ESG
Contents 1. About Homes by honey 2. Our Approach 3. Our Values 4. Environmentally conscious and responsible development 5. Delivery of energy efficient homes 6. Best in class employer value proposition 7. Supporter of charities and worthy causes 8. Governed to do the right things
About Homes by honey Who we are - at a glance We’re Homes by honey – a new kind of housebuilder with big ambitions and a fresh take on what a home should be. Founded in 2022 we’re a product led Northern Housebuilder building stylish, high-quality homes across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the Midlands. As of June 2026, we’ve already secured over 32 sites to build nearly 5,000 homes and employed 135 teammates plus each day we utilise around 450 sub-contractors on our sites – and we’re just getting started! We sell homes to the private market, and we also work with local councils and housing groups to bring affordable homes to more communities through our partnerships division. Our homes give you more and are packed with thoughtful features like bi-fold doors, freestanding baths, and EV chargers as standard – because we believe great design shouldn’t be an upgrade. They include flexible, open-plan spaces that work for modern living, with a high specification, like designer kitchens with on-trend, innovative features and integrated appliances. Our homes are also designed to be more comfortable and energy efficient, with improved thermal performance, solar PV panels and EV charging capabilities as standard.
Our Approach Homes by honey – honey – was established in October 2022. honey has promised to think differently from mainstream housebuilders and to build original homes for modern living in a fresh way! We are proud to be different. We believe homes should be built for today’s lifestyles – with a unique approach to design, space and sustainability. We believe all customers should get more included as standard, with better features and higher specifications, like bi-fold doors, boutique hotel-style bathrooms and fully integrated kitchens. We believe all of our employees should see honey as a great place to work, offering a best-in-class environment, allowing them to bring their full selves to work where they are sponsored to flourish. Against that backdrop we have a commitment to always do the right things by all and to be an environmentally conscious developer who operates to the highest standards of governance. That sees us care about the homes we build and so much more. We are and always will be: • • • • • •
Environmentally conscious in all that we do; A deliverer of energy-efficient homes; A responsible developer; A business that provides a best-in-class employer value proposition for all our employees; A supporter of a range of charities and worthy causes beyond simple cash donations; and A business that is governed to do the right things.
Environmental and social responsibility have been integrated into our strategy from day one. We operate an ESG committee that has full board sponsorship with our executive team providing leadership on all initiatives. This document captures our ESG strategic themes and the progress in key areas. It begins by setting out our values which were agreed by the whole team at our inaugural company conference. Those values underpin all that we do including our ESG commitments.
Jeremy Gledhill Chief Financial Officer
Our Values
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Environmentally conscious and responsible development Being environmentally conscious We always seek to minimise and mitigate our impact on the environment. All of our developments are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny as part of the planning process. That includes consultation with the local authority to ensure that the development is constructed in a fashion that has a managed impact on the local community and environment including stipulations as to the design of our homes, impact on local amenities and transport networks, water and sewage management on the site and landscaping. In terms of biodiversity all of our developments are required and do create a measurable at least 10% gain to biodiversity, either through habitat retention, enhancement, or creation on site, or by the funding of habitat creation offsite. Creating and enhancing habitats is achieved through the implementation of landscaping and green infrastructure such as woodland meadows, swales, protected wildflower meadows and corridors. Further we provide ecological protection and enhancement by conducting surveys as well as implementing initiatives such as installing bird and bat boxes, and hedgehog holes on most developments. The next section sets out how we build energy efficient homes and manage all site waste responsibly. In addition, all of our homes are subject to water efficiency calculations, achieving on average 110 litres per person per day (lpppd), well below the industry required minimum. This has been achieved by implementing initiatives such as low-flush and dual flush toilets and low flow taps and showers.
Environmentally conscious and responsible development
Community consultation and contributions On all of our developments during our design and planning process, we aim to understand our impact on local communities, listening to feedback to ensure our developments serve their needs. We contribute to local infrastructure, services and amenities via Section 106 and CIL payments relevant to our sites – these include payments for general local authority services and specific payments for education, transport and health services. In addition, we integrate community and social infrastructure and facilities on our developments, to benefit customers and the local community. Across our portfolio of developments, we make significant contributions towards affordable housing; green spaces; community, commercial and leisure facilities and transport infrastructure. Our sites are designed to include walkable neighborhoods where customers can enjoy an active lifestyle, cycle safely, access public transport, access playgrounds and use electric vehicles.
