Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility at Vertex

Our people are more than just employees of Vertex – we are members of the communities in which we work. We work together with local community groups and other charitable organisations to give back. Over the last 30 years, Vertex has grown into a leading global biotech that repeatedly innovates to bring medicines to people around the world. As we’ve grown, so too has our commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) - from our annual Day of Service, to our STEAM outreach, and our environmental sustainability initiatives.

Annual Day of Service

While volunteer activities are underway throughout the year, we collectively pool our efforts in an Annual Day of Service. In 2019, this initiative spanned 14 countries as more than 1,200 employees contributed 4,400 hours of volunteer time to more than 79 organisations. In the UK, these included:

  • Abingdon Food Bank

  • Age UK - Yalding Healthy Living Centre

  • Blackfriars Settlement

  • Cotswold Water Park

  • Didcot Food Bank

  • The Europa School UK

  • Francis Baily Primary School

  • Good Food Matters

  • Kingfisher School

  • Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network

  • Little Wormwood Scrubs

  • The Log Cabin

  • The Lullaby Trust

  • Millennium Wood

  • my AFK

  • Restore

  • The Sophie Hayes Foundation

  • Stirlings Residential Home

  • Stonewall Housing

  • Style Acre

  • Teresa House

  • WorkAid

Fostering Interest in STEAM

Educational programs in science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths (STEAM) are a natural fit with our business. At our international headquarters in London, we’re working with schools like the King Solomon Academy and partnering with organizations like ENTHUSE Charitable Trust and STEM Learning to inspire the next generation’s interest in STEAM careers.

Additionally, we have several programs designed for university students and emerging professionals who are just beginning their career. These include university internship programmes, apprenticeships, industrial placements, MBA internship programmes and the Vertex Fellows programme.

Environmental Sustainability

As a lean, science-driven biotech company, our environmental footprint is smaller in comparison to other sectors and manufacturers of volume products. Yet it’s important to us and our stakeholders to minimize our environmental impacts throughout our operations.

At our principal locations in London, Boston, and San Diego, we’ve seen measurable progress in energy and carbon emissions reduction, waste minimisation, water usage and green chemistry practices.

UK Highlights:

  • 100% of energy in our Oxford research facility is sourced from renewable sources

  • Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of Excellent achieved by our international headquarters in London

  • 0 waste to landfill for more than five consecutive years in Oxford