Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

Social Achievements

• Improved health and safety policies with no lost time due to reported incidents during the year.
• Investment in training and development of safe working practices.

Governance Achievements

• Board changes: Gordon Wilkinson appointed CEO, Hugh Cawley appointed Group Finance Director, Bob Laslett resigned as Non-Executive Director, and John Horgan appointed as a non-executive director.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Significant increase in headcount in AMEA region outweighed new client assignments, leading to delays in securing new opportunities and unacceptable losses in the first half.
• Ineffective cash collection, especially in challenging markets.
• High level of local competition in the Middle East region for project delivery and project management services, leading to a decision to discontinue expansion in that region.
• Downturn in the Oil & Gas sector in AMEA.
• Challenging market in Hong Kong.
• Difficult Australian market in FY 2015-16.
• Difficult Canadian market in 2016 due to delays in commission start-up.
• High bad debt provision in AMEA (£1.4m) due to write-downs of Middle East contracts.

Mitigation Strategies

• Annualised overhead cost saving of £1.3m implemented in the second half.
• Refocused strategy on core business: construction claims, dispute resolution, and expert witness services.
• Strengthened Diales brand.
• Improved cash collection processes.
• Appointed a new streamlined leadership team.
• More stringent approach to bad debt provisions.
• Adjusted headcount in AMEA to align with ability to secure profitable work.
• Significant cost reduction in Australia.
• Leadership team change in Canada.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Significant investments into digital working practices, reducing paper consumption, office consumables and business travel.
• Reduced CO2e emissions from 127,643 to 11,859 tonnes

Social Achievements

• Launched employee well-being program in partnership with Unmind.
• Accelerated laptop purchases to temporarily loan to families for home schooling during COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Charity work including marching for mental health, sponsoring local football teams, charity bike rides and golf days, and Christmas donations.

Governance Achievements

• Board remained unchanged throughout the financial year.
• Implemented an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and an Anti-Corruption Policy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic impacting global markets and causing economic uncertainty.
• Loss of two senior staff and associated team members to a competitor in the APAC region.
• Slowdown in activity levels in the ME and APAC regions.
• Issues with liquidity in clients in the Middle East.
• Reduction in global travel.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented a work from home model during lockdowns.
• Restructured the business in the ME and APAC regions to reduce the cost base and refocus on higher margin sectors.
• Refocused business in the UAE by reducing the size of the Abu Dhabi office and hiring additional expertise in the oil & gas sector.
• Consolidated management of Kuwait and Qatar operations and optimised the team in Oman.
• Implemented retention measures for key staff.
• Sharpened recruitment strategy with a focus on international integration.
• Investing in technology (new ERP IT system).

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier payments continued to be made in line with normal contractual terms during the pandemic.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: null

Certifications: null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed