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Our Approach to Corporate Responsibility May 2010 Keningtons is a professional and forward thinking business, aware of the impact upon society and the environment that arises through the provision of its services. We work within a CSR framework and realise the need for accountability for the social, economic and environmental impact of our operations. The Partners and Senior Management have full responsibility for CSR strategy and its implementation. Our commitment is reflected in the following policies:- Environment We are committed to sustainability and energy management and recognise that our activities can and do impact on the environment. Whilst our business is low on carbon usage, as a property advisor and managing agent we can help by working closely with our clients and property occupiers to encourage environmentally friendly energy and waste management within the properties that we manage. We seek to work within guidelines and standards of environmental care. Business Ethics Keningtons is committed to rigorous professional and ethical standards. Honesty and integrity are paramount to our business and we abide by the rule of conduct of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, together with internal handbooks and guidance notes. Client Care Keningtons is committed to providing the very highest standard of service to our clients. Our mission statement is:- “We aim to provide advice of the highest quality, excellent standards of service and outstanding long term experience.” In our capacity as property advisor and managing agent, we work closely with our clients to agree CSR issues and to regularly review performance. Workforce We believe in team support and working relationships. The health and safety of all staff is taken very seriously and we use external consultants to monitor and advise on compliance. We use a web based database for monitoring of health and safety on all managed properties. We also believe in transparency and give our clients direct access to view our progress. We regularly review training that is arranged internally and externally, to include CSR issues. Equality Policy Keningtons is committed to provide equality in employment regardless of age, sex, disability, colour, marital status, race, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnic or national origin. Career opportunities are judged on merit. We adhere strictly to these policies and look to our employees to do likewise. Any act that may result in harassment or discrimination is viewed extremely seriously and will constitute a serious disciplinary offence. Suppliers We encourage our suppliers to adopt responsible sustainable practises for the mutual benefit of the environment. Initiatives include placing of orders by email and electronic payment of bills to reduce paper use. Community and Charity At Keningtons we try to be a good corporate citizen. We have a policy of encouraging staff to participate by volunteering and working with our nominated charity, Thames Reach who support homeless and vulnerable people across London.
Our Offices & Client Properties Keningtons fully endorses the need to help, protect and sustain the local, national and global environment. We are continually looking for new opportunities to further diminish our carbon footprint. By working together as a team, with support from our consultants and clients, we aim to foster the need to work within environmentally friendly policies to help the environment. Energy saving is an important CSR issue and staff are encouraged to take steps to reduce the consumption of energy, water and waste. Our initiatives include:- Electricity Use To reduce our electricity usage we promote the following action: All our printers and photocopiers have enabled energy saving features so they power down during out of office hours. Our office workstations have been positioned to maximise the use of natural light whilst minimising glare to computer screens through the use of window blinds and modern efficient overhead lighting. Heating & Cooling Within our offices central heating is provided by a communal system and we encourage partners and staff to regulate the heat output from radiators using thermostatic valves or not to use this system at all. Modern energy efficient VRV heat pump air conditioning is provided within our London offices and we have introduced a policy of using this only sparingly. We have chosen to create open plan office layouts which are energy efficient as we do not heat corridors or store rooms. There is no heating in the common parts of our London offices. Water Use Staff and cleaners have been briefed to use the most energy efficient programmes on our dishwasher.
Low Waste Strategy Keningtons has developed a waste strategy for the management of waste within their offices and managed properties. Our strategy can be adapted to meet any of our clients’ policy statements and requirements for properties under our management. In order to keep waste to a minimum and to re-use or re-cycle waste we aim to work closely in partnership with waste contractors. Initiatives include:- Staff are encouraged to correspond by email and to print drafts or emails on scrap paper and to print double sided where appropriate. The re-cycling of rubbish, paper, plastics and glass. Electronic transfer of data, including the paying of supplier bills and the placing of orders by email. The purchasing of products that contain packaging that can be easily recycled.
We continue to strive to develop working relationships with our clients and property occupiers. In the case of new buildings, we encourage the property occupiers to abide by environmental policies. Our aim is to increase awareness and understanding of the need to adopt environmentally friendly policies to help the environment. In respect of the recycling of office furniture, old computers etc, we contact voluntary organisations to see if they wish to collect these products for re-use. Transport Keningtons are committed to encouraging staff and property occupiers to use alternative methods of transport in order to combat congestion and promote healthy living. We encourage the following basic principles to be adopted.
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