Background

The majority of Shaftesbury’s properties are within Conservation Areas and a number of the buildings are also ‘listed’ as being of architectural and historic interest. Shaftesbury rarely constructs new buildings. Within often strict constraints of Listed Building and Conservation Area legislation, Shaftesbury aims to repair, restore and reconfigure its properties to a state of good repair, improving their environmental sustainability whilst meeting the needs of occupiers.

This emphasis on restoration and repair is environmentally significant in itself. Shaftesbury extends the life of existing buildings, giving them a much longer life than that expected of most modern structures. This is an environmental benefit and in line with Government policy for maximising the re-use of existing development land and minimising the use of resources.

As the average size of the Group’s properties is only about 350 square metres, Shaftesbury does not usually install air conditioning. When considering installation of temperature control measures, environmental considerations are fully reviewed as part of the design process.

Shaftesbury’s environmental strategy is to strive to minimise any adverse environmental impact of its operations and operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. In order to demonstrate this commitment and implement any necessary measures, the Group has set itself the following overall environmental objectives within its policy:

To operate in an environmentally sustainable manner throughout its activities;
To minimise any adverse impacts on the environment throughout its operations;
To comply with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements and to go beyond compliance where feasible;
To encourage continual improvement of its environmental performance;
To provide a framework for establishing specific objectives and targets;
To promote staff environmental awareness and provide appropriate training where necessary;
To engage with its stakeholders to ensure that Shaftesbury is responsive to their expectations.

These overall objectives are to be achieved through the specific policy goals outlined below:

Purchase of Properties

Shaftesbury recognises the potential for ‘buying in’ environmental risks through its property acquisitions and therefore will ensure that:

Prior to acquisition of a property, environmental audits and surveys are conducted where appropriate to identify past uses of the site and the potential for ground contamination as well as the presence of hazardous materials.
Positive Opportunities are identified for achieving environmental improvements in the operation of the building through the refurbishment process.

Management of Properties

Shaftesbury requires its managing agents to comply with its Corporate Responsibility Policy and in particular to actively do the following:

Monitor and, where possible, reduce energy consumption and investigate opportunities for the use of renewable energy ;
Monitor and, where possible, minimise water consumption;
Monitor and reduce waste from its managed properties.
Ensure that contractors (including cleaners, maintenance personnel etc) comply with the Group Policy with respect to the use of hazardous materials and materials from non-renewable resources;
Consider management and maintenance of planting and landscape, if appropriate.
Remove and dispose of hazardous materials (e.g. asbestos, lead piping) in accordance with relevant regulations via specialist contractors.

Refurbishment and Construction Projects

Shaftesbury requires its contractors, as supervised by its consultants, to adopt ‘best environmental practice’ in the design and refurbishment of the Group’s property portfolio. It requires its design consultants, within the constraints of any Listed Building restrictions, to adhere to the following:

Efficient use of energy and water;
Avoidance of materials hazardous to health;
Careful choice of building materials to minimise adverse impacts on the environment. Timber, in particular, will be sourced, where possible, from well managed sources certified by third-party certification bodies accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council;
Minimising waste through design and specification of materials.

During the construction process the Group through its project managers will endeavour to minimise adverse impacts on the environment and will be considerate to occupiers of neighbouring property and local communities with regard to the following:

The transport, delivery and storage of materials;
Noise and vibration during construction works;
Dust control and exhaust emissions;
Site access and cleanliness;
Discharge and use of water;
Avoiding use of hazardous materials
Management and disposal of construction waste.

For projects of a capital value over £75,000, Shaftesbury will formalise the above objectives by signing up to the Considerate Constructor’s Scheme with the relevant local authority.

Shaftesbury recognises the importance of the welfare of its employees and its relationship with other stakeholders in the continued success of the Group. To this end the following are key policy goals:

Customer Relations

Shaftesbury will conduct its business with integrity and expects that its Directors, staff and other organisations employed by the Company (together known as “employees”) will:

Be honest, open, transparent, helpful and polite;
Obey all relevant laws and regulations;
Be prepared to admit and correct mistakes without delay and encourage ‘whistle blowing’ by staff.
Provide the standards of accommodation and services that have been agreed;
Declare any potential conflicts of interest that may compromise the Group’s business dealings;
Not give or receive illegal or inappropriate inducements in order to retain or bestow business or financial advantages or provide facilitation payments to promote business advantage.
At all times promote the ethical conduct of business.

