A brief history
XCO2 was incorporated in the UK as a team of five in February 2008, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions in the built environment, and has since grown into a dynamic and diverse multi-disciplinary practice with more than 50 permanent members of staff, including our Singapore office, which opened in 2016.
Our values
Over time, we have developed the four core values of XCO2:
+ Build Relationships
+ Think Creatively
+ Be Fair
+ Work Together
These values guide all of our actions and serve as our cultural cornerstones.
Working at XCO2
At XCO2, we believe a progressive and interactive working environment promotes enthusiasm and proactiveness.
Set within a characterful Victorian school refurbishment in Clerkenwell, our workspace is an open and informal atmosphere, where communication and knowledge sharing is encouraged, and various break out spaces are on offer to promote collaboration, movement and employee well-being.
In 2019, the practice received official accreditation as a London Living Wage Employer, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to ensuring our entire workforce is able to meet the demands of living and working in the capital.
Flexible Working
We have a forward-thinking approach to our working schedule; we understand the obligations of personal life and the importance of a work/life balance. Our team benefits from flexible office hours (flexi-time) and 9-day fortnights where we have alternate Fridays off. This coincides with the flexibility of working from the office 2 days per week and working from home 3 days per week. We recognise that this encourages enthusiasm, more creativity and enhanced productivity.
How we work
The XCO2 workforce is made up of several small, close-knit environmental and M&E teams, who support each other in their work, as well as administrative, financial and creative support. Our senior staff are involved in and oversee all of our projects, and our Directors are actively involved with our collaborators and projects.
In addition to the promotion of a co-operative and conversation-driven atmosphere, once a month we spend an afternoon in an office-wide company meeting, in which we share our successes, knowledge and lessons learnt. Our monthly meetings also feature a Key Speaker, one of our employees, for a unique insight into everything from technical specialisms and industry innovations to individual interests and motivations.
Our Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme ensures our staff are at the fore-front in their academic and practical knowledge. Our weekly CPD sessions, with lunch provided, enable learning to become conscious and proactive, rather than passive and reactive and are industry accredited whenever possible. Our staff are encouraged to put forward any requests for specific CPD sessions they would like to be held.
XCO2 Academy
The XCO2 Academy is an in-house, learning knowledge hub providing training for Environmental technical staff. Learning will centre principally around technical subjects, covering key XCO2 expertise areas, supplemented by softer skills, like project management, people management, staff health and well-being, presentation skills, and diplomacy/project politics. The Academy officially launched on the 27th September 2023.
Social and wellbeing
Our employees are our greatest asset and our relaxed and social environment, as well as our awareness and proactiveness when it comes to mental health and general wellbeing is key to our enthusiasm for the work we do. Each environmental and M&E team has a budget for socials and staff celebrations and our teams often join together to ensure cross-team bonding.
In addition, our Social Committee, formed of representatives from each team and entrusted with autonomy in their decision making, is allocated an annual budget for company-wide social, sports, health and charitable activities.
Benefits:
– Flexible office hours
– 9-day fortnights
– Twice-weekly fruit deliveries
– Regular office drinks
– Team socials and events
– Annual sports day
– Annual Christmas trip (normally abroad)
– Cycle to work scheme
– Private health insurance
Diversity and equality
At XCO2, we are committed to valuing diversity and we seek to provide all staff with the opportunity for employment, career and personal development. We believe that people from different backgrounds help bring fresh ideas and unique approaches, which then makes us a company more innovative and open-minded.
We are very proud of the level of diversity at XCO2. Our practice includes a vast range of nationalities and backgrounds, and 50% of our London office is made up of female staff compared to an industry average of 12% (Engineering UK, 2018). We also offer a progressive maternity/paternity policy.
