Our responsibilities
What CSR means at Grant Property
"Our core values of honesty, forward thinking and respect underpin everything we do including our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We understand the social, environmental and economic impact Grant Property has on our stakeholders and the outside world and we have developed an ethical policy framework to guide the way that we do business." Peter Grant.
Environment
THE USE OF ENERGY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACED BY THE WORLD. IN FACT, 52% OF CARBON EMISSIONS COME FROM PROPERTY. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE’VE TAKEN GREAT STEPS TO MINIMISE THE INEVITABLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF OUR BUSINESS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
We’ve become carbon neutral both as a business and in the properties we manage, through a two-stage approach:
Reducing emissions
By adopting all recommendations from the Energy Saving Trust in our business and in the properties we renovate, we’ve reduced our carbon footprint by around 20 to 30%. For example, Grant Property only use electrical appliances that are ‘A’ rated, we fit high quality loft insulation, and we install the most energy-efficient heating boilers available. In addition, we now only use low energy light bulbs. The environment benefits as a result.
Planting trees
To help offset the emissions that aren’t possible to reduce, we plant trees. Because the environment is so important to us, we’ve also taken it upon ourselves to educate our staff and customers about energy efficiency. We’ve issued a guide that’s packed full of useful hints and tips on how they can play their part. It covers both work and home, and as well as helping cut energy emissions, it also shows them how they can help reduce their own household bills.
The Community
We’re fully aware that we have an impact on the communities and the environment in the areas that we operate – because of this, we always try to give something back. In the past we’ve been a big charitable supporter, and that isn’t going to change. However, Grant Property now supports one main charity: Global Trees (see below). In addition, we’ll also support one other main charity each year, selected by staff and clients.
Global Trees
INSPIRED BY A SPEECH FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE FOUNDERS OF GRANT PROPERTY – PETER AND COLETTE GRANT - TOGETHER WITH BOB HOLT, SET UP GLOBAL TREES IN AUTUMN 2006. GLOBAL TREES AIMS TO HELP REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING BY RAISING MONEY AND PLANTING TREES. IT RECEIVED ITS CHARITY STATUS IN SPRING 2007.
The website, www.Globaltrees.co.uk, provides what we hope is both an informative and inspiring resource for those who would like to help the environment by reversing global warming. Users are able to evaluate their personal lifestyle choices and calculate their own carbon footprint, as well as find out about the green alternatives that are available. The website provides the opportunity to invest in tree planting online. “Global Trees is about helping individuals and companies to make a difference. It is neither difficult nor expensive to go carbon neutral. The benefits which accrue are significant”.
In summer 2007 a new website was set up by Grant Property to help individuals and companies benefit from our own experiences of going carbon neutral. www.Go-Neutral.com explains how to reduce emissions (and costs) and how to offset the balance of emissions which cannot be reduced.
Global Trees works with partners to help raise money and plant trees. Partners include Government agencies, the media, businesses, forestry organisations and individuals. In its first eight months Global Trees planted some 100,000 trees in three different continents, offsetting around 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Corporate and Social Responsibility
WE HAVE A STRONG AND CLEAR CORPORATE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) POLICY, WHICH ENCOMPASSES STAFF, CUSTOMERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
Grant Property believe our CSR helps in a variety of business areas, including recruiting and retaining the best people, increasing sales and customer loyalty, and enhancing our brand image and advocacy.
People
Our success can be attributed to our people. Their commitment and hard work ensures that Grant Property continues to grow and prosper. We continually consider ways to develop and reward our staff and strive to ensure our people work in a positive, free-thinking environment. We believe that good communication is essential; so every year we conduct an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. This allows us to gather staff opinions and make any necessary changes that need to be made. We also operate a staff board to encourage ideas about business improvement, customer service and reducing workloads.
As an equal opportunities employer Grant Property believes in total fairness. All employees receive a total reward package that fairly reflects their individual contribution to the business. We also regularly review our salary and benefits package to ensure we remain competitive in the market place, and believe that by celebrating success and rewarding hard work we encourage our people to realise their full potential.
We’re ‘Investors in People’, ARLA and NHBC accredited and are fully dedicated to developing our staff across the business. As well as having a companywide training plan and an individual training plan for all employees, we encourage our people to take on new challenges and develop their skills.
Customers
Customers are at the very core of Grant Property. Put simply, we wouldn’t exist without them. That’s why we continually look at ways to offer a genuinely exceptional and efficient service.
We have different types of customers with very different needs to consider. Landlords and investors own properties and have a mortgage to pay. Conversely, tenants rent properties which must be safe and of a high standard.
We communicate with our customers via newsletters, and welcome any feedback they might have. We even conduct a monthly customer satisfaction survey to help gain a clearer picture of where and how we can improve our business.
We’ve also created a customer charter to define service levels. Our online helpdesk, www.grantpropertyhelp.com, provides tenants and landlords with an A-Z of information covering all property management and tenancy issues. And because we want contact with our people to be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for all clients, Grant Property’s ‘customer first’ training is now given to all employees where appropriate.
Indirect customers
As a property business Grant Property understands that we also have an impact on the neighbours that reside next to our properties, so we work to ensure that these important relationships remain positive for all concerned. To help us achieve this harmony we’ve looked into different ways of reducing noise levels in new properties. These include carpeting hallways and fitting improved floor insulation in the kitchens. In addition, we incorporate good neighbour issues in our leases, and even have a customer and neighbour complaint policy on www.grantproperty.com
To support our desire to constantly improve the types and level of services offered to customers, Grant Property works in partnership with affiliated organisations including local councils, universities and trade bodies to ensure we comply with all legislation and operate responsibly. Out of respect for our customers’ and other parties’ privacy, we don’t share client information with any third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
Suppliers
It’s in our stakeholders’ and our own interest to ensure we always use the best quality sub-contractors, so we audit all suppliers to ensure that they comply with Grant Property’s code of conduct. Suppliers must adhere to a set of rules to ensure they always provide us with a straightforward, efficient service that offers good value for money. By doing so, we can look after our customers properly.
