A safe workplace:

Providing a safe working environment for employees, subcontractors and suppliers is vital to the continued success of our Company, and is a key priority. Of paramount importance is keeping people safe and reducing the number of accidents on sites, in offices and on their journeys to and from work. The company also has a wider responsibility in ensuring the health and safety of subcontractors, suppliers and the general public who have any contact with its projects. The company’s safety performance is important for its reputation (both as contractor and an employer), for delivering projects on time and on budget (by reducing time lost due to accidents) and for reducing operating costs, through lower insurance premiums and reduced claims for example.

Developing talented employees

Flag Limited is focused on attracting and retaining talented people from diverse backgrounds to successfully deliver its strategy and projects for clients. The Company is addressing the risk of skill shortages in the construction industry by ensuring that it employs the right people, through encouraging inclusion from the widest sector of the population and offering a variety of training and career development opportunities. There are also real benefits to the Company in ensuring its employees have the skills and ability to anticipate future market demands and incorporate new and emerging technologies. Developing talented employees therefore remains a key focus area.

Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions

Carbon emissions and climate change are one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry. Large construction firms are already subject to the Carbon Reduction Commitment, a mandatory emissions trading scheme, and there is a risk that companies will become susceptible to future ‘green taxes’ on energy and fuel. Climate change itself also presents the Company with risks, including impacts on its own operations and reducing the market value of developments that are not resilient to the future climate. These risks are managed through more efficient consumption of energy in the Company’s permanent offices, transport fleet, on project sites, and by being transparent about its carbon emissions and targets through schemes such as the Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme (‘CEMARS’) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (now known as CDP). The Company recognises the importance of designing and delivering buildings and infrastructure that are more energy efficient, incorporate new energy technologies and are adapted for climate change in the future.

Reducing waste

It is a fact that the construction sector sends millions of tonnes of waste to landfill each year. There are opportunities to save money by sending less waste to landfill and to better utilise new and emerging recovery and recycling processes which make the reuse of raw materials more practical. This makes reducing the volume of construction waste produced by the Company a priority. By focussing on resource efficiency it is better placed to meet waste regulations, industry targets and client demands.

Improving sustainable procurement

The Company requires a high level of quality and competitiveness form its suppliers and subcontractors, as well as evidence of their own commitment to sustainability. Maintaining the balance between responsible sourcing, competitive tendering and quality of delivery requires continual effort.

The introduction of responsible sourcing standards, for key construction products, provides the Company with an opportunity to exert a significant positive influence in terms of suppliers’ sustainability performance. Minimum standards supply can be established, through Company –wide procurement arrangements, which include important responsible sourcing criteria, the percentage of recycled material and other applicable sector driven requirements.