Our timeline
Since 1872, we’ve been building a sustainable business that helps our customers, communities and colleagues to thrive.
150 years of never standing still
We continuously look for ways to improve our positive social and environmental impact.
Our journey to greater sustainability
We have a long and proud history of delivering on our commitment to our Purpose. Maximising our positive social and environmental impact has been a priority for us for over 150 years.
In recent times, there has been a sharper focus on the role businesses play in tackling the big social and environmental challenges facing the world.At Simplyhealth, we recognise we have an important part to play and we always welcome new guidance and regulation to help all business step up.
In 2022, for the first time, we invested in a dedicated ESG team, to accelerate our own positive impact and challenge ourselves to always go further.
In the same year, we were particularly proud to become the UK’s first B Corp Health Insurer, in recognition of meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact, joining 1000 other UK businesses.
This marks a great achievement for Simplyhealth and recognises our ambitious environmental and social responsibility goals for the future.
Our progress over the last four years
Over the last three years, we’ve been investing and laying the right foundations to deliver on our ambitious sustainability goals.
Take a look back through some of our more recent steps towards greater sustainability.
2019
February: Customer Voice launched – our customer listening programme
April: Compliance Hub launched – helping us to track how we are doing the right thing
April: Upgraded cycle racks at offices to encourage colleagues to cycle more
June: Chatterbox Survey launched – our colleague listening programme
September: 100% green and renewable electricity in offices
November: Electric car charging points installed in office car parks
2020
February: FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) First Accredited – all paper now used from sustainable sources
March: SimplyConsult – 24/7 video GP launches improving access to healthcare, and the first network of 50 trained Mental Health First Aiders is created
April: £2m PPE provided to dentists during the pandemic – helping practices to open their doors
May: First awarded Carbon Neutral status – because we reduced and balance our carbon emissions
July: Coronavirus Antibody Tests launched – to help customers understand their immunity
September: Investment in our new Energise You Health & Wellbeing Programme for colleagues
November: Closed Winchester office building – to reduce our carbon footprint and move to Smart Working
2021
March: Our refreshed Healthier Sustainability Strategy launched – setting new goals for the future, and first awarded Carbon Neutral Plus status – because we reduced and balanced, over and above our own carbon emissions
July: New Smart Working approach for colleagues – providing greater flexibility for all
November: Offices were renovated using tiles made from 100% green energy, and LED lighting & waterless urinals in the office – helping to reduce water waste and carbon emissions
December: 80% of fleet vehicles are now hybrid – helping to reduce our carbon emissions, and zero operational waste to landfill – helping to reduce our negative impact on the environment
2022
January: £9m profits returned to customers – as part of a £18m total Covid support package
February: Data Centre moved offsite – helping to reduce cost, protect customer systems/service and reduce carbon emissions
March: Riskonnect launched – helping us to track and manage risks facing our business and stakeholders
March: We donated £120k from £60k matched funding to DEC, to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine
July: We become the UK’s first B-Corp Health Insurer – meeting the highest standards of impact
August: Simplyhealth’s first digital-only 1-2-3 product launched – helping more people access healthcare
November: Cost of Living colleague support package – including uplifting salaries to London Living Wage, achieved Top 5 ‘Fastest Payer’ (Good Business Pays Awards) – because we support our suppliers, paying at speed, and undertook groundworks at our Head Office - increasing biodiversity within grounds
2023
January: Pausing the use of our Hambleden House office to reduce costs and reduce our carbon emissions
March: Simplyhealth customers and dentists, raised over £21.5k for the DEC’s Turkey/Syria earthquake fund - the total donation was matched by us to raise over £43,000 for the charity
March: We created a new Environmental Working Group made up of passionate colleagues who are all leading and better co-ordinating environmental improvements across Simplyhealth.
June: Simplyhealth’s first Customer Financial Hardship fund to support financially vulnerable customers.
June: We completed an energy assessment for Anton House, Andover, via the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (‘ESOS’), investing in the recommendations
July: First B Impact Report published, an annual report to show our continued commitment to the B Corp movement.
July: We implemented our new Environmental Purchasing Policy.
December: We launched the first of ten new ‘green’ employee benefits for colleagues – our EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
2024
January: We delivered our first annual Smart Working and Travel Colleague Survey to improve the accuracy of our homeworkers and employee commuting GHG emissions (survey completed in January 2024, reporting on 2023 activity).
Watch this space for more exciting sustainability updates!
Want to find out more?
To learn more about sustainability progress, our goals for the future and the next steps, please email our ESG team by contacting charlotte.cook@simplyhealth.co.uk
You can also stay up to date by following us on our social channels for all the latest updates, stories and news relating to our sustainability progress.