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Corporate social responsibility

Drivers Jonas LLP has a reputation for providing independent property advice, taking an innovative approach to thought leadership and influencing decision makers. DJ experts advise on the life-cycle of property to real estate owners, investors and lenders. This includes planning, development and specialised sector advice.

DJ acts at the interface between the public and private sectors with 40 per cent of turnover earned from public sector clients.

DJ’s practices can be very simply summed up in the firms’ six core values:

  1. Putting our clients first;
  2. The quality of our people;
  3. Innovation and creativity in everything we do;
  4. A culture of openness and sharing;
  5. Responsibility to the environment; and
  6. Engagement with communities.

These core values not only serve the staff but also clients, investors, occupiers, charities and the environment. They form the foundation for the firms’ reputation.

DJ’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives are rolled out through a culture that encourages openness, independent thought and original ideas. It can be best described using DJ’s managing partner, Nick Shepherd’s words: “The world has for sometime been on the knife edge of change and it’s our responsibility as property advisors to recognise this and act. Our responsible philosophy earned us a reputation for trouble-shooting – for finding innovative ways of meeting a brief, putting creativity before conformity and achieving exceptional results.”

The simplest approach is usually the best, and that is why the DJ philosophy is to put back as much into the community and environment as we take out.
 

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The community

The Drivers Jonas Charitable Foundation (DJCF) harnesses the enthusiasm amongst an expanding workforce for charitable and community support. Over 25 per cent of partners and staff are actively engaged in a wide-ranging programme of community support mainly focused on schools in socially disadvantaged areas within the regions.

It pioneered a Business Challenge, which is a 2-day workshop for secondary school pupils mentored by DJ staff. The pupils benefit from site visits and expert tuition, which culminates in the imaginary development of their school and surrounding area, taking into account the environment and community benefits.

DJ’s preferred charity is WheelPower – a national charity for wheelchair sport, which helps people with disabilities to achieve their sporting dreams. DJ organises a number of events to raise awareness and funds.

DJ promotes sabbaticals and actively encourages staff to accept roles of responsibility in the wider community. Examples include:

  • Membership of the UK Reserve Forces;
  • Non-executive directorships in the not-for-profit sector;
  • Magistrates and prison visitors;
  • Charity work e.g. disaster and emergency fundraisers;
  • Community Church activities; and
  • School governors.

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The environment

As stated earlier, our belief is that the simplest approach is usually the best, and that is why the DJ philosophy is to put back as much into the environment as we take out. To quantify this, DJ has a defined a CSR agenda that includes a recycling programme, a switch to clean fuel and purchasing coffee from illy. The latter has received a number of certifications testifying its commitment to environmental responsibility.

In 2004, DJ quantified its carbon footprint and immediately set out to reduce this by 15 per cent per employee. In 2006, DJ became a CarbonNeutral®company. The CN Company noted that other firms have committed to carbon neutrality because of DJ’s positive involvement.

Following on from Carbon Neutrality DJ has focused on broader environmental management, with a commitment to achieving ISO 14001 across all UK locations in 2009. This means we are committed to real measurable improvements in a number of areas, including: Reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency, use of ‘environmentally responsible’ suppliers and the procurement of ‘green’ products and delivery of refresher awareness training.

Some of the specific targets, measured against baseline assessment that we are working to achieve are:

  • Reduce electricity consumption per head by 5%;
  • Reduce quantity of land fill waste by 25%;
  • Reduce paper consumption by 10%;
  • Roll out of ISO14001 to all UK locations in 2009.

Influencing policy

We do not think it is enough to be responsive to new and emerging policy and regulation and to simply pass advice on to our clients on the implications for their businesses. We are committed to sustainable development and are working hard to shape the agenda in the property sector, for the benefit of our clients and the communities on which our activities impact. This is underlined by our membership of, and active participation in, a range of key industry groups including:

  • RICS Presidential Commission on Sustainability;
  • the property workstream of the Investment Property Forum (IPD) and Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC);
  • British Council for Offices (BCO) Environmental Sustainability Group;
  • Constructing Excellence;
  • Aldersgate Group;
  • Landscape Institute Policy Committee;
  • the Manchester Design for Sustainability Innovation Partnership; and
  • our accreditation of the Planning and Sustainability Masters Degree at Kingston University.
     

Through our membership of the Aldersgate Group in particular, we are committed to promoting the message that higher standards of environmental regulation are a necessary and desirable precursor to sustainable economic growth.

In summary

DJ recognises its responsibility to the environment, clients and staff through its core values and has changed the business to accommodate the best practises possible – and continues to do so through strategic and operational development.


For more information, please contact:

Alan Lattimer, Chief Operating Officer, Drivers Jonas
Tel: 020 7896 8039