Highwood joins forces with University of Southampton Business School to promote the sustainability agenda

The partnership follows a presentation at the University of Southampton on ‘Sustainability Reporting: Delivering Tangible Benefits for Enterprise Success’ by Professor Ven Tauringana, a Professor of Accounting and Sustainability and the project lead. He explained how the Department of Accounting’s research in sustainability reporting led to the development of sustainability reporting modules that are offered to undergraduate and postgraduate students. The modules are designed to help businesses manage their material impacts and cut costs by, for example, reducing waste and energy use. Highwood agreed to partner the faculty and help promote its sustainability agenda and the meticulous preparations for the sustainability report exercise were soon underway.

Forward-thinking organisations will know that sustainability reporting sets the stage for enhancing reputation, trust, customer satisfaction and loyalty and, crucially, a competitive advance. Indeed, a by-product of sustainability reporting is the very real opportunities for new business from companies that prioritise partners who are pro-actively managing their impacts.

The initiative’s focus is on economic, social and environmental impacts. Highwood’s detailed disclosure on our business activities and our accompanying material impact assessment will form the basis of the full report.

AN EMPOWERING PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Dr Pingli Li, the GRI expert and Head of Department of Accounting from the Business School, has worked with Highwood during the process and is delighted with the contribution Highwood and other public sector stakeholders is making through the new partnership. He said:

“Collaboration will give our students hands-on experience and employability skills,” Professor Li explained. “The collaboration will also help the Southampton Business School by attracting more students who want to have education that’s relevant to the employer. It will also help combat climate change as many small businesses measure and manage their impacts. “We’re really grateful that Highwood has given us the opportunity to improve our students’ employability skills. We appreciate the team’s dedication to this project and hope that Highwood can continue to support us in years to come.”

The process of gathering data for the final report is rigorous, with extensive questionnaires that analyse and audit material impacts down to the last brick. The result will ensure Highwood can track precisely how the net zero transition is progressing and what more can be done to meet all targets.

Oliver Dempster, Development and Planning Assistant at Highwood has been the Project Lead for the Sustainability Reporting initiative and believes the exercise is critical for the long-term viability of many in the construction sector. He said:

“Environmental issues are increasingly taking centre stage across our industry,” explained Oliver. Construction companies that don’t focus on sustainability now are likely to struggle to adapt and remain compliant, relevant and viable without a watertight sustainability reporting framework. As stakeholder in the Southampton Business School’s reporting strategy, we’re seeing first-hand how critical it is to take responsibility for our environmental and social impacts. Reporting verifies and demonstrates that commitment.”

“We’re a construction organisation with an eye firmly on sustainability and the environment,” said Jessica Forte, People and ESG Director at Highwood. “Naturally we’re concerned with the levels of energy and carbon we output from our sites and we’re committed to make our activities as clean as possible.

“Since this is directly impacted by the quality of our suppliers’ goods and services, remaining transparent and encouraging our supply chain partners to support us in making greener choices is critical. The Business School’s sustainability report will highlight exactly what more we can all do to lead our sector to a more sustainable future. This is an incredibly empowering process.”

Highwood’s sustainability report will be completed by the University’s students later this year.