41061 Unite AR22 HI-RES WEB-READY - Flipbook - Page 48
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THE UNITE GROUP PLC | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
SUSTAINABILITY AND NON-FINANCIAL REPORTING
MAKING A POSITIVE
IMPACT THROUGH
PEOPLE AND PLACES
“We have always tried to make a real
positive impact, from our founding principle
of providing safe, secure and affordable
accommodation, through 10 years supporting
the Unite Foundation, to our 2030 net
zero carbon targets.”
Richard Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Operating sustainably is crucial to our long term success, which is why making Unite a responsible and resilient business
is one of our strategic objectives. To help us achieve this, particularly in relation to environmental and social issues, we’ve
created a new sustainability framework focused on “creating a positive impact, through People and Places”. Key ambitions
include targets to be net zero carbon by 2030, invest 1% of profit in social initiatives, and create a consciously inclusive
and equitable workplace that is representative of wider society and helps everyone fulfil their potential. Some of our
achievements are set out below.
Progress made through 2022
Making a positive impact through People
Making a positive impact through Places
•
Launched new learning academy and delivered over 19,000
hours of training to employees
•
•
Committed to invest 1% of profit in social initiatives aligned
with our purpose, and delivered a £2.0 million investment
in 2022
Completed detailed surveys of all properties and developed
property-level asset transition plans, identifying c.£100 million
of energy efficiency investments required to hit our 2030 net
zero target
•
Deployed £13 million on energy efficiency measures in the
year, expected to deliver a c.5% cut in energy consumption
•
Appointed dedicated Sustainability Construction Manager
in a new role to help our Development Team hit our
sustainability targets
•
Started development of a new Sustainable Construction
Framework including full life cycle carbon assessment (LCA)
of all new developments
•
Provided head office space for charity Streets of Growth on
a peppercorn rent in our new Hayloft Point development
•
•
Launched our new Support to Stay student support
framework including our Winter Wellbeing programme to
help vulnerable students through the cost-of-living crisis
Relaunched our Leapskills programme reaching over 10,000
young people in 2022
•
Relaunched our Positive Impact programme, achieving
Bronze awards across all properties
•
Announced a bumper intake of 100 new Unite Foundation
scholars to celebrate its 10th anniversary