Our stakeholders
As a creative business, the decisions we make affect more than just our clients and shareholders.
Our work impacts our team, our clients, the people who use the websites and communications we create, our suppliers and partners, the communities around us, and the environment.
As part of our commitment to responsible business, we have identified the stakeholder groups that are most closely connected to Toast and considered the significance of the impact we have on each of them.
How we identify our stakeholders
We consider stakeholders to be people, groups or interests that:
- are affected by the decisions we make
- are affected by the work we produce
- contribute to the way Toast operates
- can influence our long-term success
- may be affected socially, economically or environmentally by our activities
We review our stakeholder relationships by considering both the impact Toast has on each group and the influence that group has on our business.
Our key stakeholders
Our team
Our employees are directly affected by the way Toast operates.
We have a responsibility to provide fair pay, supportive working conditions, opportunities to develop, a healthy working environment and long-term employment where possible.
Our team also has a significant influence on the quality of our work, our culture and the experience our clients receive.
Our clients
Our clients depend on us to provide effective, responsible and commercially useful creative work.
The decisions we make around design, accessibility, technology, sustainability, usability and communication can directly affect the success of the organisations we work with.
We aim to build long-term, transparent relationships and provide honest advice based on what we believe will deliver the best outcome.
The people who use our work
Not everyone affected by Toast is a direct client.
The websites, printed materials, brands and communications we create are used by customers, employees, members, supporters and the wider public.
We therefore consider accessibility, usability, clarity and inclusion as part of our responsibility as designers and developers.
Our suppliers and partners
We work with printers, developers, freelancers, technology providers, hosting companies and other specialist suppliers.
We aim to build fair and responsible relationships, pay suppliers appropriately and consider environmental and social factors when making purchasing decisions.
Our local community
Toast is part of the wider community in which we operate.
We contribute through employment, local spending, business relationships and the use of our professional skills.
Where possible, we look for opportunities to support organisations and initiatives that have a positive social impact
The environment
The environment is a stakeholder even though it cannot directly participate in business decisions.
Our activities create environmental impacts through energy use, hosting, digital infrastructure, printing, procurement, travel and waste.
We aim to reduce unnecessary environmental impact and make more responsible choices in the way we work and in the recommendations we make to clients.
Our shareholders and directors
Toast must remain commercially sustainable in order to support its employees, clients, suppliers and wider commitments.
Our directors and shareholders are responsible for the long-term stewardship of the company and for balancing financial sustainability with the interests of other stakeholders.
Regulators and wider society
We operate within a broader legal, social and economic environment.
We have responsibilities in areas including employment, taxation, data protection, accessibility, environmental impact and responsible business conduct.
We aim to operate transparently, comply with our legal obligations and contribute positively to the wider business community.
How we prioritise stakeholder impact
Prioritisation does not mean that one stakeholder is more valuable than another.
It helps us understand where Toast has the greatest level of responsibility and where our decisions are likely to have the most significant consequences.
We consider:
- The level of impact Toast has on the stakeholders
- The level of influence the stakeholder has on Toast
- How serious or long-lasting that impact may be
- Whether the stakeholder may be particularly vulnerable to our decisions
- How much ability Toast h to improve outcomes
Our stakeholder map is reviewed periodically, and when there are significant changes to our business, workforce, services or supply chain,
Our stakeholder map
The map below shows how we currently assess the relationship between Toast and its principal stakeholder groups.
Those positioned towards the right are more directly affected by Toast’s activities. Those positioned higher on the map have greater influence over the way the company operates.
The map is not intended to rank the value of stakeholders. It helps us understand the significance of our relationships and where responsible decision-making is particularly important.
Higher influence
Lower direct impact
Higher influence
Higher direct impact
Lower influence
Lower direct impact
Lower influence
Higher direct impact
Higher impact from Toast
