Sharing leadership, expertise and resources to help social and environmental responsibility to flourish in the United Arab Emirates
Our world 2019
Corporate social responsibility is taken very seriously in the United Arab Emirates and has been driven forward in recent years by legislation focused on creating new opportunities and promoting corporate action. We have welcomed these developments as they enable us to grow our own agenda in line with our corporate responsibility commitments and our workforce’s strong appetite for contribution.
In 2019, Serco Middle East became an active member of the Sustainability Network hosted and managed by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a non-profit public organisation supporting the business community in Dubai.
The Dubai Chamber Sustainability Network seeks to engage support for the emirate’s social and environmental needs through collaborative promotion of responsible business practices and the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
To help address specific challenges and develop practical solutions, network members form ‘Task Forces’, each with an overarching mission and a set of annual objectives. Through the leadership of Laura Kelly, Rebecca Jeffs and Melissa-Kate Ashwell-Meijer – Assurance Director, HR Director and Head of Safety and Assurance for Serco Middle East, respectively – we contribute to the following task forces: Employees Welfare and Wellbeing; Diversity and Inclusion; Emiratization; Green Buildings; Waste Management; Road Safety; and Community Engagement.
Our participation takes many forms, from delivering seminars at the Dubai Chamber Centre for Responsible Business to organising Serco Middle East support for campaigns organised or promoted by the Dubai Chamber, such as ‘Go Beyond Earth Hour’, ‘Give and Gain Week’, ‘Together for a Better Future’ and our own annual ‘Serco Road Safety Awareness Day’.
Also in 2019, we lent our support to the UAE ‘Year of Tolerance’ programme, working closely with our customer the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) for charitable and humanitarian initiatives coordinated through the RTA Foundation.
Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, RTA Board Member and Chairman of the Higher Committee of the RTA Foundation said: “Serco will lend support to RTA events and activities to realise the objectives of the Year of Tolerance. The agreement consists of providing ideas, resources and consolidating efforts and business processes to achieve the best results for both parties.”
Phil Malem, Chief Executive for Serco Middle East, said: “The Year of Tolerance sets a humanitarian platform enabling us to support RTA’s initiatives to foster the values of tolerance, brotherhood and civilized spirit across all nationalities, which echoes our endeavours to enhance our social responsibility.”