PROMOTION OF LOCAL PRODUCE

First of all we strive in promoting locally sourced produce, through an exclusive partnership with Slow Food UK (we are the only local agency in Scotland to do so): by choosing our tours, our guests actively support the conservation of endangered recipes, products and specimens which are tangible proof of the many local sustainable practices of food preservation, production and nutrition Scotland had in the past. We are also actively involved in the creation and continuous development of the Glasgow Sustainable Food Places Directory in cooperation with the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership, listing the most sustainable food shops and places to eat in Glasgow, along with a downloadable leaflet for environmentally-conscious consumers. We also took an active part in the Glasgow City Food Plan Public Consultation.

CAREFULLY SELECTED PROVIDERS

At Stilla we carefully select our providers according to a number of “sustainable” factors which include, but they are not limited to, locally sourced and seasonal food produced by small companies and factories which play a vital role in rural communities. We also strive to make sure our clients adhere to and employ sustainable practices and support the communities they visit (i.e. Visit Scotland Food and Drink Taste Our Best or Visit Scotland Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Campaigns).

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNS

We love being involved in no profit projects as long as those revolving around what we care for most; currently, we collaborate with “Cartoline” (italian for “Postcards”) by Instaura, by promoting outstanding small scale examples of Sustainability in Scotland through articles and pictures these beautiful works on our social networks (see our Facebook and Instagram page to learn more about the Blackthorn Sea Salt Tower in Ayrshire, the Crawick Multiverse in Galloway and the Lobster Hatchery in North Berwick just to name a few examples). In 2021, We have been involved in the Glasgow Open Doors Days Festival, teaming up with Slow Food Glasgow to design and deliver free tours of Glasgow’s Old Food Markets.

PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY

We are also official partners, as only tour operator,of Sea Watch Foundation UK, a charity promoting, through events and active research, the conservation and protection of Cetaceans. In collaboration with Sea Watch, we designed a unique tour focused on the observation of dolphins and whales in Scotland where the guests have the fantastic opportunity to become researchers themselves as they are encouraged to record evidence of the sightings playing an active role in the data gathering process vital to the Sea Watch’s core mission. We also supported the Slow Food campaign “Adopt an Apple Tree” for a Long Lasting Contribution to the Climate Change topic within the Cop26 initiatives in Glasgow, purchasing rare species of fruit trees which will improve the protection and conservation of local biodiversity. We created and promoted the Scottish Slow Food Ark of Taste Map which is now embedded in the Slow Food Glasgow website.

SUSTAINABLE CHOICES

We care so much about the environment that we made the bold choice to have business cards made exclusively of recycled material as well as we provide our client with a sustainable welcome pack, including a reusable bottle for travellers in order to reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles. We provide Our clients with Audio Systems which are rechargeable and Bluetooth, in order to avoid the use of disposable batterie and ear sets. When we can, we plan trips that include a combination of trekking and public transports and for all our transfers we prioritise the use of electric cars. We also always advice our clients on the attractiveness of our off beaten track destinations in the country and on the advantages on travelling outside peak season months, in order to minimise and counteract the impacts of mass tourism on the Country.

As a travel company who engage with various stakeholders in tourism, namely consumers, tour guides, travel agencies, hotels, transport companies, restaurants, and attractions, at Stilla Finest Scotland we understand our key role and influence in the sustainable development of tourism. Therefore, we are committed to promoting sustainability. We aim to follow, implement and promote good sustainability practices to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts on tourism of our operations and to influence our clients and partners to do the same.

Our sustainability policy is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of a set of principles and practical actions accordingly.

1. Sustainability Management & Legal compliance

We commit to sustainability management, practiced by these following actions:

• To have an appointed employee who is responsible for sustainability coordinator tasks;
• To have a sustainability mission statement that is communicated to customers, partners and suppliers;
• To have an accessible and written sustainability policy that aims for a reduction of the negative social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts of the company’s activities; and includes employee related health and safety aspects;
• To collaborate and actively involved in external forums and working groups which are supportive to sustainability in tourism;
• To conduct baseline assessment of the company’s performance on sustainable practices;
• To have sustainability guidelines and assessment system in place to identify the sustainability performance of key suppliers/partners;
• To set up and continuously develop a sustainability action plan with clear targets, actions, measures, responsibilities and time planning;
• To develop documented procedures to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the sustainability policy, objectives and targets;
• To ensure company’s transparency in sustainability by public reporting and communicating;
• To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it.

