41061 Unite AR22 HI-RES WEB-READY - Flipbook - Page 54
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THE UNITE GROUP PLC | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
SUSTAINABILITY AND NON-FINANCIAL REPORTING continued
PEOPLE continued
Health and Safety
Health and Safety is at the core of everything we do. We
are committed to providing a safe and secure workplace
for our people and making sure our customers are safe
and supported. Further details of progress are contained
in the Health and Safety Committee Report in the
Governance section (page 128).
In 2022, we introduced a new operating model based
on an in-depth assessment of our customers’ needs
and expectations. This new model means that all our
buildings have 24/7 staff presence, 365 days a year, across
both frontline and management staff. 2022 also saw the
launch of our Support to Stay framework which aims to
provide a supportive living environment to help students
fulfil their potential, despite any medical, physical or mental
health difficulties.
Throughout 2022, we also continued to uphold our
commitment to being leaders in fire safety standards,
through a proactive, risk-based approach, which is
embedded across our entire business, to ensure that
students and our employees are kept safe. We have a
dedicated fire safety team which has welcomed three
new managers this year, bringing in knowledgeable and
experienced professionals from the fire safety and fire
authority sectors to continue to drive improvement, and
progress significant projects, whilst ensuring we continue
to deliver on our safe and secure promise during a rapidly
changing fire safety and building safety landscape. We also
undertook an independent fire safety organisational audit,
the findings of which will help us continually improve our fire
safety management processes, helping ensure it meets the
highest standards.
CASE STUDY
FIRE SAFETY MANAGER
AWARD 2022
Championing Fire safety
Last year, our Group Fire Safety Manger Emily Argent
won Fire Safety Manager of the Year at the Women
in Fire Safety awards, which honour the outstanding
achievements and contributions of all women within the
fire safety industry.
Emily, who comes from a background of construction
and fire safety, was praised by multiple fire and rescue
services. Commenting on Emily’s work, the National
Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) described Emily’s approach
as “what we wish all organisations would do” and
“the dream”.
Emily was recognised for the way she ignites passion
with key stakeholders and brings people together in a
genuinely collaborative approach to ensure effective
solutions are implemented to help keep our students
and colleagues safe.
Speaking of her award, Emily said: “I’m absolutely elated
about the fact I’ve won Fire Safety Manager of the
Year, especially when I’m up against some absolutely
phenomenal women within the industry who I look up to
myself. Fire Safety is a passion for me. Unite is really great
at looking after and nurturing that passion and that’s
what I love about working for Unite. In addition to that,
I get to work with who I consider to be the best in the
industry and that includes my absolutely amazing team.”
For more about this project, go online to:
unitegroup.com/sustainability/positive-impact
