Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
The Berkeley Group takes a proactive approach to Environmental, Social and Governance issues.
A Purposeful and Responsible Business
We have always been driven by a clear purpose - to build quality homes, strengthen communities and improve people's lives.
Building on these foundations, in 2010 we created a long-term strategy to guide our business and we called it Our Vision. Our vision is to be a world-class business, trusted to transform the most challenging sites into exceptional places and to maximise our positive impact on society, the economy and the natural world. In 2021 we launched Our Vision 2030; the Berkeley Group's ambitious strategy for the future which sets out our roadmap to 2030 across 10 strategic priorities. Read more about Our Vision 2030 here.
A Sustainable Business
Our Vision 2030 includes three key sustainability topics as strategic priorities for the business; Communities, Climate Action and Nature. This is supported by a dedicated sustainability strategy, standards for our project teams and detailed management system to maintain high standards. Read more about our approach to sustainability here.
We are proud to have been one of the first 350 companies worldwide to set science-based targets (SBTs) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction which align to a 1.5°C pathway and have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Read more here.
Read our latest Sustainability Report to find out more about our approach, progress, and achievements from 1 May 2020 to 30 April 2021. Note that the Sustainability Report for 1 May 2021 to May 2022 is due to be published in Autumn 2022.
Sustainability Report 2021
Sustainable Development Goals
Berkeley Group is committed to helping to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We have identified six of the goals as being most relevant to us, based on a review of our business activities and value chain against the goals and their underlying targets. We consider that we have the greatest opportunity to contribute to the achievement of these six goals, particularly through the implementation of the Our Vision 2030 business strategy.
We have identified six of the goals as being most relevant to us, based on a review of our business activities and value chain against the goals and their underlying targets. We consider that we have the greatest opportunity to contribute to the achievement of these six goals, particularly through the implementation of the Our Vision 2030 business strategy.
SDG Report 2021
Our Performance and Disclosure
Our latest performance on ESG topics is detailed within our Annual Report which can be found here. This includes disclosure against the Financial Stability Board's (FSB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). A summary of performance against our ESG indicators is also provided with more detail available below.
Additional climate-related disclosures, such as our GHG emissions reporting methodology and approach to being carbon neutral can be found here.
ESG Performance Summary 2022
Benchmarks and Indices
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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CDP Climate Change questionnaire rating
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Rating | A- | A | A- | A- |
An ‘A-’ leadership score was obtained in 2021/22.
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Company is featured on the FTSE4Good Index Series
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Y/N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Berkeley has been featured on the Index since 2003.
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MSCI ESG rating
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Rating | AAA | AAA | AAA | AAA |
We have achieved an AAA rating for the past six years.
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New Homes
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
| Completed homes, including joint ventures | # | 4,632 | 3,254 | 3,158 | 3,959 |
The number of homes that legally completed during the year including our joint ventures.
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Environmental
Environmentally Responsible Operations
| Environmental Prosecutions | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Number of environmental prosecutions |
# | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The number of environmental prosecutions in the year.
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Monetary cost of environmental fines and penalties
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£ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | The monetary cost of environmental fines and penalties in the year. |
| Scopes 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Scope 1 emissions | tCO2e | 1,974 | 2,353 | 3,215 | 3,808 | Direct emissions from natural gas, directly purchased fuels and business travel in company owned and company leased vehicles (utilising conventional fuels as an energy source). |
| Scope 2 (location-based) emissions | tCO2e |
5,858 | 6,385 | 5,967 | 6,246 | Indirect emissions from electricity, heat and business travel in company owned and company leased vehicles (utilising electricity as an energy source). |
| Scope 2 (market-based) emissions |
tCO2e | 237 | 196 | 160 | 172 | Indirect emissions from electricity, heat and business travel in company owned and company leased vehicles (utilising electricity as an energy source). Market-based emissions take into account Berkeley’s purchase of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) to certify that 100% of UK electricity is backed by a renewable source (i.e. solar, wind or hydro power). |
| Scopes 1 and 2 (location-based) emissions | tCO2e |
7,832 | 8,738 | 9,182 | 10,054 | The location-based emissions resulting from our office, sales, modular factory and site activities reported for our operational boundary. |
| Scopes 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions | tCO2e | 2,211 | 2,549 | 3,375 | 3,980 | The market-based emissions, once procurement of renewable electricity in the UK is taken into account. |
| Percentage change in scopes 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions | % | -44 | -36 | -15 | - | Our validated science-based target (SBT) is to reduce absolute scopes 1 and 2 (market-based) GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 from a FY2019 base year. |
| Number of verified carbon credits procured for voluntary offsetting | # |
2,322 | 2,675 | 3,543 | 4,179 | We voluntarily offset more than our scopes 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions on an annual basis using verified carbon credits to maintain carbon neutral operations. |
| Scopes 1 and 2 Energy Consumption | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Total energy consumption (including non-renewable and renewable) | MWh | 36,335 | 36,833 | 35,986 | 35,681 | Energy consumption associated with scopes 1 and 2 emissions has been calculated and reported on a net calorific value (CV) basis. This total figure includes energy from non-renewable and renewable sources. |
| Renewable energy consumption | MWh |
27,656 | 26,806 | 22,988 | 21,483 | The energy consumption from renewable sources, including biodiesel HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), on-site generated renewable energy and purchased electricity in the UK which is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs). |
| Renewable energy consumption |
% | 76 | 73 | 64 | 60 | The percentage of total energy consumption from renewable energy sources. |
| Purchased electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) | % | 99.0 | 99.2 | 99.1 | 99.1 | The percentage of total global purchased electricity consumption backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs). |
| Purchased electricity in the UK backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) | % | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | The percentage of total UK purchased electricity consumption backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs). |
| Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Scope 3 (categories 1 and 11) emissions | tCO2e | 1,125,843 | 1,041,555 | 976,685 | 1,096,682 | Indirect emissions that occur in our value chain for material scope 3 categories, which are category 1: Purchased goods and services (76% of 2019 baseline year scope 3 emissions) and category 11: Use of sold products (20% of 2019 baseline year scope 3 emissions). |
| Scope 3 (category 1: Purchased goods and services) emissions | tCO2e |
857,341 | 850,937 | 781,343 | 863,079 | Estimated emissions arising as a result of purchased goods and services calculated using two raw data sources for the reporting year; spend data and contractor fuel purchase data. |
| Scope 3 (category 11: Use of sold products) emissions |
tCO2 | 268,502 | 190,618 | 195,342 | 233,603 | We use the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) of completed homes in the reporting year to estimate their carbon impact over a lifetime period of 60 years. |
| Scope 3 emissions intensity | tCO2e/100 sq m | 312 | 390 | 360 | 321 | Scope 3 (categories 1 and 11) emissions per 100 square metre of legally completed floor area. |
| Percentage change in scope 3 emissions intensity | % | -3 | +22 | +12 | - | Our validated science-based target (SBT) is to reduce absolute scope 3 purchased goods and services and use of sold products GHG emissions 40% per square metre of legally completed floor area by FY2030 from a FY2019 base year. |
| Water Consumption | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Water consumption | m3 | 256,635 | 240,232 | 214,517 | 224,443 | The volume of water consumed across our regional offices, development sites and sales suites. |
| Waste Generation | Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes |
| Total waste generated (including construction, demolition and excavation wastes) | tonnes | 734,320 | 382,824 | 637,509 | 709,311 | Total waste produced by our development sites, including wastes from demolition, excavation and construction works. |
