Foundations magazine - Issue 29

Nature on Your Doorstep A look at the RSPB’s new website, the importance of creating green spaces and how you can turn your patch into a wildlife haven Page 26

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wildlife-friendly garden ideas for you to try

Looking back on the past year

Promoting Inclusion Meet the team We hear from our and Diversity

Hear from colleagues across the business about how they’ve managed in the past year

Find out how our Connect groups have helped to support employees

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Page 11

2019 National Team Customer First Employee Recognition Award winners

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Issue 29 Summer 2021

Welcome to issue 29 I firstly want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication over the past twelve months. After the unprecedented challenges that COVID-19 has presented, I’ve been proud of how our colleagues have continued to deliver day in and day out.

With your incredible efficiency, resilience and flexibility, the business has rebounded strongly and we’ve delivered some excellent operational and financial results. We have made brilliant progress this year, including the recovery of completion volumes, which is ahead of our previous guidance and saw us deliver 17,243 home completions this year (including JVs).

We have strong foundations for FY22 with total forward sales including JVs at £3.5bn. This positions us well for this year and will allow us to focus on our medium term targets, including delivering 20,000 homes a year.

We remain committed to leading the future of housebuilding by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do, and this was demonstrated once again as we became the only major housebuilder to be awarded the HBF’s maximum 5 Star customer satisfaction rating for the 12th year in a row. We are also incredibly proud of our site managers, who excelled again this year with 93 NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, more than any other housebuilder for the 17th consecutive year, and we celebrate our winners in this issue.

Looking after the physical and mental health and safety of our employees, sub-contractors, suppliers and our customers remains a key priority. We must all continue to keep health and safety front of mind, and follow the policies and protocols we have across the business to ensure we can continue to build and sell safely. We regularly share health and wellbeing updates, and given the unprecedented year we’ve all had, please have a look in this issue at the how to access the support and advice that you may need.

Earlier this year we launched The Barratt Charitable Foundation as part of our ongoing commitment to lead the industry in our approach to charitable giving and social responsibility. The Foundation draws together all of our charitable work underneath one single body, helping to improve the way we work in our communities and with those in need. You’ll find details of the changes to our existing charity initiatives in this issue.

Our people are key to our success, which is why we celebrate colleagues and their efforts through our employee recognition scheme. In Meet the Team, we speak to the 2019 annual team award winners to find out why they won their award and what the recognition meant to them. We also hear from our new Group HR Director, Nick Worrall, in The Big Interview, to find out his priorities.

We hear about the latest Workforce Forum meeting and remind colleagues how to get in touch with members. We celebrate our long service employees and hear from a couple of colleagues about their time at Barratt, we look at our 2019 Aspire graduates' legacy project, and how they’re encouraging young people into the sector.

As the new ombudsman and consumer code come into effect this year, we look at the steps we’ll be taking to continue leading the industry and setting ourselves apart from our competitors, by doing what’s right for our customers.

Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you again for your continued dedication and commitment which has played a vital role in our success this year, and we can look ahead to FY22 with confidence.

David Thomas

Chief Executive

2 / Welcome WELCOME to TO issue ISSUE 29

FOUNDATIONS FOUNDATIONS

Editorial team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Rob Chilton Urban Designer, GSC Rachel Clare Planner, Mercia Emma Evans Trainee Land Buyer, West Midlands Zoe Griffin Senior Communications Executive, GSC

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Katy Hamid Head of Employee Communications, GSC Tosin Kenogbon Technical graduate, Bristol Abigail Kinsey Land and Planning graduate, Mercia Anna Nichols Finance graduate, Southampton

Contents 2 4/5 6

Welcome To Foundations issue 29

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Projects roundup A tour of our latest developments and the new communities we’re creating

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Improving customers' rights Details about the new ombudsman and consumer code, the changes happening in our business and why it’s more important than ever to do the right thing

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Building Sustainably How we’re trying to become the leading national sustainable housebuilder and the role you play

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An update from the Workforce Forum We find out about their latest meeting and include details of how you can get in touch with them

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Looking back on the past year We hear from colleagues across the business about how they’ve managed in the past year

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Looking after our people Find out more about our new My Barratt Benefits platform and how we’re supporting colleagues' health and wellbeing

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Celebrating our 500,000th home The results from our 500K housetype competition and look at Barratt through the ages

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Celebrating Pride in the Job We celebrate our 93 award winning site managers and you can hear what winning the award means to them

