We encourage our people to think: to take time to consider all the permutations and options, to weigh up the risks and the benefits, and to come to the right conclusion. We foster a spirit of innovation at Land Securities and we actively welcome the less obvious – but practical – idea.
“Business does not operate in isolation. Running major parts of town and city centres taught us that long ago. Our shopping centre managers spend much of their time engaging with local authorities and others to improve the social fabric of their town centres and make positive changes. If that process works well, we have a more sustainable investment. We have something which is a vibrant part of a town or city centre, well integrated into the local community, and which will endure. There’s a win-win in that – for us and for the community.
We have a culture of action at Land Securities. When I consider all the public and private sector initiatives on the environment, I see – or rather I hear – a distinct lack of coherence, which hinders action rather than helps it.
There is a risk that this incoherence will result in a jumble of different policy requirements and targets from central and local government. That would not be helpful. Targets can spur businesses on – absolutely. But those targets have to be clear, unambiguous and attainable. We are proud that the environmental targets we have set ourselves are simple, clear and deliverable. They have led us to continuous improvement in this area.
I am all for incremental change. It may not be glamorous but, for example, with our environmental and supplier management systems in place, we have made significant progress over time. A specific example of this is that we no longer have bins in our offices or, at least, not by our desks. You have to stop and work out where to put your rubbish. This is a small thing, like being asked whether you want a plastic bag for your shopping. But it is these small things that can make a difference to the way people behave – and behavioural change is, after all, what is needed if we are to live more sustainably.
Last year, we were named the global environmental leader for the finance sector by the Dow Jones Group, which is tremendous recognition of everyone’s contribution. People are motivated to perform when they know their efforts help make a better world and I am particularly pleased that one in five staff members have already signed up for our new Land Securities Foundation volunteering initiative. It shows me that corporate responsibility really does run through everything we do at Land Securities.”
Francis Salway
Group Chief Executive