We commit to complying with all national legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

2. Internal management: social policy & human rights

We commit to sustainable internal management by having clear written and well-communicated social policy that includes the following principles:

• To grant employees the freedom of employment and contract termination with notice and without penalty;

• To include labor conditions according to national labor law (in Scotland, our target destination and where we are based);
• Wage rate is mentioned and updated each renewal based on the minimum wage requirements and raises published by the Scottish government each year;
• To determinate and compensate of overtime working hours based on agreement;
• To provide liability insurance according to the national law;
• To grant employees fixed paid yearly holiday and sick leave and unpaid annual leave allowance;
• To have health and safety policy for employees which complies to national legal standards: we adhere to STGA Health and Safety Policy (Scottish Tourism Guides Association) which is in line with the Scottish government’s guidelines;
• To have first aid sets and trained staff are available at all relevant locations;
• To obey national concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment;
• To have documented effective procedures in place for employees to voice out their complaints and expectations. The Director takes special care to organize regular meetings with the whole staff to discuss ways to minimize stress at work and optimize the efficiency of the agency towards employee wellbeing, and to implement all the received feedback;
• To have a clear disciplinary procedure that is effectively communicated with employees;
• To have a measurement system for employee satisfaction on a regular basis in the forms of weekly online meetings with the Director;
• To provide periodic guidance and training for employees on roles, rights and responsibilities regarding health and safety issues. This includes fire and relevant natural disasters;
  • Our company exclusively uses Evaneos as the only online platform to sell tours, not through any other third-party agency as we believe Evaneos to be the best one in Europe at the moment, and the only one able to recognize and enable us to practice to the fullest our sustainability efforts. As part of being Evaneos Partners, every member of our staff is required to take part in all of their trainings and webinars, especially those focused on sustainability.
• To create opportunities for students in participating in traineeship/internship/apprenticeship;
• To encourage employment opportunities for persons with special needs;

We commit to practice human rights by ensure the enforcement of following practices:

• To declare not to hinder trade union membership, collective labor negotiations and representation of members by trade unions;
• To comply with the employment and labor laws, regulations and policies set by the Scottish government;
• To prohibit discriminations, regard to recruitment, conditions of employment, access to training and senior positions, or promotion in terms of gender, race, age, disability, ethnicity, religion/beliefs or sexual orientation;
• To ensure all employees have an equal chance and access to resources and opportunities for personal development through regular training, education;

3. Internal Management: Environment and community relations

We commit to practice environmental protection and enhance community relations by ensuring the enforcement of following practices:

• Actively reduce the use of disposable and consumer goods;
• Favor the purchase of sustainable goods and services, office and catering supply, giveaways and merchandise;
• Purchase products in bulk, to reduce the amount of packaging materials;
• We have eliminated the vouchers ticketing system for our clients, providing digital tickets and online resources in order to prevent the need of printed materials;
• Set copy and printing machines by default to double-sided printing or other forms of paper saving modes;
• Use cleaning materials which are non-hazardous, non-eutrophic and biodegradable and are certified with an eco-label, if locally available;
• Limiting the printing materials to sole use of business and greeting cards on environmentally friendly paper made of 100% recycled cotton, through a printing company that works with a certified environmental management system;
• Implement measurements to an ‘internet only’ policy;
• The following details are our Energy Reduction Policy. Our selected coworking space has a strong commitment towards sustainability, holding B Corp certification with active commitments to the following points:
  • Measure, monitor and reduce energy consumption;
  • Calculate and compensate CO2 emissions and compare different periods;
  • Purchase green energy and energy efficient lighting for all areas, when available;
  • Switch off Lights and equipment when not in use, use automatic switch on/off system with timers or movement sensors and set equipment by default in the energy saving mode, where this is feasible;
  • Encourage maximizing the use of natural light before using electrical lights;
  • Prefer low energy equipment when buying new items, including considerations of cost and quality;
  • Have an active policy to reduce water consumption, implemented and monitored on a monthly or yearly basis for benchmark purposes;
  • Use sustainable water sourcing, which does not adversely affect environmental flows;
  • Install water saving equipment in toilets, re-use waste water and/or collected rainwater;
  • Comply with the national legislation concerning waste disposal;
  • Develop and implement a solid waste reduction and recycling policy, with quantitative goals;
  • Take measures to reduce the amount of packaging materials and not provide non-recyclable or non-biodegradable package materials;
  • Take action to reduce the amount of (non-refillable) plastic bottles of drinking water for office use;
  • Separate all materials which can be recycled and organize collection and proper disposal;
  • Implement waste reducing methods when using ink and toner cartridges for printing and copying, whenever feasible;
  • Recycle or properly dispose of batteries;
  • Comply with national legislation of wastewater treatment, which should be reused or released safely;
  • Minimize and substitute the use of harmful substances and manage properly the storage, handling and disposal of chemicals;
  • Use lead-free and water based paints, both inside and outside, when locally available;
  • Implement practices to minimize pollution from its buildings (as far as being able to be controlled by the Company);
• Minimize staff related travel and promote the use of sustainable modes of transport such as bicycle and public transportation;
• Financially encourage employees to use public transport or sustainable means of transport;
• Reduce transport related impacts by tele-work, tele/video meetings, work-at-home policies or other means;
• Maintain and properly check motorized company vehicles, to reduce emissions and energy use and make sure they comply with the legal emission standards;

