contribute to our communities, society and the environment. As a business we are stronger and more prepared than ever to take on the challenges and opportunities in the future.”
Andrew Davies, integrity manager, added: “The CSR Review 2021 provides transparency to our stakeholders and really holds us to account in the way we operate. Having passed the recent external international sustainability audit with the highest marks attainable, we’re proud of our progress in leading the industry with what we have achieved, however we recognise there is more to do and we hope our journey can inspire clients, suppliers and the wider industry to collaborate towards making a meaningful difference.”