Shaftesbury's Whistleblowing Policy approved by the Board in May 2007 and summarised on the Group's website, expands on the commitment to encourage the reporting of inappropriate business behaviour.

Shaftesbury does not have affiliation to any political parties nor is it the Group's policy to make political donations.

Shaftesbury will seek to remove tenants or occupiers who are known to:

Deal in and/or sell illegal drugs/goods/pornography;
Operate unlicensed cabs;
Be individuals or companies considered by the police to be anti-social and a risk to the public.
 

Staff Welfare

The key policy goals for staff welfare are as follows:

Shaftesbury recognises the importance of investing in its employees and as such provides opportunities for training and personal development and encourages the involvement of employees in the planning and direction of work.

The Group promotes the best use of its human resources on the basis of individual skills and experience matched against those required for the work to be performed.

Shaftesbury is committed to providing its employees with safe and favourable working conditions that are free from unnecessary risk and will fully comply with the requirements of the Heath and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and all other relevant statutory provisions and recognised codes of practice. It also accepts its responsibilities for the health and safety of others who may be affected by its activity. This commitment is set out in the Group’s Health & Safety Policy Statement which is reviewed annually and published on the Group’s website.

Shaftesbury is committed to maintaining fair and competitive conditions of service at all times, which includes the consideration of flexible working hours by arrangement and is committed to complying with all relevant legislation.
 

Human Rights & Equal Opportunities in Employment

Shaftesbury is committed to respecting the human rights of its employees through providing equal opportunity for all its employees and potential employees regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, disability, marital status, religion, colour and nationality. With this in mind the key policy goals are:

To comply in all respects with the key employment legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act (1974 and 1986), Race Relations Act 1976, Disability Discrimination Act (1995 and 2005) , Human Rights Act 1998 etc;

To ensure the Equal Opportunities Policy applies to the advertisement of jobs, recruitment and appointment, training, conditions of work, pay and to every aspect of employment;

To ensure that people with disabilities are afforded equal opportunities to employment and progress within the Group.

With respect to the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act, Shaftesbury takes a proactive approach to accommodate disabled access within the portfolio within the constraints of Listed Building and Conservation Area legislation.

In addition, the Group expects its principal suppliers to respect the human rights of their employees and sub contractors employed by them. The principal suppliers include the managing agents that oversee the day to day management of the portfolio, the project managers that oversee our refurbishment projects and contractors engaged by them.

Shaftesbury is committed to being a good corporate citizen within its local community through both charitable giving and engagement. Its key policy goals are as follows:

Charitable Giving

Shaftesbury will seek to continue to qualify as a member of the One Per Cent Club and will continue to align its charitable giving and community involvement to its chosen areas of investment e.g. the arts, theatre and music, which are all essential ingredients of the heart of London’s West End.

Financial support will continue to be provided to national non-profit making charities such as the National Campaign for the Arts and the Association of British Orchestras. Management advice on a non-executive basis is given to the Theatres Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Art Fund.

The Group will continue to provide financial help and advice to local community groups and charities operating within Carnaby, Covent Garden and Chinatown including:

The London branch of the Samaritans (located in Carnaby)
The Hungerford Drugs Rehabilitation Project
The Soho Family Centre
The Soho Green Charity
The Chinatown Stakeholders Group
The Seven Dials Trust

Community Engagement

In addition to funding particular projects, Shaftesbury also recognises the importance of engagement with the local community through the provision of advice and resources. To this end Shaftesbury will continue to:

Invite local groups and charities including representatives of local authorities to visit Shaftesbury to obtain a better understanding of the Group’s business and its Corporate Responsibility objectives.

Encourage Shaftesbury’s employees to be involved in the work of these and other charities and identify any additional assistance that the Group may be able to provide or procure.  

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