RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALLCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT: A REVIEW OF 2017-2018
MAY 2019
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
CONTENTS
Rider Levett Bucknall UK Ltd (RLB) is committed to operating as a responsible business and we have been reporting on our Corporate Responsibility achievements since 2011.
In this report we provide an update on our actions for the period May 2017 –
April 2018.
Our economic, environmental and social impacts (material aspects) discussed
in this report have, as in previous years, been produced following the Global
Reporting Initiatives G4 guidelines.
All referrals to the baseline year are to 2010/11.
About this Report i
Message from the Board 1
Highlights 2
People 3
Overview 3
Staff Breakdown 4
Employee Category Gender Breakdown 5
RLB Charter Award 6
Environment 7
Approach 7
Impact 9
Performance 10
Carbon Offsetting 11
Social 12
Achievements 12
Charities Supported by Our Staff 13
Outreach Programmes 14
Creating Opportunities 15
Looking Forward 16
Kensington Aldridge Academy - Helping to construct a temporary school for 960 studentsCover image: London team supporting Red Nose Day
i Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
ABOUT THIS REPORT
1Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
Rider Levett Bucknall is proud to be a responsible business. We are committed to
making our contribution to the communities in which we live and work. This is a
principle supported across Rider Levett Bucknall, and one that is demonstrated
through our actions.
We believe in an inclusive environment where we celebrate our people as
individuals and are committed to building a diverse and sustainable workforce and
client base. We are playing our part in overcoming the bias across the industry
by recruiting a more diverse workforce through; our membership of ENEI - the
leading employer network promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace, our
commitment to the RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark signatory, and formation
of RLB’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group.
We measure our impact under three key pillars of sustainability: Social,
Environment and Economic, and have followed the guidance of the GRI reporting
standard.
In this report we highlight some of the outreach and engagement programmes
we are involved in, our environmental and sustainability initiatives, and how we are
working collaboratively with colleagues, clients and communities to create a better
tomorrow.
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
STUART STABLESUK Board Finance Director
e. [email protected] m. +44(0) 121 503 1603
PEOPLEInvest in our people and value their contribution
INDUSTRYLead by example and shape the future of our industry in
everything we do
COMMUNITYBe aware of our social responsibilities and make our
contribution to the community
ENVIRONMENTBe conscious of the difference we can make in creating a
better tomorrow
CUSTOMERSChallenge the norm, give fresh perspectives and deliver
flawlessly
SUPPLIERSAct with integrity, honesty and fairness in all our
relationships
SHAREHOLDERSBe a self-owned organisation, be financially robust and
deliver agreed financial plans
OUR VALUES
2 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
PEOPLE ENVIRONMENT SOCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
13consecutive years accredited as a Top Employer
14% reduction in total carbon emissions compared to our baseline year
3600hours dedicated to local communities and young people
RLB Charter Awardpresented for exceptional individual contribution
Exceeded 2017/18 fundraising target and raised
£45,000
1162trees saved, reducing energy consumption by 30% against base year
28%reduction in carbon emissions per employee compared to our baseline year
9consecutive years with Equality Assured Kitemark
13consecutive years as an Investor in People Gold and Champion
3Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
PEOPLEOVERVIEW
0Cases of discrimination reported
0Cases of corruption recorded
0Fines or sanctions from non compliance with
laws and regulations
0Fatalities
0Occupational diseases
1.64%total sick days as % of working days in 2017/18
0Major injuries
2Minor injuries (Midlands: 1 female, 1 male).
90%Technical staff achieved their professional
qualification
100%Of our staff have received a formal performance
appraisal and review in the last 12 months
100%Anti corruption training completed
100%Diversity and Inclusion training completed
17%Technical female workforce (compared to
industry average of 13%)
100%Employees receiving National Living Wage
ACHIEVEMENTS GOVERNANCE HEALTH & SAFETY
4 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
PEOPLESTAFF BREAKDOWN
TECHNICAL STAFF GENDER BREAKDOWN ALL STAFF REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
NORTH MIDLANDS SOUTH
83% 17%114 89 191
38 39 72Our female technical staff number remains greater than the industry average of 13%.
5Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
PEOPLEEMPLOYEE CATEGORY GENDER BREAKDOWN
EMPLOYEE DIVERSITY BREAKDOWN
17% 11%
5%
44%
45%
78%
Minority
Percentage
Male Female
Manager 6% 7%
Technical 10% 25%
Support 39% 6%
Manager Support Technical
6 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
The RLB Charter is an initiative which supports and
rewards our people for their contribution to a local
community, charity or cause.
It is supported across the UK business, through
fundraising, volunteering and outreach activity.
Each year we recognise a member of our team who
has demonstrated an exceptional level of community
involvement. This year the RLB Charter Award winner
is Kathryn Hind. Kathryn, who is based in our Sheffield
office and has been working with RLB since 1998,
received a £500 donation to a charity of her choice.
