Our Local Charter. Places People Prefer

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1 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE Our Local Charter Places People Prefer

2 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE We create outstanding places that make a positive difference to people s everyday lives to the lives of those who work, shop or live in our properties, and those who live nearby, our local communities. Building on the success of our first Community Charter, launched in 2011, I am delighted to introduce this new, broader Local Charter. Here we set out how we build trust and support successful, integrated local communities, and how we develop skills and opportunities to help local people and businesses grow. Placemaking lies at the heart of what we do. To achieve our business focus on Places People Prefer, we need to connect with our neighbours and create places that they feel engaged with. This Local Charter is an important part of our efforts to be a valued part of our local communities, creating positive outcomes and delivering lasting value. Chris Grigg Chief Executive, British Land 2

3 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE Neighbourhood forums Residents associations Local businesses Schools & colleges Police LOCAL AUTHORITY our COMMUNITY The people who live or work in our local area Workers, shoppers and residents Community groups & clubs Local charities & civic societies Community centres & hubs Leisure facilities Health centres Places of worship 3

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5 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE Our Local Commitments Connect with communities so we understand local needs Improve how local communities can influence decisions at our places Help local people progress by supporting local jobs and training Support educational initiatives for local people Grow local businesses by buying their goods and services Promote wellbeing and enjoyment Offer the local community opportunities 5

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7 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 1 Connect with communities so we understand local needs Strong local understanding forms the foundation for everything we do in our communities. To support successful local communities around our properties and developments, we need to understand and help address local issues, such as employment, skills and community cohesion. Examples of what we re doing Connecting with local communities as early as we can, working with local partners and tailoring what we do so we meet local needs. Taking on roles within the local community where we operate, such as school governors and charity trustees, joining community forums and volunteering. Setting up working groups where we operate, or linking in to what is already there. Members can include key local stakeholders, such as representatives from the local authority, community groups, schools, charities, businesses and the police, as well as customers that is, organisations based in our properties and those who work, shop or live there. Implementing Sustainability Action Plans at our properties and Education, Employment and Training Strategies on our developments, wherever we have dedicated on-site management resource. 7

8 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 2 Improve how local communities can influence decisions at our places We want to create places where people choose to spend time. So, we listen to local people, involving them in the decisions we make, building their sense of ownership and integrating our places in the surrounding area. This adds richness, diversity and a feeling of community creating Places People Prefer. Examples of what we re doing Connecting and consulting early on planning, e.g. holding planning workshops to discuss the options and staging well-publicised exhibitions to get feedback, as well as sharing information in print, online and via social media, with opportunities to comment. 8 As we build, keeping local people informed and continuing to listen to their views, e.g. through construction working groups or regular meetings between key local stakeholders and project managers, monthly construction newsletters, development websites and social media. Holding shopper, community and occupier focus groups to influence events and activities at our properties, as well as community activity, connecting with local stakeholders. Offering opportunities for activities at our properties, led by local communities, e.g. community art projects and street naming that recognises local heritage.

9 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 3 Help local people progress by supporting local jobs and training By supporting local jobs and training, we develop local people s skills and help them progress their careers, nurturing thriving local economies and securing a much-needed skilled workforce for the longer term. Examples of what we re doing Working with key suppliers to ensure 3% of our total supply chain workforce are apprentices by Focusing on quality outcomes for apprentices and trainees, including nationally-recognised qualifications, hands-on experience and real job opportunities. Connecting with local partners, such as Jobcentre Plus, training providers and employment agencies, to support jobseekers, e.g. on CVs and interview skills. Ensuring local people are aware of job and training opportunities through local advertising, websites, social media, site noticeboards and local partners. Attending and hosting recruitment events, where local jobseekers can apply for multiple opportunities at our places, e.g. with retailers at shopping parks or trade contractors on developments. Focusing on skills in areas where they are needed most and supporting harder-to-reach groups. 9

