Corporate responsibility | Great Portland Estates

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Great Portland Estates recognises that the importance of the effectiveness of its operations in respect of the environment together with interaction with its key stakeholders, including investors, employees, neighbours, communities, customers and suppliers is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of its business.

The Board has responsibility for the approval of policy relating to social, environmental and health and safety matters, and is determined to apply high standards to social, environmental and ethical issues in all areas in which the Group operates including the management of the joint venture operations on behalf of the joint venture partners. This year, the Company was delighted that its efforts were rewarded with a series of awards covering a range of activities.

The Board receives an annual report from the Corporate Responsibility Committee, chaired by the Property Director, Robert Noel, and regular reports from the Health and Safety and the Environmental Working Committees also chaired by Mr Noel. The Group’s alignment of Corporate Responsibility (CR) risks with its Corporate Responsibility Value Statement, strategy, and objectives and targets together with the Group’s Health and Safety and Environmental policies are approved by the Board on an annual basis.

Property industry

Directors and senior management are encouraged to represent the Company’s views and contribute towards the development of the property industry. Toby Courtauld is a member of the Management Board of the Investment Property Forum and a member of the Policy Committee of the British Property Federation (BPF).

Robert Noel is Vice Chairman of the Westminster Property Owners Association, is a member of the South Bank Employers Group and is on the Board of the New West End Company, a formal Business Improvement District encompassing Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

Objectives and targets

Great Portland Estates set a total of 33 CR targets at the beginning
of 2007 covering the key areas of:

our people;
environment and the portfolio;
tenants and the community;
health and safety; and
investors.

82% of these were fully achieved. Where targets have not been achieved, where relevant, these have been included again for 2008 to emphasis our commitment. To ensure the highest level of achievement for 2008, where appropriate, elements of the Company’s objectives and targets have also been included within individual employees’ objectives and targets.