Our ESG Strategy
We believe that to deliver upon our ESG Strategy we need all our people to deliver. We undertook a materiality assessment in 2023 to identify our material topics to aid in the development of our ESG strategy.
From this, we identified the following four key topics upon which we focus our strategy.
Become a sustainable business and achieve net zero
Through our Net Zero Strategy, we intend to become net zero in our operations, property portfolio and energy consumption by 2033.
We will reduce our environmental impact of our buildings annually as part of a strategy through investment in energy and resource efficiencies and encourage our students to increase their sustainable behaviour. We have also set a wider target of being net zero in all our emissions (adding scope 3) by 2050 or before.
Excel in the provision of health and safety
We continue to build on our established good practice in Health and Safety where we operate.
We also understand the need to create environments that make our students and employees feel safe.
Enhance mental health & wellbeing
The wellbeing and mental health of our students and employees is a top priority for us.
Of our students responding to this year’s Global Student Living index survey, 71 per cent said our accommodation had a positive impact on their wellbeing, with 73 per cent saying they felt our accommodation teams cared about their wellbeing. We are proud to report that in 2022 we won the award for Best Student Wellbeing (UK & Ireland).
Provide opportunities for all
We believe in creating a diverse and gender balanced workforce which reflects the customers and communities we serve. We treat everyone equally irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, religious or other philosophical belief, disability, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, or pregnancy or maternity.
We continue to review our approach to diversity, equality and inclusion, including the use of targets. Our workforce and customers are from a diverse range of people so we need to ensure that our workplace remains inclusive and allows our people and our customers a place where they can thrive.