Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Employee development
• Employee engagement
• Employee wellbeing
• Community investment
• Health and safety
• Treating Customers Fairly
• Greenhouse gas emissions

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced equivalent CO2 emissions from 2.2t in 2016 to 2.0t in 2017 (0.2t per site)

Social Achievements

• Achieved 42nd position in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For, for the fourth consecutive year.
• Launched revised company Values following consultation with the team.
• Introduced a new minimum pay rate in line with the Real Living Wage.
• Launched a second Sharesave scheme, with 286 employees participating.
• Promoted two long-serving key team members to Heads of Operations.
• Welcomed a new Human Resources Director and a new Marketing Director to the senior team.
• Record levels of repeat customers, increasing to 26.2% of total customers.

Governance Achievements

• Published tax strategy online.
• Completed internal reviews and forecast impact assessments for new accounting standards.
• Reviewed and maintained the “Treating Customers Fairly and Vulnerable Customers” policy.
• Reviewed and readopted the Company’s Anti-Bribery policy statements and associated controls.
• Operates a confidential whistle blower hotline.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Competition in the UK vehicle market.
• Maintaining brand and reputation.
• Availability and terms of customer finance.
• Availability of supply.
• Regulation (including GDPR).
• Economic conditions.
• Credit, liquidity and financing.
• IT systems and business continuity.
• Key management reliance.

Mitigation Strategies

• Consistent focus on Choice, Value and Service.
• Investment in website and personalized communications.
• Use of NPS system and customer feedback.
• Broad spread of supply channels.
• Policies and codes, Compliance Committee reviews, whistle blowing hotline, GDPR project.
• Compelling customer proposition, low-cost business model, forecasting process.
• Treasury policy, cash flow forecasts, close relationship with finance providers.
• Third-party maintenance contracts, disaster recovery strategy, Business Continuity Plan.
• Incentivized key management, succession planning, segregation of duties.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Awards & Recognition

• Feefo Gold Trusted Service rating (two years running)

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• 4,528 tyre casings collected from branches and recycled
• 3.9% of waste to landfill
• 59% vehicles banded Euro 6
• 82% of parts disposed recycled
• All three main third party valet service providers are using bio-degradable products

Social Achievements

• Launched 14-day money back guarantee
• Launched free Home Delivery service
• Opened new branch in Stockton on Tees
• Employee engagement at record levels
• Ranked #18 Best Large Company to Work For in the UK
• Ranked #1 Best Company To Work For In The Automotive Sector
• Ranked #1 Best Company to work for in Wales

Governance Achievements

• Established an Inclusion Committee
• Appointed a Head of Recruitment and Inclusion
• CEO joined the Automotive 30% Club
• Implemented a confidential whistleblowing hotline
• Maintained Treating Customers Fairly policy
• Adopted an annual Anti-Slavery Statement

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic and Government imposed lockdowns resulting in branch closures and reduced sales
• Supply chain disruptions
• Economic uncertainty
• Maintaining brand reputation during challenging times

Mitigation Strategies

• Accelerated investment in e-commerce (contactless collections, free Home Delivery, 14-day money back guarantee, fully digital part-exchange and finance offering)
• Branch expansion program
• Cost reduction measures (voluntary pay reductions, suspension of bonus schemes)
• Robust commitment to safety with strict COVID-19 compliant procedures
• Investment in IT systems and digital capabilities
• Strong focus on customer satisfaction and employee engagement

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Partnership with Approach Procurement Solutions

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: SECR

Awards & Recognition

• Platinum Feefo Gold Trusted Service status

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Purchased carbon credits to offset first year of all customer driving emissions
• Carbon Neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Social Achievements

• CEO held multiple listening groups with employees, including exclusive female, LGBT+ and ethnically diverse sessions
• Automotive 30% Club Patron – raising inclusion and gender balance throughout the automotive industry
• Early Careers Partner recruited to manage Graduate and Apprenticeship programmes
• Payroll Giving and regional charity partners
• Real Living Wage Employer
• ESG Board committee established, led by Non Executive Director
• Head of Sustainability started October

Governance Achievements

• ESG Board committee established, led by Non Executive Director
• ESG strategy defined through stakeholder engagement and materiality assessment, with 10 priorities identified

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Supply constraints limiting growth and unprecedented vehicle inflation

Mitigation Strategies

• Strategic investment in infrastructure, tech leadership and marketing
• Fast tracking EV strategy to manage customer expectations

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• GHG emissions and reductions
• Recycling, waste recovery and reductions
• Energy use, conservation and reductions
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Community Investment

Environmental Achievements

• 7.3% reduction in like for like energy usage compared to FY22
• Waste to landfill reduced to 0.2%
• 15.4% reduction in total water usage
• 137% increase in EV sales compared to FY22

Social Achievements

• Ninth consecutive year in “The UK’s Best Companies To Work For”
• Introduced Project One to improve customer experience
• Increased community investment through partnerships with local charities
• Introduced 'One Big Dream' initiative offering paid time off for employee fulfillment

Governance Achievements

• Established an ESG committee
• Fully aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
• Refreshed anti-bribery and anti-money laundering policies
• Completed a company-wide procurement review

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Rising inflation and interest rates impacting profitability
• Consumer uncertainty and reduced demand
• Worldwide vehicle supply chain challenges
• Fall in Electric Vehicle prices
• Smaller market for 0-4 year old vehicles

Mitigation Strategies

• Investment in price leadership (vehicle pricing and finance commissions)
• Headcount reduction through automation and customer self-service
• Improved digital capability and marketing
• Cash conservation through margin increase and cost base lowering
• Upgrading infrastructure to support EV market

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Supplier onboarding due diligence
• Contingency planning for supply chain failures
• Procurement review

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events
• Flood risk
• Sea level rise

Transition Risks

• Increased taxation
• Policy changes deterring private vehicle ownership
• Increased costs from carbon offsetting
• Not meeting increased demand for EVs

Opportunities

• Increased market share in zero-emission vehicles
• Efficient, sustainable supply chain
• New technology for net-zero emissions
• Reputation as a responsible, sustainable company
• More sustainable store footprint

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: TCFD, SECR

Awards & Recognition

• UK’s Best Companies To Work For