Provide periodic guidance, training and/or information to all staff members, about their roles and responsibilities with respect to internal environmental practices;

• Comply with land use, zoning and protected or heritage area laws and regulations; when planning and designing tours across the country;
• Contribute to the protection and preservation of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and not impede access to them by local residents;

4. Partner agency

Based on an inventory of our key partner agencies, we have developed and implemented a policy to improve sustainability of our partner agencies. Our aim is to make sustainable development concrete to each and every partner within our business.

We commit to this by:

• Since 2019 we are Evaneos Partners and we have pressured since the beginning for a better recognition of our sustainability efforts, embracing the platform’s growth in the sustainable tourism sector. Evaneos is the only online selling platform that we deem fit to our objectives and goals in the world of sustainable tourism.
• Keeping a list of the sustainability practices of partner accommodations and agents and highlighting these to our clients in our communication with them;
• Working with organisations who are truly implementing sustainability in their tourism policy;
• Minimalizing the ecological footprint of the office by travelling mainly via public transport, working as paperless as possible, separating waste, and to make use of certified recycled paper;
• Paying attention to the local benefits of communities when selecting local accommodations and their social policy for employees;
• Raising awareness among key partners on the sustainable practices we care for, suggesting improvements and sharing ideas to shape their offer to our sustainability standards and needs;
• Informing key partners on the Travelife and national tourism standards;
• Having a cooperation contract including an annex of the national code of conduct for local partners to encourage their practices towards sustainability;
• Evaluating the sustainability practices regularly of our key partners to ensure their practices are truly sustainable;
• Informing key partners about the travel companies’ sustainability policy and that they are expected to comply with it and/or communicate it to final customers where relevant;
• Ensuring that our providers comply with all relevant national laws protecting the rights of employees;

5. Transport

We try to ensure that vehicles used on tours do not cause more than average pollution. We believe that transport is an important aspect of sustainable tourism, and we do our best to decrease the average pollution level.

We commit to this by:

• Selecting the most sustainable options considering price and comfort when selecting transport options to the destination;
• Including sustainable (public) transport to the point of departure for the international/long distance journey. This proves very difficult for trips to Scotland (our target destination) from Southern European countries (our target public). In order to compensate:
  • When Self-Drive we offer itineraries with limited daily mileage within maximum 100 miles per day;
  • We promote Ferry transports and Slow Travel;
  • We offer multi-nights stays in the same areas, to maximize economic benefits to the areas we provide, and minimize daily car usage;
  • We categorically refuse to sell tours through mass-tourism affected areas during high season, in order to to counteract traffic and pollution in these areas on our part;
  • When available and possible, we offer electric or hybrid cars solutions, bicycles and public transport itineraries;
  • Our tours have an average length of 8/10 days as we do not promote short stays, in order to make the international trip worthwhile and minimize the number of flights (air traffic) on our part;
• Considering and giving preference to more sustainable alternatives when selecting transport options for transfers and excursions in the destination, taking into account price, comfort, and practical considerations;
• Integrating and/or promoting one or more sustainable holiday products/packages based on a recognised methodology, including sustainable transport, sustainable accommodations, and sustainable activities.

6. Accommodations

We try to achieve a tourism supply chain that is fully sustainable. The partner accommodations play an important role in achieving this, and are stimulated and motivated to adapt sustainable practices.

We commit to this by:

• Selecting accommodations that comply with sustainability and quality standards with a special focus on the following items:

• Do they have a clear sustainability policy published on their website?

