Making a difference environmentally
4 Aug 08
Property management companies might not be typical candidates when it comes to promoting corporate social responsibility activities, compared with multi-nationals talking up their beneficial schemes around the world
by Richard Goslan
Property management companies might not be typical candidates when it comes to promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, compared with multi-nationals talking up their beneficial schemes around the world.
That is one reason why Peter Grant, founder and chief executive of Grant Management, decided to fully embrace CSR principles.
The other was a speech two years ago in Glasgow, by Bill Clinton. “I was at a lunch where President Clinton spoke, and he said that although everyone was concerned about terrorism, the number one issue in the world was global warming,” Grant recalls.
“He asked us to think about what we could do as individuals or businesses, and said that those who embraced green issues would benefit.”
Peter and his wife Colette, co-founder of Grant Management, threw themselves into a charity they called Global Trees, which raises money for tree planting and advises people on more environmentally friendly ways of living and doing business.
Grant Management went carbon neutral by the end of 2006, and then worked with the Energy Savings Trust to cut energy consumption and waste at properties it manages.
As Bill Clinton predicted, the move has been good for the company’s business.
“One of the obvious benefits was in building up our relationship with the universities. I think our carbon neutral approach helped us to differentiate ourselves from other management companies,” says Grant.
In terms of wider CSR policies, Grant Management believes its approach has helped the company recruit and retain quality staff, increased sales and customer loyalty, and boosted the firm’s brand image.
But with the property market suffering a major downturn, is CSR set to take a back seat? Not according to Grant.
“When things are going well you tend to spend more on all kinds of things,” he says. “But with CSR you shouldn’t just sit on your hands.
“Many things you do are not actually a cost to the business, and could save you money.”