Kathryn was recognised for volunteering over 60 hours
and helping to raise over £10,000 for Weston Park
Cancer Charity.
PEOPLERLB CHARTER AWARD
Left to right: Darren Hayes (Weston Park), Catherine Rhone (Weston Park), and Kathryn Hind
Invest in our people and value
their contribution
7Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
To ensure we manage the environmental aspects
of our business activities effectively, we maintain a
formal environmental management system (EMS).
Our EMS is third party certified and drives continual
improvement, good practice and legal compliance for
all our UK offices.
To embed an environmental consciousness within the
services we offer, we have continued to promote and
develop our sustainability services, including:
� SKA Consultancy
� Carbon Management Planning
� BREEAM Consultancy
� Carbon Assessment
� As Built Carbon Measurement
The RLB Accreditations Guide, released in 2018, compares and highlights the advantages of national and international sustainability construction certifications available and valid in the UK. These include BREEAM, LEED, SKA Rating, WELL Building Standard, Wired and the Living Building Challenge.
The guide is available to download, for free on RLB.com.
Be conscious of the difference
we can make in creating a better
tomorrow.
ENVIRONMENTAPPROACH
8 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
OFFICE OPERATIONS ENERGY
30%reduction in office
energy compared to
baseline year
100%of electricity generated
from renewable sources
where RLB is responsible
for the tariff
GOVERNANCE
10Number of years certified
to ISO14001
100%of significant suppliers
checked against
environmental criteria
89%of paper used is
recycled
37trees saved from using
recycled paper
4offices achieving SKA
Rating certified for
sustainable refurbishment
WASTE
0%Total waste sent
to landfill*
LEGAL COMPLIANCE
100%compliance with
environmental laws
and regulations
9years voluntarily
reporting against CDP
(Carbon Disclosure
Project)
*where RLB is responsible
ENVIRONMENTACHIEVEMENTS
9Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
ENVIRONMENTIMPACT
We’ve assessed that our main environmental
impacts result from the following key activities. The
percentage figures represent the proportion of total
carbon emissions from that activity.
Business travel accounts for 87% of our carbon
emissions; we continue to monitor how we can
improve this aspect of our impact.
This is broken down as below:
AIR TRAVEL
1.5 Million km
29%
RAIL TRAVEL
2.2 Million km
10%
ENERGY USE
1,910 Gj
13%
ROAD TRAVEL
3.4 Million km
48%
We monitor flights by type, when domestic flights are
requested we look at the customer needs and staff
efficiency of taking alternative means of transport.
It is our policy that carbon emissions relating to all
international, long and short haul flights are offset.
Our 2020 emission reduction target is based on
government reduction guidance and what we
believe is achievable in the timescale, set against the
background of our business plan and the way we
deliver our services to clients.
EMISSION FIGURES
We have already achieved our 2020 relative emission
target.
Baseline Current Position 2020 Target
Absolute
emissions
1,217
(tCO2e)1322 (tCO2e) 973 (tCO2e)
Relative
emissions
3.42
(tCO2e)2.44 (tCO2e) 2.5 (tCO2e)
RLB office in Manchester - SKA Gold Rated
As our emissions are largely influenced by the number
of staff we employ, it is the tonnes of GHG relative
emissions per employee per annum which has been
identified as the metric which is most meaningful for
the business.
10 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
We calculate our carbon emissions every year. By
monitoring our impacts, we are able to take action to
keep the associated emissions to a minimum.
By continuing to monitor the number of flights taken
and encouraging staff to take the train for business
journeys, we are delighted our air-miles have reduced
by 15% and use of rail is up 182% on our baseline year.
Reducing travel by road is still a challenge when
balancing against our customers needs. We are
currently reviewing our car incentivisation scheme to
further encourage staff to purchase lower emission
vehicles.
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/180
Office Energy
Air Rail Waste
Lighting & Small Power Heating Road
CARBON EMISSIONS 2010-2018
248
475
235
497
45
56
60
6470
69
97126
448325 399
504
565
450
442
382
508
79 68
135 119 113 88 95 105
6968 65 68
529442 455
549
640
CO
2e
ENVIRONMENTPERFORMANCE
Waste 7%
Air 15%
Energy 58%
Road 35%
Rail 182%
Total % Change 9%
TYPE OF EMISSION 2017/18 ACTUAL
11Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
As part of our on-going commitment to reducing our impact on the environment we voluntarily offset* all of our air travel related emissions for 2017/18 which is the equivalent to 382tCO2e.
CASE STUDY: DARFUR LOW-SMOKE STOVES PROJECT
We use the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a mechanism to help us choose projects which aim to
reduce future emissions, and which will help achieve a better, more sustainable future for all.