Efficient offices and vehicles Our responsible policies also extend to our offices where we have taken actions to reduce carbon usage and manage waste responsibly. This includes sensor operated lighting, managed use of paper and printing and segregated waste recycling. In terms of our fleet of company cars, we promote the use of fully electric and hybrid vehicles by having a policy that requires all cars to have CO2 emissions of 100g/km or below.
Focus on Health and safety Our qualified in-house health and safety team provide a full suite of policies and procedures and support all of our sites with reviews and advice. This is supplemented by highlighting and advised on hot topics and via “toolbox” training sessions for all.
99% compliance rate Our unannounced site visits have demonstrated a 99% compliance rate with safe working policies and practices, and we have never had to report any items to the H&SE.
Environmentally conscious and responsible development
Customer service We have a dedicated customer service team who work with all to ensure we provide a quality experience and product to our customers. That includes a series of rigorous home quality checks before handover, a commitment to fix any and all “snags” on a timely basis and a dedicated contact point for all customers post home occupation. We test our service by participating in the HBF’s independent customer survey and are pleased to report that we are a high scoring 5* builder.
Employment on sites We conduct open and transparent tenders for all works packages awarded on our sites. These consider ability to service, quality, reputation and price. In all cases we award works to locally based sub-contractors supporting employment in the geographies in which we build.
Human rights and modern slavery We respect the human rights of employees, workers in our supply chain, customers, local communities and others affected by our business activities. We respect the rights of our employees and those working on our behaf which we support through our human resources policies and our work on issues such as health, safety and diversity. We do not tolerate any form of slavery nor forced labour and have a policy on modern slavery which all suppliers agree to as part of their appointment.
Delivery of energy efficient homes At honey we are committed to managing the carbon and energy usage in the homes that we build – both the carbon consumption in their build and the energy use in running the home thereafter. The key tenants of our strategy are: • • • •
We always build to and, in some cases, ahead of the latest building regulations that are driving lower carbon consumption in build and lower energy use thereafter. We always employ sustainable features in all the homes that we build. We recycle waste responsibly on all of our construction sites. We will move towards net zero in line with industry developments and embrace that move – our ambition would be to be in a net zero position by 2040.
Energy efficient homes The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of a dwelling has been the key metric used to steer the construction industry towards more energy efficiency in the post construction use of new dwellings. As government incrementally change the building regulations, it drives the built solutions towards lower carbon principles. In our view a fabric first solution with wide cavities, good levels of insulation to all wall, floor and roof elements along with good junction detailing to avoid unnecessary heat loss provides the basis for good energy efficiency, which is why we have adopted these features in all of our homes. In all of the homes we build we have incorporated many sustainability features– many in advance of any building regulation requirement to do so. That means: “Energy efficiency comes as standard in a new honey home. It’s why each one will be built to Future Homes Standards, meaning those built after 2025 must produce 75-80 percent less carbon emissions than a typical dwelling in the UK.” Homes are given an energy rating, or EPC with ‘A’ being the most energy efficient and ‘G’ being the least. All brand-new honey homes aspire to be ‘A’ rated, with a minimum of a high B rating – much higher than the UK average of ‘D’.
Delivery of energy efficient homes
Our entire housing range, including homes specially designed for affordable and “partnership” tenures, has been designed and tested- and all have an EPC score of 85 and above – with an average score of 91. This compares to the average UK house at 67, Energy Band D. Which means when in use they produce 75% + less Co2 than average UK home. This equates to 0.95 (tonnes/year) of CO2 emissions per home, compared to the average on existing UK homes of 3.6.
91 honey EPC rating
Sustainability features adopted in all homes •
Insulation from top to bottom, including in the roof, walls, and floors.
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High-performance glazing that draws solar heat from the sun and reflects it back into the home.
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Use of insulated doors creating warmer, more comfortable spaces and added security.
