Dig is committed to supporting social and community based initiatives to help those in need and create a better world. Dig focusses its social and community support on First Nations Peoples and those in need in the community, and we are part of the 1% pledge which provides a framework for companies to give philanthropically. This includes pro bono work, volunteering for the disadvantaged, investing staff time in training in developing young people in the advertising industry, and direct donations to charity.
Digging deeper to make a difference for the world we live in
As we continue to grow as a business, so too does our commitment to social, community and environmental responsibility. It’s our belief that businesses do not operate in a bubble and that we have a responsibility to nurture the communities and world around us.
The four ways Dig is making a positive impact
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
At Dig, we have chosen to focus our efforts on 4 SDG's, with an emphasis on Reducing Inequalities, Quality Education, Climate Action and Good Health and Wellbeing.
Dig is Certified Carbon Neutral, offsetting 100% of our Carbon Emissions
We use power from 100% renewable energy, have a recycling program in place and also buy office supplies from environmentally preferred sources. To see the difference were are making to the planet in a little more detail please view our public impact page on Trace.
We have set goals to reduce our impact on the environment, including reducing our total carbon footprint by 5%.
In addition, all of our energy usage in our Melbourne and Sydney offices is sourced from 100% renewable energy. Our target is to reduce our yearly energy usage by 5%.
Dig is committed to reducing inequalities
Opening up access to the advertising industry
The Create Space Study by AdCouncil identified that people in the advertising industry are more likely to come from privileged and professional middle-class backgrounds. Those who attended private/fee-paying schools are overrepresented at 54% vs the national average across all sectors of 35%.
We have partnered with Western Sydney Ad School to offer scholarships and internships. Located in the West of Sydney, the school's mission is to offer an advertising course that’s affordable and more accessible to creative people who wouldn’t normally consider an advertising career.
This is in addition to our ongoing support of the AdCouncil Award School.
Giving back
Volunteering staff time for the disadvantaged.
Each of our team receive a minimum of two work days per year to spend volunteering or giving back to the community. In 2022 this included cooking over 2000 Meals for the disadvantaged at FareShare and raising money and attending CEO Dare to Cure fundraising event
Improving access and education in the industry.
During 2022, six of our employees were involved in voluntary training new people entering the industry at the AdCouncil Award School. Our staff also participated in speed mentoring in conjunction with the AdCouncil, providing valuable information and help to young people interested in joining the industry.
Direct donations. During the year we have donated directly to the Ukraine war effort, the Black Dog Institute and Support the Girls. Staff at Dig have the opportunity to nominate the charities we choose.
At Dig, we believe diversity is a strength, and we have several programs and policies in place to ensure we promote an inclusive working environment.
Diversity and inclusion
The Dig Company Constitution states our purpose goes beyond financial measures and we are here to make a positive impact on people, planet and prosperity.
We have a working group of staff we call ‘ShinDigs’ who engage all staff in the calendar of activities throughout the year such as Pride Day, NAIDOC week, International Women's Day and other occasions throughout the year. We engage staff by sending out educational material on the topic and running talks and social events to create awareness and empathy for inclusion and equality.
We create and manage an inclusive work environment. We include a statement in all our job postings with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We offer training for all employees on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We have conducted a pay equity analysis by gender, race/ethnicity, or other demographic factors and, if necessary, implemented equal compensation on improvement plans or policies. We track the following through an annual (voluntary) employee survey measuring:
- Social economic status
- Race/ ethnicity
- Age
- Disability
- LGBTQI+
15%
Supporting disadvantaged groups.15% come from non Australian ethnicity, Indigenous, low socio economic background, or LBGTQI+. We have a target of 20% by end 2024.
50%+
Supporting women in the workforce.More than 50% of managers identify as women and 50% of our Executive Leadership team are women.
17%
Age diversity.17% of staff are under 24 years or over 50 years of age.
We have a range of other initiatives that promote a fair, inclusive work environment.
Helping our people to thrive
Participation in volunteering and pro bono work for social, community and environmental initiatives brings a collective sense of purpose to the Dig team.
We believe in the value of lifelong learning and provide our team with the environment to continually improve through on-the-job training, written materials, coaching, internal workshops and external training and courses.
We are a member of the digital care platform Sonder, empowering our team to actively take control of their well-being so they can live well and perform at their best.
Dig supports quality education for those who need it most
Dig invests in increasing access to quality education and training for those in Australia who may generally struggle to access it.
Last year we donated both time and money to a range of initiatives, including monetary donations to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, volunteering as tutors for Award School, and Judging and mentorship in the ‘Leadership in a Post Crisis World’ module for marketing students.
Proudly Independent
Being an independently run business is part of our DNA and means we are not beholden to a large corporation, investors or shareholders, but rather, to our team and to you, our wonderful community. Our beneficial ownership group consists of Paul Rhodes, Katrina Keen, Peter Cerny, David Joubert and Paul Lamble.
Dig focuses its social and community support on First Nations People and those in need in the community. In addition, we are part of the 1% pledge, which provides a framework for companies to give philanthropically. These efforts are governed by the Dig Board of Directors, Paul Rhodes, Matt Keen, Peter Cerny and Paul Lamble.
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