Connect IT are a multi-utility services company and have been working in the utility industry for more than 20 years. They have taken a new 10 year lease on Unit C (West), which totals over 38,000sqft, to create a new bespoke head office / warehouse facility.
Hargreaves were represented by LSH and JLL on the letting.
We will reinforce this policy by aligning to well established ESG standards, ensuring a robust governance and transparency, and demonstrating our commitment to social and environmental performance improvement. Furthermore, we will continue to ensure compliance with all appropriate legal requirements, as this is key to managing the company’s operations in a responsible manner.
| Objective | Target Year |
| Establish an ESG working group | Established |
| Develop a website section disclosing ESG strategy and progress | Completed |
| All new developments must be sustainable developments | Annual |
| Implement a process for regular asset-level performance review | 2024 |
| Set minimum standards for major development and refurbishments | Completed |
SDGs:
Hargreaves strives to implement design and operational features, and management strategies to optimise our assets’ health and wellbeing outcomes. To achieve this, we will integrate wellbeing principles into new developments and refurbishments.
| Objective | Target Year |
| Integrate Wellbeing Principles into new development or refurbishments | 2024 |
| Establish biodiversity net-gain objectives for new developments | Completed |
SDGs:
We seek to minimise our environmental impact through proactive waste management. We will maintain current good practices such as zero waste to landfill and will seek to strengthen the company’s processes to advance waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and best practise. The company will implement actions to increase recycling rates and will work to reduce the overall waste generation across our assets.
| Objective | Target Year |
| Maintain zero waste to landfill (controlled assets) | Annual |
| Complete waste audits to identify improvement opportunities | Completed |
| Establish a process to gather waste data for developments | Completed |
| Reduce like-for-like waste generation by 5% for controlled assets | 2025 |
| Increase recycling rate by 50% for controlled assets | 2025 |
SDGs:
We will focus on concrete actions such as improving data quality to better understand our current consumption and installing more efficient equipment to reduce energy use. At the same time, we will seek to set science-based targets, develop asset-level roadmaps, and, where possible, switch to renewable energy to reduce our portfolio emissions. As part of our roadmap to improve energy efficiency, we will aim to achieve higher building energy ratings across our portfolio, ensuring that we are well prepared to respond to the upcoming changes in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations.
| Objective | Target Year |
| Procure 100% renewable electricity certified | Completed 2022 / Ongoing |
| 10% reduction in like-for-like energy use for controlled assets | 2025 |
| 100% actual data for all managed sites | Completed |
| Annual full GHG emissions assessment | Annual |
| Develop a Science-based Target (SBT) / net zero | Completed 2022 / Ongoing |
| Achieve a minimum Building Energy Rating – B EPC for all assets | 2030 |
| Develop asset-level roadmaps for reducing GHG emissions | Completed |
| 25 EV charging points installed and facilitated | 2025 |
SDGs:
We will create and maintain environments where our employees can thrive and where we support our local communities. We aim to increase gender balance, support our employees’ professional development and prioritise local employment. Furthermore, we will continue to support community groups and charities through partnerships, donations and volunteering.
| Objective | Target Year |
| Maintain a gender balance across teams (long-term) | 2025 |
| Establish a fund to support training with professional bodies | Fund Established |
| Establish an annual volunteering day supporting local community | Annual |
| Partner and support local community groups and charities | Annual |
SDGs:
