Ethical and Responsible Business
We know that having a thriving business now, and in the future, is only possible if we act in the most ethical and responsible way for all our stakeholders.
Our people
Countryside Partnerships employ circa 2,000 people, and they are all committed to meeting our high standard for professional conduct and maintaining a culture of openness, honesty and trust with each other, our customers, partners and our other stakeholders.
Our People team works tirelessly to create a work environment that attracts, retains and develops great people from all backgrounds. Find out more about how we support our people here.
Our supply chain
We work side by side with many supply chain partners every day. Without their dedication, we would not be able to build sustainable and thriving places where people love to live.
To find out more about the work we do to drive a culture of respect and ethical behaviour with our supply chain, you can read more here.
Our policies and codes of conduct
Our Business Ethics and Code of Conduct sets out clear expectations for our people and our supply chain partners on workplace behaviours and is an extension of our corporate values.
This Code is supported by numerous other policies that cover critical ethical and business issues comprehensively. To view these policies, please visit our dedicated page. We also adhere to and support the standards set within the Base Code of the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Our whistleblowing hotline
We work with an independent external agency to operate a free and confidential whistleblowing hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This is backed up by our Whistleblowing Policy, which makes explicit to our people and supply chain partners the systems in place to allow them to report any concerns they may have in a safe and confidential manner.
Our commitment to health and safety
Health and safety on site and in our offices remains a core priority for us. We want everyone to go home every day safe and healthy.
Our system is certified to the international occupational health and safety management standard ISO 45001. In 2021, our annual injury incidence rate (“AIIR”) was 163, which was 56% better than the national average of 372.
Find out more about our wider programme of work around health and safety.
Our Social Value Charter
We have developed our Social Value Charter that provides us with a comprehensive set of guiding principles that builds on important environmental and economic initiatives we implement across the business.
Our charter commits to five principles that will help us meet the needs of: listen and learn, support local business, employ local people, support local causes and build sustainably. We have set targets to drive positive change by 2025, including generating 30% social value across Countryside and planting 250,000 trees every year.
By following the principles set out in the Charter we can co-create prosperous communities with our partners, invest in local businesses, and deliver better environmental outcomes
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Supporting local causes
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Build sustainably
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Support local businesses
Building Safety Pledge
Countryside has agreed with each of the English and Welsh Governments that leaseholders should not have to pay for any costs associated with necessary life-critical fire safety remediation work arising from the development or refurbishment of buildings of 11 metres and above that they live in and has therefore entered into each of the English and Welsh Governments’ Pledges in relation to buildings where Countryside was the developer.
Where building safety remedial work is currently taking place or agreed, Countryside will liaise directly with your building owners and/or managing agents.
Due to the scale and complexity of the undertakings of the Pledges, Countryside is unable to deal with individual leaseholder queries or requests. Any questions relating to building safety should instead be directed to your managing agent in the first instance, for them to communicate with Countryside directly.
Countryside is agreeing an engagement plan with each of the English and Welsh Governments to communicate with all in-scope the building owners/managing agents in relation to our commitments under the Pledges and will ensure leaseholder/resident communication is managed through them to ensure all residents are informed at the same time.
Implementation of the obligations of the Pledges may also require the approval of Countryside’s shareholders. More detail on this will be published as and when clarified.
A copy of the pledge with the English Government can be viewed here.
A copy of the pledge with the Welsh Government can be viewed here.
Related information
