The Group’s Environmental Policy is contained within the CSR Policy, which Steve Cooke, Group Finance Director, has overall responsibility for.
Compliance with the CSR Policy is audited by the Group’s Internal Audit team with regular reporting to the Board.
7. Social and community interests (including Social and Ethical issues)
LSL’s social and community investment objective is to establish a common and coherent approach among Group businesses and to support
investment in the communities in which they operate. Through LSL’s community investment objective, it encourages each Group company to be
sensitive to the local community’s cultural, social and economic needs. This objective demonstrates LSL’s commitment to operate responsibly
wherever it operates and to engage with stakeholders to manage the social, economic and environmental impact of Group activities.
LSL’s business has a direct impact on the local communities in which it operates and the community investment objective recognises that good
relations with local communities are fundamental to LSL’s sustained success. Working in partnership with communities over a sustained period of
Governance
Directors’ Report and Business Review
time is the most effective way to achieve real results and lasting change.
LSL supports its businesses in achieving its objectives by encouraging Group businesses to:
1. make donations both to local and national charities
2. support and organise fundraising events including supporting charities and local community initiatives selected by Group companies
3. support employees in their personal fundraising ambitions
Further details of some specific charitable initiatives are set out below.
charitable donations:
a. Workplace Giving:
LSL has implemented the ‘Workplace Giving’ initiative and all Group employees have been invited to participate. The initiative was launched in
October 2010 and in 2012 LSL employees raised £24,990. Over 180 employees participate in the scheme, which donates to a range of charities.
Working with professional fundraising organisations, Workplace Giving UK makes it possible for employees to make regular donations via the payroll
system to a charity or charities of their choice on a tax free basis. The tax free element means that the charity benefits on receiving a higher amount.
Further information can be found at: www.workplacegiving.co.uk/giving
b. The Estate Agency Foundation (www.eafcharity.org):
LSL’s Estate Agency Division continues to support the Estate Agency Foundation (EAF) as its employee nominated charity. The EAF supports several
registered charities whose collective aim is to eliminate the causes of homelessness. These include:
• Centre Point (www.centrepoint.org.uk)
• Thames Reach (www.thamesreach.org.uk)
• Trinity Winchester (www.trinitywinchester.org.uk)
• Hope 4 (www.hope4.org.uk)
• Doncaster Housing for Young People (www.dhyp.net)
The EAF was chosen due to its direct connection with property and estate agency. It brings together estate agents from all over the country with the
hope that by using their collective fundraising skills, the EAF will make a significant contribution to communities.
In addition, during the summer of 2012 LSLi MD Jon Cooke, undertook the Zoopla British Property Cycle, a 32 stage round the UK cycle event which
was completed in a month. The aim of the event, the brainchild of Jon Cooke, was to bring together the whole of the property industry in raising much
needed funds for the EAF and to demonstrate the industry’s support of the ‘festival’ of sport and community that surrounded the Olympics. The team
of cyclists, included Jon and other LSL employees, and over the course of the event the team cycled approximately 2,500 miles around the UK coast
visiting over 125 estate agency offices, many of them LSL’s, along the way. The main team was also supported by over 100 cyclists who joined in the
event at varying stages. In total, more than £70,000 has been raised for the charity as a result of the event.
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