Berenschot and Society

Berenschot is aware of its role in society. It is striving for sustainability in its consultancy practice, as well as in its own organisation. This means that in addition to entrepreneurship (profit), we also take the impact of our services and operations on the environment (planet) into account. In this regard we have an eye for the human aspects within and outside of our company (people). It is all about finding a balance between people, planet and profit. Increasingly more often it turns out that such a balance leads to better results for the organisation, as well as society.

As an organisation at the centre of society, Berenschot wants to make a contribution to current social issues and strive for durable growth on the basis of its expertise. We do this on the basis of the ISO 26000 standard for Corporate Social Responsibility.

This is evident from the following activities:

• We carry out our consultancy assignments in a climate-neutral way on an organisation-wide basis. This means that we have implemented measures to reduce and compensate for the CO2 emissions of our business-related mobility. We do this in various ways, including by encouraging the use of public transportation, bicycles and teleworking. In addition, we accomplish this by applying climate compensation for the car mileage driven in support of our contracts.
• In December 2006, Berenschot signed a ‘Mobility and Accessibility’ declaration of intent. We signed this declaration in our capacity as one of the larger employers in the region and on the basis of our involvement in the accessibility issue in Utrecht West. With this declaration, Berenschot commits to making individual efforts, as well as joint efforts with other signatories, in support of measures that promote mobility and accessibility.
  Berenschot is a member of the ISO 26000 Standards Committee, an international guideline whose objective is to support organisations with the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Jointly with consumer and employer organisations, various sectors and the scientific community we represent the Dutch voice in the realisation of this international guideline.
• Berenschot Moves into Utrecht
  On Friday 30 May 2008, Berenschot’s employees carried out a number of social projects in the immediate surroundings of its office in the Kanaleneiland District. The work was performed using the slogan ‘Berenschot moves into Utrecht’. Berenschot wanted to create an inspiring, challenging and enjoyable day for 15 social organisations in the Kanaleneiland District and surroundings. We accomplished this task with our hearts (social activities), heads (conducting training sessions) and hands (improving things, painting, etc). Key to our effort was the realisation of a tangible result and magnifying the well-being of people in the neighbourhood. 
• Berenschot’s Social Involvement
  On 15 May 2009, Berenschot worked on various projects with over 300 people, including a project for the Dutch Nature Preservation Society (Natuurmonumenten).
  “In addition to pruning, they worked on jobs such as cleaning and painting fences and bridges. The management authority is very pleased with Berenschot’s effort. It is a wonderful contribution to the major facelift of the ’s-Gravelandse Buitenplaatsen nature reserve.”
• Berenschot Academy, Collaboration with NIMD
  The collaboration with the Netherlands Institute of Multi-party Democracy (NIMD) continued. The goal is to leverage Berenschot’s broad knowledge to make a local contribution to organising and professionalising the national centres for multi-party democracy.
  Netherlands Institute of Multi-party Democracy (NIMD)
  The NIMD is a joint initiative of all political parties in the Netherlands with the exception of the PVV and TON. The objective is to assist political parties in emerging democracies throughout the world in improving the functioning of the democracy in their country. This is accomplished by establishing local centres for multi-party democracy. The NIMD is now active in 17 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
• Berenschot Beehive
  In the Beehive we collaborate with other entrepreneurs on the development of innovative and creative forms of working. All entrepreneurs are involved in the Slotervaart and devote at least one day of effort each month to the district on a pro bono basis.