• Do they hold any environmental certification?

• Do they showcase locally sourced products in their menus, thereby taking part in and contributing to a sustainable supply chain?

• Is their staff trained and capable of explaining and promoting it to the clients?

• Do they have and showcase to their clients the following:

• water/energy saving program

• waste management program and energy reduction system

• Do they have a family-friendly policy?

• Do they conduct CSR activities?

• Do they train employees in Health & Safety?

• We exclusively select accommodations that are locally- and family- owned and managed;
• We exclusively select accommodations that employ local communities;
• Having accommodations provide evidence clarifying their sustainability goals and strategies;
• Creating a sustainability addendum for accommodations to sign;
• Encouraging accommodations to follow best practices/trainings on responsible tourism;
• Formulating a sustainability questionnaire for accommodations to fill in to gain insight in their practises;
• Clearly and actively communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements regarding accommodations to contracted and other relevant accommodations;
• Giving clear preference to accommodations that work with internationally acknowledged (e.g. GSTC recognised) and/or Travelife certification (e.g. Social Hub);
• Formulating a contract for accommodation providers to sign that includes standard sustainability clauses;

• Offering incentives to accommodations that are actively engaging in sustainability;
• The business does not contract accommodations, directly nor indirectly that are involved in compulsory labour, or that employ children to complete work that is normally undertaken by adults. There are special working times and conditions for children (< 14 years old) working within the business, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and/or the ILO convention 138. These conditions are mentioned in the contract with the accommodation.
• As a DMC active and based in Scotland, we abide by the Scottish Government’s guidelines on slavery and human trafficking.

• Working with accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities;

• Terminating cooperation with accommodation in case of clear evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision of integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare, or soil to the neighbouring companies. We have a dedicated list of accommodations we have tested and banned as a result of their non-compliance with our values and criteria;

7. Excursions and activities

We value animal and community welfare extremely highly and aim at tours that only leave a minor footprint. We are safeguarding the authenticity of the communities and the natural environment, and are strongly against harming wildlife and polluting the environment.

We commit to this by:

• • Having an inventory of environmentally or culturally sensitive excursions which are offered in each destination;

• Advising guests on behaviour standards during excursions and activities with a focus on respecting the local culture, nature, and environment;

• Communicating our sustainability objectives and requirements to contracted and other relevant excursion providers by distributing this information via code of conducts, social media, email, discussions, and/or meetings, to minimise negative visitor impact and maximise enjoyment;
• Not offering any excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources such as water and energy, or which are socially and culturally unacceptable;
• Not offering any excursions in which wildlife is held captive, except for properly regulated activities in compliance with local, national, and international law;
• Specifically when it comes to cetaceans and marine animals, we only collaborate with activity and excursions providers who adhere to the CET code of conduct and clearly communicate it to our clients. Furthermore, all certified STGA tour guides (which we exclusively employ) are required to adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot.
• Not being involved with companies that harvest, consume, display, sell, or trade wildlife species unless it is part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is sustainable and in compliance with local, national, and international law;
• We ensure that wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded, except as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilization is sustainable and in compliance with local, national and international law;
• Having skilled and/or certified guides to guide our guests in sensitive cultural sites, heritage sites, or ecologically sensitive destinations. We only employ guides that are recognized active members of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA) even if the profession of tour guides in Scotland is not limited to certified guides nor specifically regulated;
• Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities which directly involve and support local communities by purchasing services or goods, traditional crafts and local (food) production methods, or visiting social projects;
• Promoting and advising our guests on excursions and activities which support local environment and biodiversity such as visiting protected areas or environmental protection projects;

8. Tour leaders, local representatives and guides

We aim at involving as many locals as possible by employing them in the tourism business. We stand for a fair and safe working environment that supports and respects local communities.

