Smartlinks Care Services UK Ltd
Supplier name: Smartlinks Care Services UK Ltd (Company No. 12430042)
Publication date: [06/10/2026]
Reporting period: 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026 (financial year)
Commitment to Achieving Net Zero
Smartlinks Care Services UK Ltd is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. As a provider of community care and support across Hertfordshire and the South East, we recognise that the greatest part of our footprint comes from the miles our care workers travel between the people we support. We are committed to reducing these emissions year on year while continuing to provide safe, reliable and person centred care. This commitment is in line with the NHS ambition to reach Net Zero for the emissions it can influence by 2045.
Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline emissions are a record of the greenhouse gases produced in the past, before any reduction strategies are introduced. They are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.
Baseline year: 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026
Additional details relating to the baseline emissions calculations: This is our first Carbon Reduction Plan, so our baseline year and current reporting year are the same. Emissions have been calculated in line with the GHG Reporting Protocol Corporate Standard and the Carbon Reduction Plan Technical Standard, using the UK Government greenhouse gas conversion factors published by DESNZ. Where metered data was not available, for example where office energy is included in a service charge or staff mileage was not recorded for every journey, we have used reasonable estimates based on floor area, staff numbers and typical visit patterns. We will replace estimates with measured data as our recording improves.
Baseline year emissions:
Scope 1: [0.0] tCO2e. We do not own or lease company vehicles and do not control any gas or fuel combustion at our offices.
Scope 2: [1.2] tCO2e. Purchased electricity at our Crayford and Hitchin offices (estimated [6,000] kWh).
Scope 3 (included sources): [24.8] tCO2e, made up of:
Category 4, upstream transportation and distribution: [0.1] tCO2e (deliveries of PPE and office supplies).
Category 5, waste generated in operations: [0.3] tCO2e (office waste).
Category 6, business travel: [21.3] tCO2e (care workers driving their own cars between visits, estimated [78,000] miles).
Category 7, employee commuting: [3.1] tCO2e (office and management staff travelling to the office).
Category 9, downstream transportation and distribution: not applicable. We provide care services and do not distribute any products.
Total emissions: [26.0] tCO2e
Current Emissions Reporting
As this is our first Carbon Reduction Plan, the current reporting year (1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026) is also our baseline year. Current emissions are therefore the same as the baseline figures above. We will report against this baseline each year.
Emissions Reduction Targets
To continue our progress towards Net Zero, we have adopted the following targets. We project that carbon emissions will fall over the next five years to 18.2 tCO2e by 31 January 2031, a reduction of 30% from our baseline. Progress against these targets will be reviewed every year by the Director.
Carbon Reduction Projects
Measures already in place:
Paperless care records: care plans, visit notes, medication records and staff rotas are held on Roundsys, our electronic care management system, which has greatly reduced printing, paper use and trips to the office to collect or return records.
Local delivery from a Hertfordshire base: our office at Invision House, Hitchin, means management, supervision and spot checks are carried out locally rather than from Kent, cutting long journeys.
Remote meetings and training: team meetings, supervision where appropriate and much of our training are delivered online, reducing travel.
Measures we will apply when performing this contract:
Route and rota planning: we will use Roundsys to group visits geographically within each Lot, so care workers travel shorter distances between the people they support and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Local recruitment: we will recruit care workers who live in the communities they serve across North and Central, North West and South East Hertfordshire, reducing travel and supporting the local economy.
Active and public transport: where it is safe and practical, we will encourage walking, cycling and public transport for visits in town centres and for travel to the office.
Cleaner vehicles: we will encourage staff to choose low emission and electric vehicles through information and support, and will consider low emission options for any company vehicle in future.
Energy use: we will use LED lighting, switch off equipment when not in use and ask our landlords about renewable electricity tariffs for our offices.
Waste and procurement: we will recycle office waste, reduce single use items where safe to do so, and favour local suppliers and lower carbon products when buying.
Measuring and reporting: from the next financial year we will record staff business mileage through Roundsys and mileage claims, and office energy use, so that future reports are based on measured data.
In the future we hope to implement further measures, such as an electric vehicle scheme for care workers and carbon awareness training for all staff.
Declaration and Sign Off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans. Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard, and use the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions has been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
Signed on behalf of the Supplier:
Name: Chinedu Okpala
Position: Director, Smartlinks Care Services UK Ltd
Date: [06/10/2026]
