ESG Report 202223 - Flipbook - Page 12
The role of
innovation:
Our people and our
communities
Through our innovation
ecosystem we highlight
and promote innovation
best practice across
our various sectors and
provide the example and
Community matters
inspiration to excel in
the pursuit of building
sustainable communities
and spaces.
Community engagement underpins our stakeholder
management strategies and helps us ensure we have
a positive impact on the regions in which we operate.
We have a wide range of opportunities to use our presence in an area as
a positive force, from employing local people and placing orders with nearby
supply chain partners, to making use of Social Enterprises, community groups
and charities. We see our ‘for more than profit’ ideology as contributing to
sustainable development and communities.
Our people regularly undertake additional activities, fundraising for charities, as well as
volunteering within the communities in which they live and work. Measuring and recording
our social value impact is an increasing area of focus for us. We are currently engaging with
a wide variety of organisations that offer this service. Some of our operating businesses are
already sector leaders in this field, and we will enable the learning and best practice from
their success to be replicated across the wider Group.
Several of our operating businesses are demonstrating social value best practice on a large
scale through a number of core focus areas, including developing new jobs and skills in the
community, actively promoting equal opportunities and promoting community health and
wellbeing. The majority of our companies have introduced employee volunteering days,
allowing our people to spend some of their paid work time for the greater good of others.
We recognise that social value isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution and we make every attempt
to be agile and specific to the communities in which we operate. Whether this is achieved
through a community clean up, enhancing community spaces, inspiring young people to
consider working with us or providing advice to our client’s customers, our social value is
targeted to focus on the most effective impact and lasting effect.
Some of our businesses are members of the 5% Club. They have committed to having
at least 5% of their workforce classed as Emerging Talent, working with us through
apprenticeships, sponsored student placements or as graduates. You can read about
our Building Talent Programme on page 48.
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