We commit to this by:

• • Ensuring that all employees have a written employment contract, including labour conditions and a job description, and fully understand the terms and conditions;
  • Exclusively working with local tour leaders, local representatives, local tour guides, porters, drivers, cooks, and other local staff in case of equal ability, and provide training as required;
  • Ensuring that our local partners comply with all applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations, industry minimum standards, and any other relevant statutory requirements whichever requirements are more stringent;
  • Paying tour leaders, local representatives, guides, porters and other local staff contracted by us at least a living wage that is equal to or above the legal minimum or relevant industry standard;
  • Ensuring that our tour guides, hosts, and other employees under contract are qualified and trained regularly. STGA Guides are required to collect 40+ hours of CPD activities (constant professional development). This means all the guides we employ as well as the Director of our Company;
  • Ensuring that our local employees are informed on relevant aspects of our sustainability policy and comply with it;

• Having our tour leaders, local representatives and guides inform clients on relevant sustainability matters in the destination (e.g. protection of flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, resource use), social norms and values (e.g. tips, dressing code and photography) and human rights (e.g. sexual exploitation);

9. Destination

We aim to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts at destination to ensure the sustainable development of the places that we operate in.

We commit to this by:

• Consider sustainability aspects in the selection process of new destinations and mostly offer alternative, non-mainstream destinations;
• We explicitly refuse to select destinations in which tourism leads to structural negative local effects;
• We select destinations which do not necessarily need the use of internal flights or that are alternatively reachable by ferry, and are therefore reachable through more sustainable means of transport;
• Comply with legally based spatial planning, protected areas and heritage regulations.  Also with destination management strategies of local, regional and national authorities;
• Support initiatives that improve the relationships between accommodations and local producers;
• Influence and support local government (when possible, together with other travel companies and stakeholders) concerning sustainability, destination planning and management, use of natural resources and socio-cultural issues;
• Support biodiversity conservation, including protected areas and areas of high biodiversity, through financial contribution, political support, and integration in product offers;
• We do not allow the purchase of souvenirs containing threatened flora and fauna species, any illegally obtained historic/archaeological artefacts, drugs or illegal substances, and abide by local and international laws in place to prevent this.

10. Customer communication and protection

Customer welfare and information are very important to us. At Stilla Finest Scotland, we ensure clear and constant communication and high protection to our clients.

Prior to booking, we commit to this by:

• Make available a company guideline for client consultation, which is followed by client advisors;
• Ensure that customer privacy is not compromised;
• Comply with relevant standards and voluntary codes of conduct in marketing and advertising messages, and not promise more than is delivered;
• Make product and price information clear, complete and accurate, with regard to the company and its products and services, including sustainability claims;
• Provide destination information, including sustainability aspects, which is factually correct, balanced and complete;
• Inform clients about the environmental impact of different transport options to reach the destination (in case these are not included in the package), and to offer sustainable alternatives, where available;
• Promote (Certified) sustainable accommodations, excursions, packages and/or transport options, ensuring they are recognizable to our clients and presented as the “better” option;
• Inform the customer about sustainable alternatives concerning accommodations, excursions, package holidays and transport options, if available;
• Clearly inform (potential) direct customers, about sustainability commitments and actions;

After booking and during holidays, we commit to this by:

• Provide Information to consumers about the natural surroundings, local culture and cultural heritage in the holiday destination;
• Inform consumers about key sustainability aspects and issues in the destination and receive recommendations on how to make a positive contribution;
• Inform customers about risks and precautions related to health and safety matters in the destination;
• Keep a contact person and a telephone number permanently available for emergency situations;
• Train personnel and keep guidelines available, on how to deal with emergency situations;
• Provide clients with documented guidelines and/or codes of conduct for sensitive excursions and activities, to minimize negative visitor impact and maximize enjoyment;
• We exclusively  select for clients local restaurants and shops;
• Inform clients on sustainable transport options in destinations, when feasible;
• Encourage clients to donate to local charity and sustainable initiatives;

After holidays, we commit to this by:

• Measure systematically client satisfaction and take into account the results, for service and product improvements;
• Include sustainability as an integral part of the research into client satisfaction;
• Have clear procedures in case of complaints from clients. Our communication techniques with clients keeps complaints to a minimum (or non-existent). Throughout the trip, we invite our clients to give us specific feedback in order for us to improve our offer. Whenever complaints arise, it’s always immediately compensated by a practical and financially measurable action (immediate refund, extra service, extra attention at our expenses, etc.);

This document is in line with the Scottish Tourist Guides Association’s Health and Safety Policy and Requirements.

1. STATEMENT OF GENERAL POLICY

1.1 The Company fully accepts the obligations placed upon it by the various Acts of Parliament covering health and safety. The Company requires its Director to ensure that the following policy is implemented and to report annually on its effectiveness.

