Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy
The UK Rural Training Co.
Effective July 2025
Introduction
At The UK Rural Training Co., our mission is to equip individuals with the land-based skills needed to care for, work with, and protect the natural environment. As a newly formed organisation, we are committed to embedding ESG principles into every aspect of our operations - from how we train and who we hire, to how we reduce our environmental impact and strengthen rural communities.
This ESG policy outlines our current commitments and the guiding principles shaping our future actions.
1. Environmental Stewardship
We recognise the responsibility we hold in protecting the landscapes we work within. Our environmental aims are built on sustainability, conservation, and long-term resilience.
We commit to:
2. Social Responsibility
We believe rural skills training should be inclusive, accessible, and empowering—particularly for underrepresented groups.
We commit to:
3. Governance and Ethical Practice
We hold ourselves accountable to high standards of governance, ethics, and compliance - both as a training provider and a business.
We commit to:
Monitoring and Reporting
As a new company, we are putting in place systems to monitor and report on our ESG impact. These include:
For any queries relating to this policy, or to discuss partnerships that align with our ESG values, please contact [email protected].
Effective July 2025
Introduction
At The UK Rural Training Co., our mission is to equip individuals with the land-based skills needed to care for, work with, and protect the natural environment. As a newly formed organisation, we are committed to embedding ESG principles into every aspect of our operations - from how we train and who we hire, to how we reduce our environmental impact and strengthen rural communities.
This ESG policy outlines our current commitments and the guiding principles shaping our future actions.
1. Environmental Stewardship
We recognise the responsibility we hold in protecting the landscapes we work within. Our environmental aims are built on sustainability, conservation, and long-term resilience.
We commit to:
- Promoting sustainable land management practices across all training activities.
- Minimising environmental impact by using efficient, well-maintained equipment and advocating SMART machinery adoption.
- Reducing emissions by delivering training locally across Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland, minimising unnecessary travel.
- Working with landowners and partners to enhance biodiversity and manage natural assets responsibly.
- Ensuring all waste, fuel use, and material handling during training complies with environmental regulations.
2. Social Responsibility
We believe rural skills training should be inclusive, accessible, and empowering—particularly for underrepresented groups.
We commit to:
- Creating inclusive learning environments that welcome people of all backgrounds, genders and abilities.
- Proactively encouraging more women and young people into land-based sectors.
- Supporting the employment and upskilling of 16 to 25-year-olds, particularly those not in education or traditional employment.
- Ensuring all trainers and team members operate in accordance with safeguarding best practice.
- Prioritising the wellbeing and safety of all learners, staff, and community partners.
3. Governance and Ethical Practice
We hold ourselves accountable to high standards of governance, ethics, and compliance - both as a training provider and a business.
We commit to:
- Maintaining transparency and integrity in all financial, contractual and legal matters.
- Using Lantra-certified trainers to ensure quality, safety, and industry compliance.
- Operating in line with health and safety, employment, and data protection legislation.
- Embedding a culture of listening, continuous improvement, and stakeholder engagement across our organisation.
- Collecting anonymised learner outcomes and skills data to inform future policy, partnerships and regional workforce planning.
Monitoring and Reporting
As a new company, we are putting in place systems to monitor and report on our ESG impact. These include:
- Annual ESG reviews and policy updates
- Learner feedback and social impact assessments
- Environmental impact metrics aligned with local and national targets
For any queries relating to this policy, or to discuss partnerships that align with our ESG values, please contact [email protected].
