We are committed to assessing, measuring, and responsibly managing our impact.
RO Group Sustainability
Our purpose is to create value for all stakeholders whilst also addressing environmental and social issues to minimise negative impact on the planet, people and communities we engage with.
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We are proud to have obtained and retained Planet Mark certification for 2 years. This has enabled us to measure and assess our carbon footprint at an office operational level as well as quantify our social impact. We are committed to continued reduction of carbon emissions and look to take further action in our journey to Net-Zero.
In business to do good
The RO Group have four distinct sustainability objectives, aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals:​
Our plans
With our four objectives in mind and as part of our ongoing commitment, we have been focusing on the following areas:
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Net zero pathways for all existing assets
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Deployment of Capital Partners investee technology and solutions within our Real Estate portfolio
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Workplace culture, training and green skills development through various learning initiatives and staff surveys
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Procurement and ethical sourcing of office supplies
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Community impact and engaging with Social Housing providers and implementing charity support strategies
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Energy consumption through monitoring and efficiency
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Recycling and waste management
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Water management
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Provision of electric vehicle charging points
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Supply chain and working with other businesses that value diversity and sustainability
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Board level reporting and assessment
RO Group as a responsible, sustainable business
RO Capital Partners is an early stage investor with a clearly differentiated offering that draws on the extensive entrepreneurial experience of the RO Group. ROCP focuses on solutions addressing the challenges of environmental sustainability and the transition to a low carbon economy.
Our sustainability journey
2023/24
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Retained Planet Mark Business Certification
2022/23
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Achieved Planet Mark Business Certification
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Aligned our focus areas to the UN SDGs
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Hired first Head of Sustainability to develop and execute our strategy
2022
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Reviewed our operations in the context of Sustainability
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Launched a Sustainability Committee
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Set core sustainability objectise across the Group
Our people
Our employees are our most valuable asset, which is why our values are built with them in mind.
We believe it is imperative that we work together to make the RO a great place to work, by communicating, sharing ideas and experiences, listening and supporting each other so we can achieve our goals together.
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​We have a number of policies and values that together address our commitment ensuring we act ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Some of the ways we support our people:
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Supporting employee mental health through a Mental Health Framework and a dedicated Wellbeing Team with 7 qualified Mental Health First Aiders.
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Promoting diversity and inclusion and providing opportunities for all to thrive.
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Providing and encouraging learning and development opportunities.
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Circulating a regular employee newsletter reporting on sustainability efforts.
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Giving staff the opportunity to give back to the community through volunteering and charity initiatives.
Our community
Supporting and getting actively involved with a variety of organisations that help the lives of those most in need locally is a core value that we intend to build on and develop year on year.
We positively encourage support for our community.
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The Graham Rowlandson Foundation, the family charity, has supported almost 100 charities across Hertfordshire with individual grants that address our three broad charitable themes of education, disability and social deprivation.
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We work closely with Hertfordshire Community Foundation to provide support where it is needed most.
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We endeavour to provide our employees with the opportunity to join a corporate charity team exercise once a year.
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In addition to this, we wholeheartedly support our employees who wish to dedicate a day a year to a charity of their choice.
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A company organised annual quiz has been running for over 20 years raising over £70,000 for various local causes.
Professional Memberships and Certifications
We are delighted that our building, GNR8 Clarendon Road in Watford has won 2nd place in the Absolute Value Ranking (for buildings that have been re-developed or have no historical data) in the first-ever CUBE Competition Energy Efficiency Competition.
Fitwel building certification is a set of guidelines on how the design and operations of a building can improve occupant health and productivity. All Fitwel strategies are evidence-based practical solutions that impact occupant’s daily routines to promote physical, mental and social health.
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We are proud to have obtained Planet Mark certification in 2022. This has enabled us to understand our baseline carbon footprint at an office operational level as well as identify our social impact. We now look to take further action in reducing our impact. By virtue of our certification, we are delighted to have protected an acre of rainforest with Cool Earth.
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We are delighted that our building, GNR8 Clarendon Road in Watford has won 2nd place in the Absolute Value Ranking (for buildings that have been re-developed or have no historical data) in the first-ever CUBE Competition Energy Efficiency Competition.
Fitwel building certification is a set of guidelines on how the design and operations of a building can improve occupant health and productivity. All Fitwel strategies are evidence-based practical solutions that impact occupant’s daily routines to promote physical, mental and social health.
NABERS is a simple, reliable sustainability rating for the built environment. The Design for Performance Agreement forms the basis of a rigorous project energy strategy by acting as a shared, tangible target for all parties involved from planning and design through to construction and operation to deliver an energy efficient, high-performance office building.
The RESET Air Standard defines the requirements for collecting indoor air quality data via continuous monitoring of an interior space or building, with the goal of standardizing indoor air quality data that is trusted, actionable, and relevant.
GNR8, Watford
The Studio, Admiral House
Six of our Real Estate developments are Fitwel certified:
Silbury House, Milton Keynes
GNR8, Watford
One Dorset Street, Southampton
One Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks
Waterside Place, Southampton
There is a clear recognition that the commitment to improving our environmental impact across all our businesses is a long term objective and therefore will remain under constant review.
March 2024