SOCIAL - BLOG
@CIBSE Kevin Mitchell became CIBSE
President on 5 May 2022 and gave his
inaugural address, Inspire the Next
Generation, at the Royal Society (and online).
Watch Kevin’s full address to find out more
about his aims for the year ahead https://
buff.ly/3PtvoVr #CIBSE125Challenges
@MagentaComms What a fab party we had
last night - thanks to all who attended and
helped make it a memorable night!
CIOB @theCIOB One of CIOB’s most popular
guides, the Code of Practice for Project
Management for the Built Environment,
has now been updated and a sixth edition
published. Read more here: https://orlo.uk/
E8HiZ #CIOB
Matthew Chapman linkedin.com/in/
mpdchapman I’m happy to share that I’m
starting a new position as CEO at SBFM. I will
be working with the business to continue
building on their growth mindset ethos. We
share an ambition to reimagine what can be
delivered and achieved within the industry,
along with the importance of the role we
all play for people & places. As I begin this
next step, I’d like to thank my colleagues at
Atalian Servest UK & Ireland.
Health and Safety Executive @H_S_E HSE is
identifying and tackling poor design for tall
buildings in England right from the outset
of a building’s life. The Planning Gateway
One process is paving the way for the more
stringent building safety regime. Read more
here: https://bit.ly/3x0GWIT
Ballymore @ballymore Three Snowhill in
Birmingham, the largest-ever speculative
city centre office scheme outside London,
has won a 2022 @BCO_UK award – an
accolade which recognises the highest
quality developments in the office sector
across the UK http://ow.ly/zzpB50Jjy8T
Karly Sadler linkedin.com/in/karly-sadler-
37117b18b Head of Marketing at GreenZone
20 years and 10,000 UK Employers, what
phenomenal milestones Living Wage
Foundation At the Living Wage Foundation
Parliamentry Reception, all the speakers
were inspiring but as mum of three, it was
truly humbling to listen to the words of the
children whose day to day lives are improved
through their parents being paid the real
living wage.
18 JUNE 2022
CLARE LEGRYS PRINCIPAL RISK MANAGER/HSEQ MANAGER, VERCITY CONSULTANCY
MORE THAN JUST BEST PRACTICE, ESG
IS CRUCIAL FOR BUSINESS HEALTH
Following recent changes to the Social
Value Act and increasing focus from
corporations, investors and consumers,
company ESG (Environmental, Social, and
Governance) and sustainability activities are
now becoming vitally important to the health
and growth of a business and more than just
“good practice”.
Companies who are strong on ESG are seen
as more stable for investors, particularly as
regulators now routinely scrutinise businesses’
financial and environmental disclosures. Rising
talent is also more likely to be attracted to
companies with good ESG credentials, with
studies showing they prefer to work for brands
perceived as ethical. To adapt to this driver and
better position themselves in the market, many
companies have begun to harness recruitment
partnerships to consult on how to adopt ESG
best-practice and understand the needs of those
open to work.
The most e ective ESG strategies ensure room
for development against set measurements
and frameworks, to accommodate the
constantly shi ing goalposts of this business
area. Successful ESG shows a willingness
to change and a recognition of the need for
reactivity and adaptability. Focusing targets
and workflows on the long-term picture can be
beneficial, particularly in relation to net zero
and decarbonisation of the supply chain, while
taking cognisance of and adapting to emerging
innovations within the current fast-moving
industry to ensure they remain achievable.
Flexibility may also be required as and when
legislation and regulations change, to ensure
attainment of the best sustainable global
outcomes.
Businesses have also found technology
management and data driven outcomes are key
to achieving collaborative working arrangements
and the overall implementation of successful
sustainability strategies. Through use of
centralised systems, companies can record and
analyse building or project emissions, which
in turn allows them to accurately feedback to
stakeholders on sustainability performance and
achievement of goals. When it comes to facilities
management activities, these systems also
provide the capability to monitor and measure
waste creation, recycling volumes, and materials
and product usage, and can build in planned life
cycle and obsolescence management.
As a management services provider, Vercity
has embraced these notable ESG practices,
recognising the need to be an ethical and
forward-thinking organisation that places
sustainable practices as a key business driver.
The company has a proven track record of
initiating innovative approaches to social
impact, benefitting the global community,
and minimising their negative e ects upon
Clare Legrys, Vercity Consultancy
the environment, which is achieved through
collaborative working arrangements and actively
measuring the business’ direct and indirect
e ects. To tackle emissions and environmental
harm, we have introduced an environmental
aspects and impacts register which sets annual
environmental objectives and targets that are
monitored on a quarterly basis. This regime
aligns with our external certification to ISO
14001 with BSI and the company’s internal
benchmarking regime that uses the World
Economic Forum’s Four Pillar approach,
and is supported by key investors, clients,
employees and other stakeholders through close
collaboration networks.
Engagement with all stakeholders is key to
good ESG practice, however the inclusion of
employees is of particular consequence during
the formation of company sustainability policies
and achieving net zero targets. Many individuals
are now demanding more from companies
as consumers but may not realise the steps
their own company is taking to implement and
achieve sustainability goals. At Vercity, sta
are encouraged to discuss sustainability and
ESG best practice, post articles on initiatives
they have personally been involved with and
expand their knowledge base via topic specific
forums. Additionally, they are invited to take
part in studies to determine how commuter
and business milage can be reduced and to
engage in ESG polls relating to their personal
and work-related behaviours, which are both
enabled through open dialogue policies and
communication systems that provide the means
and reasoning for employees to engage with the
company’s sustainability practices.
ESG good practice requires communication
and accountability at all levels, and partnership
with external organisations. Setting out company
climate goals which can then be shared with
key investors allows a company to be held
accountable to its agreements and targets,
as well as allowing them to work closely with
others to work towards an achievable, cohesive
and integrated sustainability and social value
strategy.
ADVICE & OPINION
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