Climate Change Data

The Unite Group PLC

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • People
  • Places
  • Climate Change
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Wellbeing
  • Health & Safety
  • Responsible Resource Use
  • Community Engagement

Environmental Achievements

  • Deployed £13 million on energy efficiency measures, expected to deliver a c.5% cut in energy consumption
  • 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
  • Appointed dedicated Sustainability Construction Manager
  • Started development of a new Sustainable Construction Framework including full life cycle carbon assessment (LCA) of all new developments

Social Achievements

  • 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
  • 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
  • Launched first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) and Wellbeing strategy, We are US

Governance Achievements

  • Continued focus on two-way communication through employee forum, Culture Matters
  • Undergone policy review process to better reflect diversity
  • 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.

Climate Goals & Targets

Medium-term Goals:
  • Net zero carbon by 2030 (SBTi validated 1.5ºC carbon target of a 56% cut in scope 1+2 emissions by 2030; CRREM-based operational energy efficiency target for a 28% cut in energy intensity by 2030; RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge-aligned targets for new-build embodied carbon and energy; RE100 commitment to buy 100% renewable electricity by 2030)
Short-term Goals:
  • Launch comprehensive new employee support framework in Q2 2023
  • Achieve a 40:60 female:male gender split in senior management by 2025

Environmental Challenges

  • Cost-of-living crisis impacting employees and students
  • Meeting net-zero carbon targets by 2030
Mitigation Strategies
  • Increased salaries in line with Real Living Wage in 2023
  • Paid all employees an additional £500 bonus in autumn 2022
  • Launched Support to Stay program for students
  • £13 million investment in energy efficiency measures
  • £100 million identified for further energy efficiency investments

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: SBTi, CRREM, RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, RE100, UN SDGs

Awards & Recognition

  • Fire Safety Manager of the Year (Emily Argent)

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Scope 1 Emissions:10,410.1 metric tonnes CO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:35,389.7 metric tonnes CO2e/year (location-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:84,876 metric tonnes CO2e/year
Renewable Energy Share:99.9%
Total Energy Consumption:217,915,784 kWh/year
Water Consumption:2,746,922 m3/year
Waste Generated:296.64 tons/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Providing opportunities for people to grow and develop
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
  • Supporting the wellbeing of our employees and students
  • Health and safety
  • Creating sustainable buildings
  • Playing an active role in communities
  • Transparency and disclosure
  • Governance and integrity
  • Climate change and transitioning to net zero carbon
  • Reducing resource consumption

Environmental Achievements

  • Launched a new Sustainable Construction Framework
  • Invested £8.2 million in energy efficiency, expected to deliver a 1.5% reduction in annual energy use compared to 2019
  • Achieved an overall 1.6% reduction in absolute energy consumption vs. 2022
  • Purchased 99.9% of electricity from renewable sources
  • 99% of floor area EPC rated A–C

Social Achievements

  • Employee engagement score improved by five percentage points to 70, compared to 2022
  • The Academy delivered 35,924 training events in 2023, an 80% increase vs. 2022
  • Maintained Real Living Wage accreditation, with an average total pay rise of 8.6% in 2023
  • Launched a new employee wellbeing and recognition programme
  • 22% of all employees participated in volunteering during 2023
  • 29 community projects, achieving 20 Silver and 9 Gold Positive Impact Awards
  • Continued to provide community spaces in four properties in 2023
  • 106 new Unite Foundation scholarships awarded in 2023
  • Enhanced Support to Stay student wellbeing package including a £17,500 investment in a new student hardship fund pilot scheme, and the launch of a new 24/7 student support helpline
  • Living Black at University Conference in March, followed by delivery of training events with university partners and publication of the Black Services Guide for students

Governance Achievements

  • Earned a Silver EPRA sBPR award in 2023 for our 2022 reporting
  • GRESB score improved to 86 with a 4-star rating, and CDP rating improved from B to A-
  • Launched refresher training for all employees on key policies including Code of Ethics and Whistleblowing Policy

Climate Goals & Targets

Medium-term Goals:
  • 40% women in senior leadership by end of 2025
  • 10% ethnic minority representation in management and senior leadership by end of 2025
  • Net zero carbon by 2030
  • 56% cut in absolute Scope 1+2 market-based emissions by 2030 vs. 2019
  • Reduce Scope 1+2 emissions intensity in line with SBTi validated carbon target
  • 28% reduction in operational energy intensity by 2030 vs. 2019
  • Source 100% renewable electricity by 2030
  • 22% reduction in embodied carbon per m2 of new developments by 2030
  • Achieve more than 25% onsite biodiversity net gain and an urban greening factor of more than 0.4 for all new builds by 2030
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce voluntary turnover to 35% by end of 2024 (Operations), 15% by end of 2024 (Support)
  • Employee engagement score of 75 or higher
  • Zero RIDDOR accidents or incidents
  • Maintain Real Living Wage accreditation
  • All teams achieve Positive Impact Bronze or higher

Environmental Challenges

  • Increased energy demand across the portfolio, partly offsetting energy efficiency savings
  • Increased heat demand throughout 2023 vs. 2022, especially acute on sites using district heating
  • Changes to student behavioural and occupancy patterns influencing consumption
  • Technical issues and legacy supply contracts limiting efficiency improvements on sites connected to district heating networks
Mitigation Strategies
  • Investment in energy and water efficiency improvements (£8.2 million in 2023)
  • Increased collaboration between teams on capital investment proposals
  • Working with supply chain to understand and improve environmental and social impacts
  • Introduction of a new supplier Code of Conduct and Sustainable Procurement Policy
  • Planned investment in energy initiatives increasing to £12 million in 2024
  • Updates to asset transition plans to identify further energy efficiency opportunities
  • Ongoing engagement with network operators to improve district heating efficiency

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Launched Sustainable Procurement Framework
  • Embedded ESG vetting process in all tenders
  • Enhanced modern slavery vetting process
  • Launched Supplier Code on Supplier Zone
  • Required all new preferred suppliers to sign Supplier Code
  • Launched collaboration with tier 1 and 2 suppliers
  • Sustainable Construction Framework

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: EPRA sBPR, SECR, TCFD, GRESB, CDP, SBTi, CRREM, RE100, RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge

Certifications: Investors in People Gold, Real Living Wage, BREEAM Excellent (for some new builds)

Awards & Recognition

  • Silver EPRA sBPR award (2023)
  • Diversity Champion Corporate Award
  • International Inclusion Award (2023/24)