2.MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION AND ARRANGEMENTS

Introduction

2.1 This policy has been prepared and published under the requirements of Health & Safety at Work legislation. The purpose of the policy is to establish general standards for health and safety at work and to distribute responsibility for their achievement to all managers, supervisors, and other employees through the normal line management processes.

3. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Director

3.1. The Director has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Company’s policy. In particular she is responsible for ensuring that the policy is widely communicated and that its effectiveness is monitored. Stilla Finest Scotland’s Director is also the nominated Safety Officer of the company.

Director and Staff

3.2. Director and staff are wholly accountable to the Director for the implementation and monitoring of the policy within the area of their specified responsibility.

Safety Officer

3.3. The Safety Officer is responsible for co-ordinating effective health and safety policies and controls across the organisation.

3.4.The Safety Officer is responsible for:
• the production and maintenance of the Company’s policy and ensuring that Office Guidelines are consistent with policy;
• its application;
• monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the policy;
• the provision of general advice about the implication of the law;
• the identification of health and safety training needs. The safety officer also acts on behalf of the Director as the Company’s formal link with the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Health Departments and other external agencies;
• the production and maintenance of Health and Safety Codes of Practice for each aspect of the services within the Company.

4. HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROCESS

4.1. The Company believes that consideration of the health, safety and welfare of staff is an integral part of the management process. The provision of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, associated Codes of Practice and E.C. Directives will be adopted as required standards within the Company. Responsibility for health and safety matters shall be explicitly stated in job descriptions.

4.2. The Company requires staff to approach health and safety in a systematic way, by identifying hazards and problems, planning improvements, taking executive action and monitoring results so that the majority of health and safety needs will be met from locally held budgets as part of day-to-day management, although many health and safety problems can be rectified at little additional cost.

4.3. For major additional expenditure, cases of need will be submitted by staff to the Director for approval.

4.4. If unpredictable health and safety issues arise during the year, the Director must assess the degree of risk, in deciding the necessary resources and actions to commit to addressing these issues.

5. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE GUIDELINES

5.1. It is the policy of the Company to produce appropriate health and safety policies or guidelines. These should embody the minimum standards for health and safety for the office and the work organised within it.

5.2. It shall be the responsibility of the Director to bring to the attention of all members of staff the provisions of the guidelines.

6. IDENTIFICATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS – ANNUAL AUDIT AND REGULAR RISK ASSESSMENTS

6.1. The Company relies on a combination of coworking spaces and remote working and relies on the examination of health and safety performances against established standards exclusively in the coworking spaces used as office carried out by the Service Provider, at least annually. The Service Provider sets the standards and reviews to which the company adheres:
• office guidelines;
• relevant regulations;
• environmental factors;
• staff attitudes;
• staff instructions;
• methods of work;
• contingency plans;
• recording and provision of information about accidents and hazards and the assessment of risk.

6.3. The responsibility for ensuring that audit activity is carried out as part of this policy rests with the coworking space Service Provider and will be carried out by their own Safety Officer.

6.4. Staff have a continual responsibility for the elimination of hazards in order to maintain a safe working environment.

8. TRAINING

8.1. Health and Safety training shall be incorporated within annual training programmes, as part of the development of a systematic training plan. Health and Safety training needs will, therefore, be identified and planned for in the same manner as other training needs.

9. MONITORING

9.1. The Company makes sure to take regular vision of the coworking premises Health and Safety Procedures and Policy and to ensure the health and safety of the staff.

10. REPORTS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE

10.1. The responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 to the Health and Safety Executive, shall rest with the Director as appointed Safety Officer.

13. FIRST AID

13.1. It is the policy of the Company to make provision for First Aid and the training of ‘First Aiders’ in accordance with the First Aid Regulations (1982). The Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring the Regulations are implemented and for identifying training needs.

14. FIRE

14.1. The Company relies on the guidelines and adheres to the rules set and provided by the nominated Safety and Fire Officer of the coworking space Service Provider.

17.NON-SMOKING ON COMPANY PREMISES

17.1. The Company agrees to the non-smoking guidelines set by the coworking space Service Provider.

19. COMPUTER INSTALLATIONS AND VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS

19.1. All new computer installations must adhere to the British Standard Specifications and comply with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. All new employees operating VDUs are issued with a copy of the Health and Safety Executive Booklet entitled ‘Working with VDUs’. New employees who regularly use VDUs will be required to undergo sight screening.