| Total waste reused or recycled | tonnes |
659,658 | 362,227 | 573,724 | 644,608 | Total waste generated that has been reused or recycled. |
| Total waste reused or recycled |
% | 90 | 95 | 90 | 91 | Proportion of total waste generated that has been reused or recycled. |
| Total waste classified as hazardous | tonnes | 5,669 | 2,602 | 13,689 | 84,927 | Hazardous waste generation is dependent on project activities during the year, including materials contained within any buildings demolished and any contaminated land encountered during groundworks. |
| Total waste sent directly to landfill | tonnes | 56,469 | 9,666 | 46,882 | 53,055 | Waste sent directly to landfill for disposal typically relates to waste arising from demolition and excavation activities that cannot be treated for reuse or recycling. During 2021 we had fewer sites of this nature. |
| Construction waste generated |
tonnes | 126,765 | 154,409 | 177,572 | 142,648 | Construction waste produced by our development sites. This excludes any demolition and excavation waste, but generally includes soil wastes resulting from piling and landscaping works. |
| Construction waste reused or recycled | % | 95 | 96 | 95 | 94 | Proportion of construction waste that has been reused or recycled. |
| Construction waste classified as hazardous |
tonnes | 606 | 397 | 1,210 | 722 | Hazardous waste generated as part of construction works. This normally consists of used spill kit materials and containers for COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) items. |
| Demolition waste generated |
tonnes | 23,540 |
21,347 | 27,063 | 75,799 | Waste produced by our development sites during the demolition of existing buildings and other infrastructure. |
| Demolition waste reused or recycled |
% | 91 | 94 | 91 | 97 | Proportion of demolition waste that has been reused or recycled. |
| Demolition waste classified as hazardous |
tonnes | 1,102 | 587 | 1,722 | 1,954 | Hazardous waste generated as part of demolition works. This normally consists of materials containing asbestos being removed from buildings prior to their demolition. |
| Excavation waste generated |
tonnes | 584,015 |
207,068 | 432,874 | 490,864 | Waste produced by our development sites during excavation works such as basement digs. |
| Excavation waste reused or recycled |
% | 89 | 94 | 88 | 89 | Proportion of excavation waste that has been reused or recycled, including soils beneficially used at landfill sites. |
| Excavation waste classified as hazardous |
tonnes | 3,961 | 1,618 | 10,757 | 82,252 | Hazardous waste generated as part of excavation works. This normally consists of contaminated soils, with amounts varying significantly year-on-year depending on the prior use of brownfield sites being regenerated. |
Sustainable Homes
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Completed homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least a ‘B’
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% | 89 | 96 | 95 | 93 |
Each legally completed home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating ranked on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). This figure outlines the percentage of our homes achieving at least a ‘B’ rating.
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Average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) score
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# | 83 |
84 |
84 | 85 |
Each legally completed home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) score out of 100, based on Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
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Completed homes to be supplied with low carbon or renewable energy
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% | 68 | 70 | 70 | 72 |
The proportion of completed homes with energy from low carbon or renewable technology.
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Average Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) of completed homes
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kgCO2/m2/yr | 12.85 | 12.00 | 12.44 | 11.72 |
The average Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) of homes completed in the year, based on Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations.
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Average percentage improvement in Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) over Target Emission Rate (TER) for completed homes
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% | 31 | 33 | 30 | 34 |
Comparison of the average Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) of homes completed in the year, to the Target Emission Rate (TER) which is the minimum allowable standard for the energy performance of a building.
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| Average internal water efficiency of completed homes | Ippd | 104.2 | 104.5 | 102.7 | 102.6 | The average internal water efficiency of legally completed homes in litres per person per day. |
| Completed homes constructed on brownfield land |
% | 86 | 87 | 89 | - | The proportion of homes built on previously developed land. |
| Completed homes with internal recycling facilities |
% | 100 | 96 | 100 | 94 | The proportion of completed homes provided with internal recycling facilities. |
Sustainable Places
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Developments newly committed to deliver biodiversity net gain
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# | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Each site is a new site submitted for planning permission which has committed to delivering a biodiversity net gain.
