RITTERWALD, the pan-European business consultancy, has expanded its services in the UK as part of its drive to offer housing providers a suite of sustainability solutions.
The move comes amid increased requirements from lenders and investors, regulations from governments, and demands from stakeholders such as housing providers to demonstrate corporate sustainability performance.
RITTERWALD says it is drawing on its European track record of strategic planning and sustainability analysis to provide a customised approach to housing providers in developing their Corporate Sustainability Strategy.
The firm will also help providers develop frameworks for data collection and reporting, which it says will be essential for providers going forward.
RITTERWALD currently provides sustainability solutions to several housing providers in Germany, France, and Holland.
In the UK, RITTERWALD is supporting housing associations in England and Scotland, including Clarion Housing Group, Catalyst Housing, Metropolitan Thames Valley, and Link Group.
‘Fresh-faced thinking’
Austen Reid, who was appointed to lead the UK business last year, said: “Decarbonisation really is the next paradigm shift for the UK housing association sector and requires a major change in the way providers think and act.
“The road to net-zero carbon for housing associations is multifaceted. But they are also challenges shared by housing organisations across Europe, and that means we are not starting from ground zero.”
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Dr Mathias Hain, co-founder and managing partner of RITTERWALD, added: “RITTERWALD intends to bring fresh-thinking to UK housing’s biggest strategic challenges, combining proven methodologies from Europe with a detailed understanding of UK affordable housing.
“A corporate sustainability strategy shows how housing providers are positively addressing the net-zero carbon agenda.
“The strategy also enables housing providers to engage with tenants, communities, public authorities, and stakeholders.”
RITTERWALD entered the UK housing sector in 2019 with its Certified Sustainable Housing Label, an environmental, social and governance (ESG) accreditation that measures and demonstrates the positive impact of affordable housing companies to investors.
Its methodologies were also used to help create the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing, which supports and encourages ESG reporting within the sector.
Image: J Duggan/Shutterstock
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