20. CONTROL OF WORKING TIME

20.1. The Company is committed to the principles of the Working Time Regulations. No member of staff is expected to work more than 48 hours per week (including overtime) unless there are exceptional circumstances. Similarly all other requirements of the regulations e.g. in relation to breaks, night workers etc. will be complied with.

21. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE

21.1. The Health and Safety at Work Act requires each employee ‘to take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by their acts and omissions’ and co-operate with management to enable management to carry out their responsibilities under the Act. Employees have equal responsibility with the Company for Health and Safety at Work.

21.2. The refusal of any employee to meet their obligations will be regarded as a matter to be dealt with under the Disciplinary Procedure. In normal circumstances counselling of the employee should be sufficient. With a continuing problem, or where an employee leaves themself or other employees open to risk or injury, it may be necessary to implement the formal stages of the Disciplinary Procedure.

22. PEOPLE WORKING ON COMPANY PREMISES NOT EMPLOYED BY THE COMPANY

22.1. Persons working in the Company premises who are employed by other organisations are expected to follow Company Health and Safety Policies with regard to the safety of Company employees, their own personal safety (and that of other parties such as the general public if appropriate) and their method of work. This responsibility will be included in contracts or working arrangements. Similarly seconded Company employees working in other host premises will be expected to follow the host employers Health and Safety Policy.

23. VISITORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

23.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable, the Health, Safety and Welfare of visitors to Company establishments will be of the highest standard.

23.2. Any member of staff who notices persons acting in a way which would endanger other staff, should normally inform the Safety Officer. If the danger is immediate, common sense must be used to give warning, call for assistance or give aid as necessary. It is equally important not to over-react to a situation.

24. CONTRACTORS

24.1. The Company wishes to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable, the Health, Safety and Welfare of Contractors working in the Company’s establishments will be of the highest standards. In addition, Contractors and their employees have an obligation so far as is reasonably practicable to ensure all equipment, materials and premises under their control are safe and without risks to health.

24.2. Contractors must also observe the Company’s Fire Safety Procedures. These obligations will be drawn to the attention of the Contractors in the contract document issued to them. In addition a Company Manager will be identified in the contract as having authority to stop the work of Contractors who are placing themselves, other staff, or visitors at risk. Any member of staff who judges there is a risk where contractors are working, should inform the Safety Officer immediately.

24.3. In tendering, Contractors will be asked to confirm they have a written Health, Safety and Welfare Policy. The Safety Officer will be responsible for monitoring the Health and Safety performance of the Contractor and the Contractor’s performance will be a factor in deciding whether or not to invite the Contractor to tender again.

At Stilla Finest Scotland, we are committed to promoting sustainable tourism and minimizing our environmental impact. As part of this commitment, we have developed a Sustainable Excursions Policy to outline the standards and expectations for our activity providers.

This policy outlines the key sustainability principles that we expect our activity providers to adhere to. By working together, we can ensure that our tours and activities have a positive impact on the environment and local communities.

ATV

Boat-Based Marine Wildlife Viewing

Captive Animals

Diving Snorkelling

F&BServices

Fishing

Heritage Sites

Tour Guides

Transport Services

Visiting Farms

Wildlife Viewing

For more information, see the following page: ATTA’s partner in sustainability education and certification for tour operators.

VisitScotland and the STGA (Scottish Tour Guides Association) encourage visitors to be responsible and respectful when visiting Scotland by following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. This code applies to most land and inland water in Scotland. It’s based on three principles: respecting others, caring for the environment, and behaving responsibly:

• Respecting others: This includes respecting the rights of landowners, farmers, and other outdoor users. It also means being considerate of wildlife and livestock.
• Caring for the environment: This means minimizing your impact on the natural environment. Be sure to take all your litter home with you and avoid damaging plants or wildlife habitats.
• Behaving responsibly: This means acting safely and planning ahead for your trip. Be aware of the weather conditions and make sure you have the appropriate clothing and equipment.

Specific Guidelines:

• Be considerate of wildlife: Don’t disturb wildlife or their habitats. Keep your distance and avoid making loud noises.
• Take litter home: Always pack out what you pack in. Leave no trace behind and dispose of your waste properly.
• Use low-carbon transport: Consider traveling by public transport, bike, or foot whenever possible. This will help to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Explore landscapes: Take your time and explore Scotland’s beautiful landscapes, nature, and culture. There’s so much to see and do!
• Shop and eat local: Support local businesses by buying local products and eating local food. This is a great way to experience Scottish culture and help the local economy.
• Be prepared: Dress appropriately for the Scottish weather conditions. Be sure to wear layers so you can adjust to changing temperatures. Always check the forecast before you head out and be prepared for rain, wind, and even snow.

