In June 2006 all of WYG's UK and Ireland Business Units achieved certification to the ISO14001:2004 standard. The key to the successful implementation of this Environmental Management System ("EMS") was the appointment of EMS Champions to each business unit who led the process and supported staff and management throughout. The Group's aim in the current year is to complete the integration of the EMS into the Group's Integrated Management System.
In the year under review the Project Environmental Assessment process identified in last year's report was rolled out and is currently in use on all projects in all disciplines. This places the environmental impact of the Group's services at the operational heart of the business. In the current year, it is intended to launch office-specific environmental campaigns involving all employees to reduce the Group's consumption of energy in its offices and increase the amount of waste avoided or diverted from landfills.
Key environmental projects in which WYG was involved in 2006 include:
- the British Waterways Scotland appointment referred to above;
- the Hull visitor centre assessment and sustainability enhancement programme referred to above;
- the appointment by Thurrock Council Education Department to design and assess against the elevated BREEAM Schools standard;
- the sustainability performance of Gateway Community College, Tilbury, Essex following the relocation and combining of two existing secondary schools onto a single site. The successful attainment of the standard evidenced that the building had reached a sustainability standard exceeding industry best practice; and
- the appointment by Arun District Council as lead planning consultants to establish the technical suitability for development of a site in Littlehampton incorporating sustainability assessments to identify the type of energy conservation and renewable energy measures that would be appropriate to meet the site's diverse energy demands for housing, employment and community facilities. Consultation with the local community will ensue.
Conclusion
2006 has been another year of significant progress in the CSR field. The Group looks forward with relish to the challenges of the current year with a view to embedding CSR in the heart of WYG's corporate strategy.