Partnering with Bee Conservation, the firm’s bee gardens are designed to enhance the environment and ensure both the bees and ecosystems are well supported. Alongside housing the hives, the firm will provide enough pesticide-free, nectar-rich flowers and trees in the vicinity so the bees won’t need to travel significant lengths to find their food or compete with nearby hives.

As part of its Bee programme, CMS will also establish “Bee Clubs” where staff will have the opportunity to learn the basics of beekeeping, overseen by professional beekeepers. Barbara Mendler, managing director operations and strategic projects at CMS, comments: “Biodiversity ensures we have functioning ecosystems that are essential for all life on earth. Bees play a vital role in maintaining and promoting biodiversity, pollinating the food we need to survive and many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife. However, their numbers are declining. By bringing bees to CMS, we want to help sustain our vital ecosystems and enhance biodiversity in the communities where we operate.”

Norman Wisely, managing director of CMS’s Aberdeen office, said: “We’re delighted to accommodate the new hives in Aberdeen where we will be encouraging staff and clients to get involved by offering them the opportunity to learn about beekeeping and how we can best support these insects in their new home. We are incredibly passionate about our Bee programme, which is just one of the many projects we are undertaking as part of CMS’s wider commitment towards sustainability.”