Sustainability
and Impact.
Our Responsible Business
At Gemba, responsible business isn’t a side project – it’s woven into everything we do. From day one, our guiding principles – like being inclusive, making a difference in the world, and leading with empathy – have shaped how we work, the decisions we make, and the way we treat our people, clients, and communities.
These principles naturally align with our chosen UN Sustainable Development Goals, with Reduced Inequalities at the heart of our focus. It informs our people-first approach and commitment to health and wellbeing, while connecting to our other priorities: Gender Equality, Quality Education, Climate Action, Good Health and Wellbeing, and Decent Work & Economic Growth. Together, they form an interconnected framework, where progress in one area strengthens impact across the others – all anchored in our commitment to reducing inequalities.
Below, are our five CSR pillars and how they guide our everyday operations, along with relevant resources for each area.
Engaging Community
Taking our digital escape rooms to Cheltenham Science Festival to inspire curiosity and learning.
Charity and Community Outreach
Giving back is part of our culture. Employees take part in and lead initiatives to support local schools and outreach events, charities, and social causes, with our longer-term partnerships focusing on education, gender equality, and reducing inequalities. Everyone has the opportunity to get involved – from volunteering at school careers days to joining events such as EmPowerCyber in Cheltenham, Cheltenham Science Festival, the UWE Unlock Cyber Taster Day, and national events like the FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics competition. We round off these experiences by helping children see their potential in tech – and if we’ve inspired children from a broader range of backgrounds to see themselves in tech, we know we’re making the difference that matters.
Related resources:
Charity & Community Outreach Policy - available soon.
CyberFirst Partnership - For 24–25, Gemba is proud to be a CyberFirst Partner, recognised by the National Cyber Security Centre for supporting its programme that helps young people explore their passion for cyber and emerging tech.
Our partnerships, commitments and collaborations:
Environmental Stewardship
We are committed to protecting the planet and strive to leave a positive mark through everything Gemba does, making sustainability a natural part of our operations. From our Carbon Net Zero pledge to careful oversight of travel, energy, and supply chains, environmental stewardship guides our day-to-day decisions.
From event merchandise to printed materials, we choose eco-friendly options – seeded paper, minimal plastic, and thoughtful sourcing wherever possible. In travel, we favour public transport – or walking, as we did between venues at our recent company event, donating the saved transport costs to our charity of the year. Small actions like these are celebrated, because if SMEs across the UK all do their bit, the impact collectively adds up. There’s no room for cynicism here!
Related resources:
Our partnerships, commitments and collaborations:
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
At Gemba, inclusion is central to how we grow and innovate. Our EDI strategy spans nine dimensions, including gender, disability, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. We actively measure diversity, celebrate progress, run regular EDI committee meetings, and create opportunities for learning and engagement. Initiatives like training, employee storytelling, and proactive planning ensure everyone feels valued from their first day at Gemba - but of course we know there is always more we can do.
Related resources:
EDI Policy - available soon.
Gender Pay Gap Report - contact us for a copy.
Our partnerships, commitments and collaborations:
Health & Wellbeing
People are at the heart of our business. We prioritise physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through training, leadership engagement and creating policies that really support work-life balance , and partnerships with health experts and benefits. We aim for 1 person in every 10 to be Mental Health First Aid trained, we enable workplace flexibility wherever it is feasible, and provide wellness programmes tailored to the real-life needs of our teams.
Related resources:
Health & Wellbeing Policy - available soon.
Thriving at Work framework - ask to see a copy of where we are.
Our partnerships, commitments and collaborations:
Ethics & Governance
Doing the right thing - one of our core values, guides every decision we make. Our ethics and governance practices cover project ethics, risk management, data protection, supply chain standards, and transparency. We watch frameworks such as the UK Corporate Governance Code, ensuring accountability, senior oversight, and adherence to our guiding principles of empathy and respect.
Related resources:
Ethics & Governance policy - available soon.
Code of Ethics - contact us for a copy.
Responsible Procurement Audit & Policy - contact us for a copy.