The Harworth Way is our framework for integrating sustainability and social value into both our business and the developments we create. It ensures these principles are embedded across our culture, strategy and, most importantly, our approach to development from concept to completion.
The Harworth Way is critical to us making a lasting positive impact on the environment and our communities. This commitment to integrate sustainability and social value into our business is delivered through the five pillars of The Harworth Way: the impact pillars of Planet, Communities, People and the supporting pillars of Governance and Partners.
The Harworth Way is a continually evolving framework. It is responsive to the ever-changing needs of the environments and communities we work within and, alongside our strategy, guides how we create sustainable places where people want to live and work. Our approach recognises that we cannot deliver our developments in isolation: working with all our stakeholders at all stages of the process is fundamental to achieving our aims.
Alongside our growth strategy, we continue to develop and improve our understanding of the impact of our regeneration processes. During 2022, we carried out a full review and expansion of the model to reflect both the key drivers of growth outlined in our growth strategy, and our wider sustainability commitments.
The Interlocking Model
The Harworth Way provides an overarching framework to deliver an integrated approach to sustainability across the business through the interlocking model.
The Harworth Way has three impact pillars which each comprise six focus impact areas, representing the key drivers for delivering each pillar. Each focus impact area is divided further into building blocks, which are the key workstreams to be undertaken within the business, in order to deliver a set of outputs. The focus impact areas and building blocks will evolve over time to reflect our progress and the priorities of The Harworth Way.
Integrating the UN SDGs
Harworth is a supporter of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (‘SDGs’) and a signatory to the UN Global Compact. We have selected six primary UN SDGs, which are closest aligned to our strategy and operations, and where we believe we can make the biggest impact as a business. These have been mapped to our focus impact areas.
Planet
We aim to minimise our environmental impact, whilst promoting climate resilience and biodiversity through our development and regeneration activities. The application of this approach from initial concept to our role in long-term stewardship allows us to integrate sustainability into all phases of development.
We align to our NZC commitments in the way we design and deliver both our infrastructure led masterplans and the individual buildings within them, by improving building efficiency and integrating renewable energy into our developments. We continue to promote innovation by using circular economy principles in our role as master developer, with an emphasis on maximising the recycling of materials, and minimising the use of raw materials.
Communities
We aim to create, strengthen and support communities through our regeneration and development processes both today and in the future. As a master developer we create new communities through our new developments and benefit existing local communities in the regions where we work. Our developments create economic benefit through their regenerative effects at both a local and regional level, supporting jobs, housing and investment.
We also have a long track record of delivering social value through the regeneration we have undertaken. Integrating homes, jobs, amenities and green space within a single community has long been a driver of our masterplans. Our developments also promote healthier lifestyles and integrate sustainable transport.
People
We aim to be an employer of choice, creating an inclusive, diverse, and empowered workplace culture in which our people can develop and realise their full potential. Central to this is the prioritisation of employee health and wellbeing and ensuring our people remain inspired, recognised and engaged.
We have embedded a “One Harworth” culture throughout our business. This underlines our collaborative approach to delivering and managing our sites and succeeding as one team. Our culture is underpinned by the three Harworth values: taking pride in our people & partnerships, delivering creative solutions, and acting with integrity & trust.
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