10 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 4 Support educational initiatives for local people By investing in young people, we help them develop the skills, experience and confidence to create positive futures. We also open the eyes of young people from diverse backgrounds to career opportunities, raising aspirations and helping secure the workforce of tomorrow. Examples of what we re doing Partnering with local and national organisations on educational initiatives, e.g. with the National Literacy Trust to nurture a love of reading amongst schoolchildren, and with arts charity Create to help young carers develop creativity and confidence. Providing work placements for schoolchildren, college students and university undergraduates. 10 Connecting with local schools and colleges to offer young people insights into the property and construction sectors and the range of career opportunities. This may include attending careers fairs, giving presentations and participating in initiatives such as the Construction Youth Trust s Budding Brunels programme and Reading Real Estate Foundation s Pathways to Property summer school. Volunteering in local schools and colleges, from ongoing reading and maths support, to mentoring and advice on skills for work and interview techniques. Establishing an education project at every site with dedicated on-site management resource.

11 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 5 Grow local businesses by buying their goods and services We have long supported local procurement and we have increased focus on this area in recent years encouraging the economic diversity that helps local communities remain strong and securing the resources that our places need to maintain quality and grow. Examples of what we re doing Developing and implementing Local Procurement Plans at our properties and developments, which take into account any local authority framework. On major developments, attending local procurement events, hosting meet the buyer events and establishing local procurement working groups, where firms can find out more about supply opportunities and what we require. Connecting with local business groups and partners, such as the Chamber of Commerce, local authority or Business Improvement District (BID) where relevant. Supporting prompt payment and fair working practices, which are crucial to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and others. Supporting social enterprises on developments and sites. Proactively offering local firms and SMEs the chance to compete for work where we operate, e.g. sharing tender opportunities early on through advertising, websites, social media, site noticeboards and direct contact with local firms and networks. Improving understanding of social value and economic contributions through reporting. 11

12 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 6 Promote wellbeing and enjoyment The built environment provides the foundation for people s wellbeing to flourish. As a placemaker, we can have a real impact on how people feel and behave, how they interact with others and how productive they are creating Places People Prefer. Examples of what we re doing Providing safe, well-managed environments for workers, shoppers, residents, local people and other visitors. Encouraging active lifestyles, e.g. pedestrian links, cycle spaces, bike routes and art trails. Creating sociable places where people can connect with each other, e.g. shared seating and inclusive events. Enhancing our places with community artworks, children s play areas and green spaces. Offering opportunities to all, e.g. routes accessible for people with disabilities and parents with children, appropriate facilities and team training. 12

13 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE 7 Offer the local community opportunities By hosting and supporting community uses and events, we benefit local people and organisations, and enhance and enliven our places building a sense of community and attracting workers, shoppers and residents. Examples of what we re doing Supporting pop ups in vacant units and temporary pods at our properties for charities, community groups, local entrepreneurs and start-ups. Enabling meanwhile or temporary uses on our development sites. Giving community groups the chance to raise funds, build awareness and showcase their activities at our properties, by dedicating time for them in public spaces and event areas. 13

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15 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE We manage our business through a small, experienced team at Head Office working with trusted suppliers. We ask and expect suppliers to achieve high social, environmental and ethical standards, providing them with clear guidance and support. We also encourage and work with occupiers to support local projects and partners. The commitments set out in this Local Charter feed through to the guidance we provide to suppliers on what we expect and require, in documents such as our Supply Chain Charter and Sustainability Brief for Developments. We write key performance indicators into contracts where appropriate. We are focusing on delivering these commitments at our major UK properties and developments first. These consist of properties where we have full time managers on site and developments with a construction value over 5 million. We monitor progress on these commitments and share examples of best practice to further raise standards. We are also exploring ways to measure community trust and public enjoyment, as well as carrying out local stakeholder surveys and responding to the findings. 15

16 LOCAL COMMITMENTS GUIDANCE We welcome your feedback Anna Devlet Head of Community British Land, York House, 45 Seymour Street, London W1H 7LX +44 (0) About British Land We own, manage and develop high-quality commercial property, focused on shopping and leisure destinations around the UK and offices and residential in London. Our objective is to deliver long-term and sustainable total returns to all our stakeholders. We do this by focusing on Places People Prefer. We create outstanding places which make a positive difference to people s everyday lives. Our properties are home to over 1,200 different organisations, ranging from international brands to local start-ups. 100,000 people work or live in our places and 7 million people visit our retail sites each year one in ten of the UK population.