ESG Statement

MEB Design Ltd does not exist solely for its own benefit; we are here also to contribute to the wider world in a responsible way.

MEB Design Ltd has a vision: ‘of building communities through creativity one design at a time’. Its mission is to ‘design inspiring places that bring people together to live, work, learn and worship’.

Environment

We consider the environment in our working practices and in our designs. Committed to the RIBA Climate Challenge 2030 and Architects Declare pledges since 2020, MEB Design remains dedicated to advancing these objectives.

The practice has an environmental policy by which we seek to reduce our use of natural resources through recycling, reuse and transport choices. We have a five year Net Zero Carbon Action Plan to support our sustainability journey.

We are signed up to “Cycle Scheme” – see www.cyclescheme.co.uk – which encourages and helps to fund our staff to cycle safely to work, and use “Co-Wheels” – see www.co-wheels.org.uk – a community shared vehicle scheme that helps to reduce vehicle ownership and the number of cars on the road; and we have two full electric company cars.

Social

Our staff: we identify and provide career paths. Since inception in 1983, three long term members of staff have become company directors. We provide staff with regular training and support to help them develop. To facilitate this, the practice supports specific training courses, holds seminars, organises office events and ‘away days’ (including specific trips). We also look after our staff through a health and safety policy where the regular services of an external specialist are used to advise us on such matters.

Our clients: we exist for the sake of our various clients, solving their problems, facilitating their communities, designing imaginatively and contextually, demonstrating good environmental and sustainable design, and participating in an inclusive and consultative process throughout all of our projects. Many clients become friends.

Outside the office: directors and staff are encouraged to be involved outside office time in community projects. Where we can, we support local community initiatives while as a practice, we support charities, including various projects in Africa for which we have done consultancy work on a “pro-bono” basis. A list of the many community related activities that involve our staff is included later on this page.

Future architects: we also share our knowledge and enthusiasm for architecture with the younger generation. As well as speaking at career days, we welcome students who want to complete their school and university work experience placements with us, and one Director and one Associate of MEB Design are visiting lecturers and an examiner at Oxford Brookes University.

Governance

Our professional and community involvement includes RIBA, ARB, CIAT memberships, Architects Declare and the RIBA Climate Challenge 2030 signatories, as well as oversight from organisations such as Peninsula and CQMS.

We aim to treat employees and suppliers fairly. We support fair-pay and living-wage principles and seek to pay suppliers promptly, maintaining as few overdue supplier payments as possible. As a RIBA Chartered Practice, we are committed to fair treatment of employees.