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Developments newly committed to deliver biodiversity net gain on site
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% | 100 | 100 | 100 | 89 |
We aim to deliver the biodiversity increase within the site boundary, so that the local community experiences the full long-term benefit of an enriched natural environment.
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Developments newly committed to deliver biodiversity net gain greater than 10%
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% | 100 | 100 | 89 | 89 |
In 2021, the Berkeley Group made the commitment to deliver a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity on every new project.
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Developments newly committed to deliver biodiversity net gain greater than 20%
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% | 83 | 71 | 78 | 78 |
The majority of our sites far exceed our 10% minimum threshold for net gain, set as a commitment under Our Vision 2030 in 2021.
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| Live development sites regenerating brownfield land |
% | 85 | 84 | 76 | 85 | Proportion of live development sites (i.e. developments undergoing demolition, excavation or construction works) that are on previously developed land. |
| Live development sites with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) |
% | 92 | 91 | 94 | 98 | Proportion of live developments sites (i.e. developments undergoing demolition, excavation or construction works) with water management practices such as swales and permeable paving. |
| Live development sites with cycle storage being provided |
% | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 80,948 cycle spaces were being provided on sites under development in 2021/22. |
| Live development sites with electric car charging infrastructure being provided | % | 93 | 84 | 76 | 74 | 5,872 active charging points and 6,741 passive charging points were being provided on sites under development in 2021/22. |
Social
Charitable Giving and the Berkeley Foundation
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Employees involved with Give As You Earn (GAYE)
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% | 29 | 32 | 33 | 32 |
Berkeley staff can voluntarily sign up to our Give As You Earn (GAYE) scheme.
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Employees involved with the Berkeley Foundation
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% | 55 | 53 | 63 | 65 | In 2021/22, 55% of employees chose to actively contribute to the charity, through time, fundraising or donations. This is based on an internal survey. |
Considerate Construction
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Average Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) score
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#/50 | 43.4 | 43.37 | 43.16 | 42.98 |
Based on independent audits by the CCS. In 2021/22 our average score was 43.4, comparing favourably to an industry average of 38.7.
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| Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) audits scoring 40/50 or greater |
% | 96 | 97 | 95 | 94 | Our target is to achieve a score of 40/50 or greater for each CCS audit. |
Customer Experience
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
| Six-month rolling average Net Promoter Score (NPS) |
# | 77.2 | 77.9 | 78.8 | 73.5 |
Our six-month rolling average NPS to March 2022 was 77.2, compared to a sector average of 45 (HBF, March 2022).
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Customers who would recommend us to a friend
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% | 98.0 | 98.3 | 98.5 | 97.1 |
For the 2021/22 reporting year to March 2022, 98% customers would recommend us to a friend compared to an industry average of 91% (HBF, March 2022).
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Health and Safety
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Annual Injury Incidence Rate (AIIR) per 1,000 people – direct employees and on-site contractors
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# | 0.72 | 1.24 | 1.17 | 1.14 |
The AIIR per 1,000 people shows the number of reportable injuries during the year in relation to Berkeley employees and on-site contractors.
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Annual Injury Incidence Rate (AIIR) per 1,000 people – direct employees only
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# | 0.33 | 0.70 | 0.35 | - |
This AIIR per 1,000 people relates to Berkeley employees only (including joint ventures).
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Annual Injury Incidence Rate (AIIR) per 1,000 people – on-site contractors only
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# | 0.85 | 1.40 | 1.46 | - |
This AIIR per 1,000 people relates to on-site contractors only.
