Abri is pleased to share its 2022/2023 ESG report. As its third published report, the group outlines how it performed in the last financial year against the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing, to promote consistency and transparency across the sector.
This year, Abri introduced a set of core, forward looking Key Performance Indicators to ensure they can be held to account on their performance, and better track progress and the impact made on the communities it serves.
Abri continues to work towards its commitment for all homes to reach a minimum of EPC Band C by 2030. In the last year Abri retrofitted 971 new homes, with 94% reaching an EPC rating of B or A. To support energy efficiency works, in March 2023 Abri benefitted from funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2, as a leading member of the Greener Futures Partnership. The Partnership received £40.4m following a successful joint bid. The funds will go towards £102m being invested by the partnership to retrofit 5,495 homes.
On Abri’s environmental performance, Rose Bean, Director of Assets and Sustainability, said:
“Last year Abri launched its Environment and Climate Strategy, I’m delighted to see this being put into action as we take steps to becoming a greener business. This year we’ve continued to work on making our homes more energy efficient, tackle fuel poverty for our customers, and meet our carbon reduction target.
“Abri is committed to creating sustainable communities. This year we launched our Biodiversity Action Plan, that will ensure we maintain, and involve our customers in managing, the ecosystems and wildlife around our homes. We also have an opportunity to educate our communities on living more sustainably and create pathways into employment through the green skills revolution.”
Abri believes everyone has the right to a safe, warm and sustainable home supported by excellent customer services. In 2022/2023 Abri’s focus has remained on investing in its existing homes, seeing its largest ever investment, in one year, of £85m, which went towards building and fire safety, energy efficiency and general repairs and maintenance. Tackling damp and mould has also been a priority for the group who invested £1m in addressing the root cause in its homes in the last year.
As the country continues to struggle with the cost of living, in the last year Abri has invested £3.7m in cost of living support directly for its customers and through community investment. Abri also helped customers secure £3.4m to which they are entitled, through its Tenancy Support Services, supported 576 into employment and issued 1,150 fuel vouchers. The group also launched a Cost of Living Hub, full of advice and guidance, which can be found here.
Ralph Facey, Abri’s Executive Director - Operations said:
“The creation of sustainable homes and communities is at the heart of what Abri does. This year we have continued to focus on ensuring we provide excellent homes, services and support our customers to sustain their tenancy as our customers continue to face a high cost of living. We’ve done this by ensuring our customers voice is heard and acted upon in our decision making, and our customer-facing teams are empowered to deliver for our customers. We’ll continue to develop this over the next year as we introduce a new customer involvement offer and adopt our regional approach to service delivery, ensuring our colleagues are even more visible and accountable to meet the needs of our customers and communities.”
In 2022/2023 Abri also retained its top rating of G1/V1 from the Regulator of Social Housing and A3 Moody’s credit rating, ensuring the Group remains resilient as it continues to invest in existing homes, build new homes and meet its strategic objectives. Abri is also pleased to be a Real Living Wage payer and has reduced its medium gender pay gap from 9.8% to 3.9%.
Abri’s Director of HR and OD, Vicky Beckwith said:
“Supported by strong governance and leadership, the wellbeing and diversity of Abri’s colleagues is vital to our success. Our wellbeing strategy runs through our culture to create a fair, safe and welcoming environment for everyone. This not only enables us to be a great place to work, it ensures we remain resilient and continue to deliver fantastic services for our customers.”
Abri’s full 2022/2023 ESG report can be found here.