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Sound Insulation.
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Homes constructed with no gaps to retain heat, other than the designed background ventilation to create airflow.
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A Combi boiler with a gas heat recovery system further improves energy efficiency fitted in every home.
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Smart thermostat technology to easily control heating and water.
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Energy-efficient lighting throughout using LED-based technology.
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Low power demand, quiet background mechanical ventilation to create a comfortable environment.
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Roof-mounted solar panels to reduce electricity usage by generating energy during the day to use in the home or send to the grid.
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EV car charger points fitted to every home.
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Lower water consumption with maximum performance, limited flow rate products such as taps and shower heads.
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High energy-rated appliances including the oven, combi microwave, induction hob, fridge/ freezer, and dishwasher.
Delivery of energy efficient homes
Responsible waste management On all of our construction sites we seek to minimise waste consumed during the building of our homes. What waste is produced is recycled responsibly. We work with waste management partners on all of our sites which sees us operating waste management stations that segregate all waste and divert it from landfill to recycling facilities. Our target is to have 95%+ of our site waste recycled with 0% going to landfill. These metrics are monitored and reported by our independent waste management partners. Our current performance is 97% of waste is recycled and 0% is going to land fill. The above provides the detail on our approach and demonstrates our commitment which is to be a responsible home builder, building to sustainable construction methods and complying with all requirements such that we build in a carbon conscious fashion and provide sustainable homes that provide energy consumption levels that beat the industry average.
97% recycled
Best in class employer value proposition Not all new-build homes are the same – and not all homebuilders are the same to work for. Like our homes, we offer all of our team members ‘more’ as standard. We believe in working with a smarter approach. Being agile and efficient, embracing technology whether that be the right software, hardware or AI tools to provide our team members with the tools we all need to do the job. That extends to having our own in-house software engineer who works with us to build AI-enabled tools that are embedded into our day-to-day processes. We have created a strong, collaborative, and diverse team that works together and uses this technology to their advantage. This is something we’re proud of. We believe in providing a full range of benefits to all team members which has been benchmarked as best in class and includes: •
Performance bonus plan.
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Extra wellbeing cash allowance.
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Enhanced holiday provision.
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Extra birthday and milestone holidays.
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Early summer Fridays finish.
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Enhanced employer pension contributions.
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Flexible working hours.
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Health and life insurance.
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Wellbeing programmes and support.
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Great office environments with break-out and games areas.
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Personal development access.
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Active social programme.
Best in class employer value proposition
A key area we focus on is wellbeing and wellbeing support. We offer flexible working hours and family-friendly employment policies and the full private medical and life assurance cover programmes all of our staff are members of provide access to many well-being support offerings as part of the package which are accessed and used by our team. We have focused on mental health support throughout and have an engaged approach which sees us promote and support a relevant topic each month. We have also rolled out “Andys Mans Club” large signage and discussions at all sites, plus we have provided talks to our staff on mental health support and promoted the role of our Mental Health First Aiders. In addition, in our offices we provide access to stress busting massages for all staff each quarter – these have been well received.
Don’t just take our word for it - named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces! We had an independent staff survey completed by Great Places To Work (GPTW) in March 2026 which had excellent results and feedback – including a 100% score for us being a Great Place to Work. Our scores were so strong we ranked in the top 25 of SMEs nationally for staff Development and in the top 25 for all companies for Wellbeing.
Top 25 for Staff Development The UK’s Best Workplaces for Development™ List recognises companies making employee development a key part of company culture. These workplaces offer employees the chance to better themselves, to learn new skills, and to progress within the organisation. They understand that development is not one-size fits all, and they actively support every single employee to undertake their own tailored journey of growth. Because of this, their people are fueled by a sense of purpose, feel valued by their employer, and give their best to the organisation.
honey is in top 25 for Staff Development Top 25 for Wellbeing The UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing™ rankings include organisations who have succeeded in helping their employees to experience high levels of wellbeing in their workplace. To compile the prestigious list, Great Place To Work culture experts analysed thousands of employee surveys, assessing their holistic experiences of wellbeing at work through fundamental facets of employee wellbeing, including work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.
honey is in top 25 for Wellbeing
Company Culture at honey The employee experience at honey is shown below, compared to a typical company. 100% of employees at honey say it is a great place to work*, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company.
honey
100%
Typical company
54%
*Responses to the statement “Taking everything into account, I would say this is a great place to work”* vs. a typical UK company.
