This review provides an overview of our sustainability and social value achievements in 2021 – the first year of implementing Now or Never, our decisive decade, Willmott Dixon's sustainability strategy to 2030.
In 2021, we emerged from a global pandemic to face pan industry challenges such as supply chain shortages, material cost inflation, the energy crisis and a stark report from the IPCC declaring a ‘code red for humanity’.
As we work towards post-Covid growth, sustainable solutions are at the forefront of our plans. Not only is it the right thing to do for the planet, but the economic and social benefits are significant for our customers, our communities and our own business growth and resilience.
Following COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, we are seeing a growing demand for net zero carbon buildings as well as increasing numbers of local authority customers seeking support, having declared climate emergencies. The soaring cost of energy has renewed interest in our Community Solar Energy offering as well as solutions to decarbonise and retrofit existing estates.
In terms of social impact, we have expanded our suite of work experience programmes to support people furthest from the labour market into good careers. Our engagement with social businesses adds to this value chain, both by increasing the diversity of businesses in our supply chain and in helping us impact the lives of individuals that we may not otherwise have reached.
By sharing our knowledge and expertise, and supporting other businesses to prosper, we make not only our own business more sustainable, but our industry too. At Willmott Dixon, we have been on our sustainability journey since 1852, but our 170 years of corporate progression is outweighed by 170 years of global environmental regression. We really have reached the point of Now or Never.
You can find out more about our progress against our 2030 targets here, and throughout the review.