Southampton: Vail Williams event points the way for business sustainability
A seminar, organised by property expert Vail Williams at the award-winning Southampton HQ of Ordnance Survey, guided business owners and senior managers, with property interests from around the Solent, through the challenges of sustainability.
About 70 people attended the event on March 26 designed to shine a light on the complicated and expanding world of sustainability and energy efficiency in the property sector.
A full range of experts were on hand from Vail Williams, Ordnance Survey, Lloyds Banking Group, FTSE 100 retail property owner-manager and developer Hammerson, and management and construction consultancy Gleeds.
Sustainability issues included topics from business planning, gaining a return, shareholder value, and the impact of recent and proposed changes in sustainability legislation and standards.
Russell Miller, Vail Williams partner, said: “We had a great response from the attendees, thanks to an expert line-up of speakers from across the property sector, and hosted by an award-winning venue that is one of the most forward-thinking in the country.
“Property sustainability and energy efficiency relates to the environment, of course, but also commercial, social and economic issues. It touches on almost every aspect of a business and that’s why our seminar was so well-received.
“Sustainability is only going to grow as a factor in UK business decisions and we’re going to need the expertise on hand to guide small, medium and large businesses through it.”
Russell Miller kicked off the day before Greg Tumilty, building and property services manager at Ordnance Survey, laid out the host building's own special attributes that cut energy costs and emissions.
He was followed by Caroline McCarthy-Stout, head of strategy and reporting, responsible business, of Lloyds Banking Group, who showcased the business opportunities from well-planned sustainability strategies.
Environmental manager Richard Quartermaine gave the property perspective on sustainability from the team at Hammerson, a retail property owner-manager and developer, which has just started work on the Watermark scheme at West Quay in Southampton.
Mark Pendry, from management and construction consultancy Gleeds, explained the impact on tenants, landlords and property owners from recent changes in legislation.