100% When I look at what we accomplish, I feel a sense of pride.
100%
I’m proud to tell others I work here.
100% People here are treated fairly, regardless of their sexual orientation
100%
When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.
100% Taking everything into account, I would say this is a great place to work.
Supporter of charities and worthy causes Whether it’s rolling our sleeves up to serve breakfast, tackling the 3 peaks, or simply lending a helping pair of hands, we are always up for making good things happen.
Our people help charities continue to carry out amazing work through fundraising and being actively involved with them.
The company sponsors two charities directly: •
The Archer Project, a homeless and vulnerable people’s charity based in our hometown of Sheffield.
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KidsOut which provides positive experiences for some of the UK’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children
We actively support both by providing time and resources, sponsoring events, and helping to make a difference.
Local sponsorship Plus, for each site we launch we sponsor a local sports team or good cause at a small cost with our logo being displayed. 14 teams sponsored to date.
Volunteering We operate “Your honey Volunteer Day” allowing all staff to volunteer for free to support a local cause close to them for one day a year. Plus, as support and team building events we organise DIY SOS days for worthy causes in our areas of operations.
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A Pledge provided over a 3-year period to donate significantly to the rebuild of a new centre which the Charity operates from.
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Breakfast and Lunch servings – We are supporting with breakfast and lunch servings to the homeless with support provided by our staff.
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Golf event promotion and support.
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Lead sponsors of annual ball.
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We have committed to raise money for disadvantaged children.
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Upcoming events include Annual 3 Peaks Annual Challenge – September – Sponsored event with 10 staff members participating.
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Toy Box Packing – December - Staff members to provide time packing toy boxes in a warehouse, these toy boxes were then be delivered to refuges at Christmas.
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Giving Tree initiative – December– Staff donate presents for children living in refuge.
Governed to do the right things Our governance mantra is “Do the Right Thing”. Whether that be by customers, suppliers, employees, society at large or any other stakeholder. To support our execution of doing the right thing we have a board of directors made up of executive and non-executive directors, supported by regional boards. ESG, customer service, health and safety and employee issues are on the board agenda for every meeting. We consider and assess how we keep stakeholders informed and ensure our actions are always in line with our Mantra! Some clear cornerstones under pin our approach:
Customers
Suppliers
We have a customer service charter which sets out our customers journey – that sees us have a 100% commitment to customer service with clear standards of operation at every part of that journey.
We have a clear suite of policies covering key risk areas including anti-bribery and corruption policies and modern slavery policies which are monitored.
We have a rigorous Homes Quality Inspection regime prior to the handover of a plot – no pass = no handover. We also fix “snags” in a timely and responsible fashion. We are independently scored by the HBF customer service survey and are ranked as a 5* builder.
Every works package on every site is tendered to a number of parties with clear comparisons being made, and each appointment is approved by an executive director. We also have clear and unambiguous terms and conditions with our suppliers which we communicate at the tender stage and we then stick to, we pride ourselves on paying suppliers on time. We assess every supplier’s past record and history and seek to work with suppliers who also do the right things.
Employees We have set out our best-inclass employer value proposition. We also operate clear employment policies covering all areas. These are documented in and accessible to all employees via a staff handbook. Included are anti-harassment policies, anti-bullying policies, well-being policies and a clear whistle blowing policy. We operate in an industry with heightened health and safety risk and employ an in-house H&S team to ensure we remain compliant and risk managed in all areas. We have had no incidents during our history that have required reporting to the H&SE. The business has set D&I targets for 2026 to 2030 and is well on the way to achieving those.
Central (Sheffield) Office Third Floor 197 Wards Exchange Ecclesall Road Sheffield S11 8HW
Yorkshire (Leeds) Office Lumina Park Approach Thorpe Park Leeds LS15 8GB
0114 3991009
0113 457 3811