As an RSK company, we have signed the Pledge to Net Zero, an initiative that commits organisations from the environmental sector to a leadership role in the transition towards a net-zero economy. Signing the pledge represents a further step in RSK’s commitment to one of its underlying principles, promoting the concept of sustainability in all that we do.

• As part of its social values, RSK supports a charity of choice nominated by its employees every three years. Mind is the group’s current chosen charity. Employees are continually encouraged to support local charitable causes that will benefit from all forms of volunteering, fundraising and sponsorship.
• Our Leeds office employs two apprentices, who have both come from local schools and who are now undertaking their degree-level studies with us. We had three summer placements join us in 2023, again from local and Harrogate schools, so that we could offer them a taste of the construction industry. We were able to demonstrate what we do and the impact we are able to deliver in reducing carbon emissions in the built environment and allow them some hands-on experience to carry forward with them through the remainder of their studies at school.
• Locally, within our Leeds office, we enjoyed a wellbeing day in 2023 with the Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange. Supporting the Conservation Volunteers created additional funding to provide access to the outdoors and nature connectivity for local school children who may otherwise not have this opportunity. We feel that helping to facilitate this connection to nature for young people is paramount to their awareness of the world they live in and in halting the global climate emergency.
• In 2022, zero energy design, a Silcock Leedham Group company, proudly supported a BBC Children in Need funded project, Getaway Girls, in Leeds, providing building physics modelling and volunteering.
• We run regular collections for a local food bank as a way of supporting those less fortunate than ourselves.

Silcock Leedham Group comprises Silcock Leedham Consulting Engineers (SLCE) and zero energy design (zed.). Together, we deliver turnkey solutions under one brand, offering a unified approach to project delivery with UK-wide coverage.

In December 2023, the group launched its sustainability strategy, Second Nature. The initiative is centred on five core themes that reflect the responsibilities we owe as a business to our widest group of stakeholders – our people, our value chain, society and the environment – and how these are supported by appropriate finance and governance structures.

Our in-house energy experts zero energy design, mean we can take a holistic approach and help our clients make informed material and energy decisions. Beyond traditional mechanical, electrical and public health design, we take ownership of the whole design process, offering consultation on local and regional planning policies, such as for the Greater London Authority (GLA), as well as fabric-first and Passivhaus principles. As BREEAM and WELL accreditors, we optimise building performance by harnessing natural light, shade, air flows and heat patterns – using advanced modelling to consider both current and future climate change scenarios. Our life cycle carbon assessments (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) account for both operational and embodied carbon, helping us meet Paris-Proof and Net-Zero targets.