Policies

I am a one-person digital consultancy that builds websites and helps businesses improve their workflows. My environmental impact is small, but I take responsibility for it. This statement sets out how I manage it and how I will keep improving.

• Electricity used by my computer, home office and broadband
• Hosting and data transfer for the websites I build and run
• Travel to visit clients
• Buying and disposing of equipment

1. Follow the law. Meet all environmental laws and regulations that apply to my business.
2. Travel less. Hold meetings by video where that works for the client. Group in-person visits by area, and walk, cycle or use public transport where I can.
3. Build light websites. Keep page weight low with optimised images, minimal scripts and static pages where possible. Choose hosting providers that publish renewable energy or carbon commitments.
4. Use energy well. Turn equipment off when not in use and use energy-efficient devices. Move to a renewable electricity tariff when I can.
5. Make equipment last. Repair and keep equipment for as long as it is useful, buy refurbished where sensible, and recycle electronics through WEEE-compliant schemes.
6. Go paperless. Use digital invoices, contracts and records as standard.
7. Work with others. Prefer suppliers that show responsible environmental practice, and help clients make lower-impact digital choices.

Every year I will:

• Review this policy and my carbon reduction plan
• Estimate my carbon emissions and compare them with the previous year
• Set at least one specific improvement target for the following year

I am committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in how I work with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and any staff I take on in the future. I will not discriminate against anyone because of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. I will also treat people fairly regardless of their background or whether they speak Welsh or English.

I am currently a sole trader with no employees. This policy covers:

• How I choose and work with subcontractors and freelancers
• How I recruit and employ anyone I take on in the future
• How I deal with clients, suppliers and members of the public

If I recruit staff or engage subcontractors, I will:

• Advertise roles openly and describe them by the skills needed
• Choose people fairly, on merit, using consistent criteria
• Make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and workers
• Offer fair pay and conditions, and flexible working where possible
• Not tolerate harassment, bullying or victimisation

I keep my own understanding of equality law and good practice current through regular learning, at least once a year. Anyone who joins the business as staff will get training on this policy and how it affects them when they start, with a refresher every year.

I build websites to recognised accessibility standards (WCAG) and welcome correspondence in Welsh or English.

Anyone who believes this policy has not been followed can raise it with me directly at elis@elisjones.co.uk. I will treat every concern seriously, confidentially and without retaliation.

I will review this policy every year, or sooner if the law or my business changes.

Elis Jones is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

I am starting to trade in 2026, so my baseline is a forecast for my first 12 months of trading. I will replace it with measured figures once that year ends. I work from a home office in west Wales with an electric boiler, and visit clients in an electric car. I have no other premises, no company vehicles and no employees.

Figures use the UK Government 2026 conversion factors for electricity (0.13096 kgCO2e per kWh generated, plus 0.01299 kgCO2e per kWh for transmission and distribution). Car energy use is estimated at 0.28 kWh per mile including charging losses. Website hosting on shared platforms is negligible and not included.

I will reduce my emissions by 50% compared with my baseline by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.

• An electric car for client visits, and electric heating, so no fuel is burned directly
• Video meetings where they work for the client, with in-person visits grouped by area
• Lightweight website builds that need less energy to host and load
• Paperless invoices, contracts and records
• Equipment repaired and kept in use for as long as possible, and recycled responsibly

• Use a 100% renewable electricity tariff for the home office and car charging
• Choose hosting with published renewable energy commitments
• Measure actual mileage and energy use, and update this plan every year

This plan has been completed in line with PPN 06/21 and its technical standard. Emissions have been reported and recorded following the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard, using the appropriate UK Government conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting. It has been reviewed and signed off by the owner of the business.