We chose to support the Darfur Low-Smoke Stoves project in Sudan, a project which improves household
health by replacing traditional cooking methods – burning wood and charcoal inside the home – with low
smoke LPG stoves.
The project helps achieve many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and gives us the potential to
create a real positive impact.
BENEFITS
� The first registered carbon credit project in Sudan and the first to be developed in a conflict zone.
� Almost 100% of families using the new cookstoves delivered by the project state that indoor air quality
has greatly improved.
� Each stove installed in a household in Darfur saves 4.5 tCO2e – equivalent to one passenger flying 3
times between London and New York.
� The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves states that cooking with efficient low smoke LPG reduces
most key pollutants by over 95% and reduces energy consumption by 50-70%.
2017/18 Emissions
before offset
(Gross)
1,322 tco2e
2017/18 Emissions
after offset (Net)
906 tco2e
This is a 22% reduction against the base year.
ENVIRONMENTCARBON OFFSETTING
*A Carbon Offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon
dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to
compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
12 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
SOCIALACHIEVEMENTS
£45,000Achieved and exceeded fundraising target
2017/18
1,800 hoursAchieved and exceeded volunteering target
2017/18
RLB Charter AwardWe reward through an annual RLB Charter
Award, donations to charity, ad-hoc prizes and
recognition and thanks in bi-monthly office
communications meetings and monthly staff
news-letter.
VOLUNTEERING COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES
Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in support of Forget Me Not
Children’s Hospice
Bristol team participating in the Great Run - Bristol 10k in
support of OTR Bristol
Our staff across the UK have been involved in a wide
range of CSR activities, including:
� Feeding the homeless
� Helping at Winter Warmth - raising money for cold weather clothing for the homeless
� Volunteering at Clifton Robinson’s Hockey Club to umpire during games
� Taking part in the Future Leaders Programme at Colston’s school
� Volunteering two hours of their time a week to volunteer at a homeless outreach centre in London, handing out food and clothing in partnership with Todos Together
13Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
SOCIALCHARITIES SUPPORTED BY OUR STAFF
David Bucknall
Scholarship
1 week per yearWe match staff time off for charity work up to
one week per year
CHARITY WORK
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BUCKNALL’S FIRST RUNG
Launched in 2012 the Bucknall’s First Rung (BFR)
Project was established to honour our former
Chairman, David Bucknall. The project aims to
support and develop young people on their journey
to employment in the construction industry and
reduce the numbers classified as NEET (Not in
Education, Employment or Training). Each graduate
has two weeks to dedicate to working with their local
communities to ensure the initiative is a success.`
SOCIALOUTREACH PROGRAMMES
Over 1,800 hours deliveredin supported learning, mentoring, and presenting to young people, designed to encourage greater insight into the construction industry. The programme provides valuable work experience.
THE DAVID BUCKNALL SCHOLARSHIP
In September 2017, Birmingham Metropolitan College
(BMet) student, Monique Hall-Smith was awarded the
David Bucknall Scholarship.
The scholarship was set up in memory of David
Bucknall. Funded by private donations from David’s
friends and colleagues, the scholarship is run by RLB
in partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU).
The scholarship offers a combination of financial
support, mentoring and work experience to a student
embarking on studies in a built-environment subject.
The award scheme also offers a number of other
selected students an unconditional place at BCU, with
reduced fees.
As the David Bucknall Scholar, Monique received
a financial contribution of £10,500 over three
years’ study plus guaranteed work placements and
mentoring from the RLB team.
Find out more here.
Be aware of our social
responsibilities and make our
contribution to the community
15Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
SOCIALCREATING OPPORTUNITIES
36Work experience placements
13Apprentices employed
24Staff members undertaking CMI diploma
40Graduates taken on board
10Year Out/Placements provided
Celebrating National Apprentice Week in our Manchester
office
Career Fair in university
Graduate Day 2018
16 Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
LOOKING FORWARD
Our 2020-2030 Business Strategy will inform the setting of new targets and include the preparation of our next three year Carbon Management Plan.
We have recently formed a Global Corporate Social
Responsibility committee to review and monitor our
approach to CSR and the sharing and adoption of
practices and initiatives to further promote CSR at a
global level across Rider Levett Bucknall.
The committee will assess the continued suitability
of GRI as a reporting mechanism and the inclusion
in future reports of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.
VIV TODHUNTERPartner - Compliance & Business Improvement
e. [email protected] m. +44(0)7958 958423
If you have any questions or feedback, please do
contact Viv Todhunter, CSR Partner.
17Rider Levett Bucknall | Corporate Social Responsibility Report: A review of 2017-2018
675UK Staff
100%Employee Owned
£80mUK turnover
10UK offices
Independent, privately owned and managed
RLB.com
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