Heron Bros is proud to launch the 2016/17 edition of our Corporate Responsibility Report. The report summarises our continued successful performance across each of our four key pillars:

1. Responsible Business;
2. Resource Efficiency & The Natural Environment;
3. People & Lifestyle; and,
4. Community & Partnering.

Key Responsible Business Achievements in 2016/17 include:

• Becoming the first organisation from any sector in Northern Ireland and first construction company throughout the entire UK to be awarded with Investors in People Platinum accreditation.
• Being the first N. Ireland construction company to be awarded a Gold Level CORE Accreditation from Business in the Community (BITC) and only the second organisation to ever receive the highest level of Responsible Business Standard
• Achieving FORS – Bronze level
• Increase in female representation to 16% (above industry average of 13%)
• Remain committed to the STEM Charter
• Average Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 42/50 (well above UK average score of 35.5)
• Winning UK’s Most Considerate Site at the 2016 Considerate Constructors Scheme Awards (£10M-£50M)
• Winning two Considerate Constructors Scheme gold awards
• Adding 120 new subcontractors to our approved list

Under the Resource Efficiency & the Natural Environment pillar, Heron Bros achieved the following in 2016/17:

• 90% waste diverted from landfill
• ESOS energy profiling completed
• Gold status ARENA Network Environmental Benchmarking Survey
• Ongoing development of our BITC Business & Biodiversity Charter
• Winning a gold Scottish Green Apple Award for the Stevenson Hive Building at The University of Glasgow
• Winning Sustainable Project of the Year for The Innovation Factory – Sustainable Ireland Awards
• 100% client targeted BREEAM rating achieved

Key People & Lifestyle achievements in 2016/17 include:

• Achieved Platinum Investors in People
• 93 training courses
• 10,000 training hours delivered
• 22 apprenticeship opportunities provided
• 11 industrial placement opportunities
• 3400 NEETS, LTU New Entrant & Employment Professionals
• 1 graduate internship
• 97% staff retention
• 50 health & wellbeing initiatives delivered

Under the Community & Partnering pillar, Heron Bros achieved the following in 2016/17:

• 96 community engagement initiatives
• 66 socio economic and community partners
• Over 3000 hours of volunteering
• Over £35k employee led donations to charities
• Won UK Most Considerate Site at the Considerate Constructors Scheme Awards
• Achieved 2 gold awards at Considerate Constructors Scheme awards
• 5 best practice case studies published on the Considerate Constructors Scheme Best Practice Hub

We have identified areas of the business that require additional focus during 2017/18 to improve overall performance, which we have addressed within our strategy.  We look forward to bringing you results of our performance next year.

Please view our 2016/17 Corporate Responsibility Performance Report here.

Read more about our approach to Corporate Responsibility here.