Our Stakeholders
Good business means listening to, and understanding, our stakeholders needs and ensuring we respond. Engaging with our stakeholders is an ongoing process which we undertake through a variety of approaches in our business practices. In 2009 we strengthened our engagement through increased dialogue with a number of our key stakeholders to enable us to identify and prioritise material issues.
The reduction in output as a result of the economic downturn meant we re-focussed our priorities. We did less with local communities instead focussing on working with Government and the Zero Carbon Hub on emerging policy, and supporting our employees and suppliers through a very challenging period.
Click on a stakeholder group to see how we engage with them.
Employees
We continuously engage with our employees to inform and implement Group policies and business strategies. During the last year we have been very conscious of the effect of market and economic instability on our employees. The Executive Workgroup communicates regularly and openly to all employees, ensuring they are always the first to hear significant information, and providing updates on our business performance.
We have continued to invest in our company intranet which was re-launched at the beginning of the year. The enhancements have improved accessibility and give the business greater flexibility in how we share information and provide the key process and practice documents for day to day operations.
Government
At present, the rapidly increasing number and ambition of policies and regulations together with a number of ongoing consultations is overwhelming and makes the future economics of house building very problematic. Crest Nicholson's response is to be proactively involved with key areas to contribute to creating a more certain and deliverable policy and regulatory framework.
Read about our engagement with Government in Seeking Solutions with Government.
Zero Carbon Hub
Crest Nicholson values the independent focus of the Zero Carbon Hub in facilitating the development of the Zero Carbon Timeline, and we make a significant contribution to the associated working groups.
"The Zero Carbon Hub is grateful for the active support it has received from Crest Nicholson. As a valued partner, Crest Nicholson has provided practical and helpful inputs and a massive commitment to help steer a practical progression towards zero carbon. Crest Nicholson has been a strong advocate for the housebuilder across the debate, willing to share innovation and success and to approach barriers with imagination and positivity. The further success of the Zero Carbon Hub is dependent on exactly this kind of relationship."
Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive
Local authorities
We engage continuously with local authorities so we can respond effectively to local policy and develop proposals which ultimately deliver sustainable communities.
Communities
We ensure the full involvement of local communities in shaping the place where they live. See how we engage in Community Consultation.
Development partners
We work closely with our development partners to appraise the commercial viability of development proposals and to consider environmental and social impacts. Our Chief Executive is a member of the advisory board for South East Excellence. Our Executive with responsibility for sustainability sits on the HCA Design and Sustainability Advisory Panel, providing direction and support on developing standards for design and embedding sustainability into development.
Experts
We undertake research to further our knowledge and develop best practice in the design and delivery of sustainable housing. We work closely with Camco UK to develop our strategic approach to tackling climate change and project-specific energy strategies. Other partners we have worked with include the BRE in taking forward the Code for Sustainable Homes. Read more – about how Camco believe Crest Nicholson should continue to tackle the challenges of Climate Change.
Industry Groups
Crest Nicholson is an active member of the Home Builders Federation, collaborating with industry partners to share knowledge and inform the direction of national policy. We are also members of the UK Green Building Council, London First, and the National House-Building Council's Sustainability Group.
NGOs
We work with non-Governmental organisations to further our common objective of sustainable construction, to develop a common understanding of barriers and to evolve new approaches and solutions. Crest Nicholson sits on the steering committee of NextGeneration, a multi-stakeholder initiative established to drive sustainability through the housebuilding industry. Last year we joined the WWF Forest Trade Network and we continue to work with them to improve our procurement of sustainable timber. Read more in Responsible Procurement.
Suppliers and Contractors
We meet regularly with our key suppliers and contractors to develop long-term relationships. We have a rigorous approach to engaging our suppliers on sustainability issues, assessing their approach to environmental management and social impacts during the tender stage. More recently we have been working with energy supply companies to assess how we can work together to deliver low and zero carbon homes. Read more in Responsible Procurement.
Read More
See the progress we have made against our targets.