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| Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) per 100,000 hours – direct employees and on-site contractors |
# | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.05 | - | The AFR measures the total number of reportable injuries sustained for every 100,000 hours worked. |
| Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) per 100,000 hours - direct employees only |
# | 0.01 | 0.03 | - | - | This AFR per 100,000 hours worked relates to Berkeley employees only (including joint ventures). |
| Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) per 100,000 hours - on-site contractors only |
# | 0.04 | 0.06 | - | - | This AFR per 100,000 hours worked relates to on-site contractors only. |
| Work-related fatalities – direct employees and on-site contractors |
# | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | There were no direct employee or on-site contractor fatalities during the year. |
| Hours of training delivered on health and safety matters |
# | 24,165 | 24,843 | 34,126 | 30,792 | This includes in-person training at our Berkeley Academy facility and online sessions. |
Skills and Training
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Percentage of direct workforce who are graduates, direct apprentices or sponsored students undertaking formal training
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% | 8.9 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 10.3 |
Calculated as the average monthly percentage of our direct workforce who are apprentices, graduates or sponsored students.
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Graduates joining the business via Berkeley’s Graduate Scheme Programme
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# | 38 | 26 | 31 | 17 |
Number of new graduates joining the business via Berkeley’s Graduate Scheme Programme throughout the year. This programme covers a number of departments such as Construction, Commercial, Technical and Land and Planning
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| Average monthly number of directly employed apprentices |
# | 121 | 89 | 107 | 104 | Average monthly number of employees on an apprenticeship throughout the year. Apprentices work across many disciplines in our business. |
Society and Community Contributions
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
| Contribution to UK GDP | £bn | 3.2 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 |
Berkeley’s calculated overall contribution to GDP, including through direct activities by Berkeley, indirectly through supply chain spend and the induced effect of household spend.
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| Contribution to UK tax |
£m | 778 | 595 | 625 | 834 |
Berkeley’s calculated overall contribution to UK tax, including taxes paid directly by Berkeley and the taxes paid by customers and suppliers as a result of Berkeley activities.
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Contribution to facilities and services for local communities
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£m | 556 | 204 | 270 | 525 |
The contribution we make in affordable housing subsidies and wider community infrastructure benefits delivered or committed to during the year.
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| UK jobs supported directly and indirectly through the supply chain |
#,000 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 30 | The total number of jobs supported by Berkeley directly and through the supply chain throughout the year. |
Supply Chain
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Average number of days taken to pay suppliers
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# | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 |
Our average payment time for contractors is in line with the Prompt Payment Code.
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| Average monthly number of on-site contractors |
# | 9,415 | 8,859 | 8,307 | - | This is the average monthly number of on-site contractors working across the Berkeley Group’s development sites. |
Quality
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Homes with fewer than five defects
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% | 83 | 84 | 81 | - |
This year 83% of our homes had fewer than five defects reported by customers on completion, compared with 30% across industry (HBF, March 2022).
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Homes with zero defects
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% | 51 | 49 | - | - |
This year 51% of our homes had zero defects reported by customers on completion, compared with 5% of homes on average across the industry (HBF, March 2022)
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Governance
Board of Directors
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
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Executive Directors
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# | 5 | 6 | 7 | - |
Board composition figures are as at Annual Report sign-off, with 2021/22 figures as of 22 June 2022.
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Independent Non-Executive Directors
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# | 11 | 11 | 9 | - |
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Board of Directors – Male
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% | 69 | 71 | 75 | 75 | |
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Board of Directors – Female
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% | 31 | 29 | 25 | 25 |
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| Average tenure of Board of Directors |
years | 6 | 7 | 8 | - |
Employees
| Unit | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | Notes | |
| Total Employees | # | 3,030 | 2,705 | 2,844 | 2,664 |
Employee composition figures as at 30 April each year.
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| Total employees – Male | % |
63 | 64 | 63 | 62 | |
| Total employees – Female | % | 37 | 36 | 37 | 38 | |
| Senior management - Male | % | 40 | 40 | 43 | 50 | |
| Senior management - Female | % | 60 | 60 | 57 | 50 | |
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Reporting to senior management – Male
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% | 71 | 68 | 79 | 80 | |
| Reporting to senior management – Female | % | 29 | 32 | 21 | 20 |
Sustainability Reports and Disclosures
Key sustainability documents published by the Berkeley Group, including carbon and climate change disclosures.