By following these guidelines, we can all help to ensure that everyone can enjoy Scotland’s beautiful outdoors for generations to come.

Appendix on illegal souvenirs:

While Scotland offers a wealth of unique souvenirs, it’s important to be aware of items that are illegal to purchase or export. Here are some examples of illegal souvenirs in Scotland:

• Archaeological artifacts: These include items such as ancient coins, pottery shards, and stone tools. Removing these items from their archaeological context can damage historical sites and hinder research.
• Wildlife products: Products made from endangered species, such as ivory, fur, or exotic woods, are illegal to purchase or export.
• Protected plants: Certain plants, such as rare orchids or mosses, are protected by law and cannot be removed from their natural habitat.

To avoid purchasing illegal souvenirs, it’s important to be mindful of where you are buying items and to ask questions about their origin. If you’re unsure about the legality of a particular souvenir, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid purchasing it.

Sustainability Codes of Conduct for Consumers for each type of activity / excursion are available in the following documents:

Aircraft Activities

All Terrain Vehicles – ATVs

Boat-Based WildlifeViewing

Captive Animals

Diving-Snorkeling

Fishing

Food-Beverage Services

Game Drives, Safaris, Walks

General Traveler Tips

Guiding Services

Horse Riding, Pony Trekking

Motorised Boating

Nature Open Vehicle Drives

Non-Motorised Boating

Shopping

Spa, Massage

Transport Services

Visiting Farms

Visiting Heritage Sites

Volunteering

Walking, Hiking, Trekking

Working Animals

Stilla Finest Scotland is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data.

Information We Collect:

We may collect personal information from you, such as your name, contact information, travel preferences, health conditions (when relevant to the trip planning). This information is collected through various channels, including our website, email communications, and booking forms. All payments are made online through a Secure Payment Link (Go Cardless, Dripe, Xero), so we do not access or store your banking details or information.

How We Use Your Information:

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Processing bookings and reservations: To fulfill your travel arrangements and provide customer support.
• Communicating with you: To send you important updates, confirmations, and personalized recommendations.
• Improving our services: To analyze customer preferences and tailor our offerings to your needs.
• Complying with legal obligations: To comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Data Security:

We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption: We use encryption technology to protect sensitive information.
• Access Controls: We limit access to your personal data to authorized personnel.
• Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Data Retention:

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. We will securely delete or anonymize your data when it is no longer needed.

Your Rights:

You have the right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data. You may also have the right to restrict processing, object to processing, and data portability. To exercise these rights or for any privacy-related queries, please contact us at stillafinestscotland@gmail.com.

Changes to This Policy:

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and we may notify you via email.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

For further information, please visit the this page.

The popular online travel platform Evaneos, awarded Stilla with the prestigious “Local Hero Award” as a tour operator in Scotland which combines sustainability and environmental awareness in all its trip offers, adhering to a very strict Code of Conduct.

We have also been awarded with the Gold Green Tourism Award for Scotland and we are constantly working in order to develop our Green Action Plan in order to reduce Stilla’s Carbon Footprint. In November 2021, we have been awarded the Second Prize as Best Newcomer at the Scottish Italian Awards.

Stilla Finest Scotland is happy to announce that we have engaged with the Travelife for Tour Operator & Travel Agents scheme. Travelife for Tour Operators and Travel Agents is internationally recognized and supported by the global travel industry as the preferred sustainability training, management and certification program for sustainability in tourism. Moreover, Travelife standards are formally recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agents: (1) Travelife Engaged; (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified. We are at stage 1 – Travelife Engaged. We are working to move forward to stage 2 – Travelife Partner. To reach the Travelife Partner, we must meet the standard of over 100 sustainability criteria that can be grouped into five key areas: Office operations; Product development; Working with suppliers; Customer relations and destinations.

Through regular training, raising awareness among our staff & our suppliers, and developing a culture of sustainable management and practices, Stilla aims to achieve the certification Travelife Certified, the third and highest level of the Travelife certification scheme by 2025.

Our aim is to strengthen our commitment to sustainability management and to turn it into consistent sustainable business practices in tourism. From an industry ethical perspective, we believe sustainability statements should be third-party justified and certified. That’s why we chose Travelife for Tour Operator & Travel Agents for our sustainability engagement.