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Promoting Inclusion and Diversity Find out how our Connect groups have helped to support employees

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Supporting charities and communities A reminder about the new Barratt Foundation and details of the changes to our Group-wide charity initiatives

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The Big Interview We speak to our new Group HR Director, Nick Worrall, and hear about his priorities

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Celebrating long service Hear from some of our colleagues and see who has celebrated in the past six months

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Nature on Your Doorstep A look at the RSPB’s new website, the importance of creating green spaces and how you can turn your patch into a wildlife haven

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Team Golden Bricks We find out about the Golden Bricks 2019 legacy project and how they’re encouraging young people into the sector

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Delighting our customers We hear from a couple of our customers and find out how they’ve found their dream homes on our developments

Meet the Team We hear from our 2019 National Team Customer First Employee Recognition Award winners

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And finally Caption competition, prize crossword plus share your views

Improving our ways of working We share details of the business change projects taking place throughout Barratt

What’s new?

News from around the business Keeping colleagues safe We take a look at some of the health and safety measures in place across our offices to keep people safe

CONTENTS / 3

What’s new?

5 star for 12 years in a row Earlier this year we were proud to share we had been awarded the Home Builders Federation (HBF) 5 Star Home Builder status for the 12th year in a row.

5 Star status means that more than 90% of our customers who responded to the national customer satisfaction survey have said that they would ‘recommend us to a friend’. The HBF Customer Satisfaction Survey was established in 2005 to encourage excellent levels of service and improve standards of housebuilding. The number of stars awarded is based on responses to the question "would you recommend your builder to a friend?" and to achieve the 5 Star rating, over 90% of our customers have answered 'yes' to this question.

This high level of satisfaction comes from our focus on quality, design and customer service where we continue to be industry leading. We are the only national housebuilder to have achieved this for 12 consecutive years, and is a real testament to the strength of the business, particularly in the challenging year we have had.

Building a great place to work We know Barratt Developments is a great place to work – we have talented people, we put our customers at the heart of everything we do and set ourselves high standards, every day, as we lead the industry forward. However, we want to continue to improve as an employer, which is why we’re asking our employees to give their feedback on Glassdoor to help us achieve this.

Glassdoor is one of the world’s largest recruitment and employer brand websites, which give employees the chance to leave anonymous reviews about a company and what it is like to work there. It has become the TripAdvisor or TrustPilot for employers.

We are currently ranked as 4.6 out of 5 stars, and all the feedback we receive from Glassdoor, whether it’s positive or not, can help us to aim even higher. So if you have five

minutes to spare, head over to Glassdoor where you’ll be asked your views on the pros and cons of working for Barratt, including whether you would Share your recommend us as an employer, and review today to rate our careers opportunities, benefits, culture and values, the leadership and work/life balance.

Plotting Books The Barratt 2016 and DWH-7 Plotting Books have been updated to include new guidance to assist our divisions in making the most efficient use of the land, maximising profitability and creating high quality developments in line with our Great Places priority.

best practice. They are easy to navigate via a new, interactive contents page. They can be accessed and downloaded on Docushare.

The documents include a large selection of photographs and layout extracts to highlight great placemaking, as well as efficient plotting examples produced to demonstrate

Updates to the Scottish Plotting Books are currently in progress, in line with changes to the Caledonia and Alba ranges.

4 / WHAT'S NEW?

FOUNDATIONS

New pension scheme with Scottish Widows Master Trust We always look for ways to improve and enhance the benefits available to employees, which is why in June we were pleased to launch the new Barratt Developments PLC Pension Scheme, provided by the Scottish Widows Master Trust.

The changes to the Company Pension Scheme offer colleagues more choice, support and guidance on their pensions. Some of the benefits that are available to members include:

A reduction in annual member charges

An enhanced member experience

Ability to access the full range of retirement options

A wider range of investment options

Offering members expert knowledge and support through the high quality Scottish Widows’ administration service

2021 Special Share Award

We ran a series of webinars with Scottish Widows to help you understand the changes we're making to the Barratt pension schemes and to find out more about the Scottish Widows Master Trust.

For more information such as useful guides, tools and resources, members can visit Scottish Widows dedicated infosite or if you have any questions, you can call the Scottish Widows member helpline on 0800 085 4993.

Visit the dedicated infosite today

New benefits and retail discount platforms launching soon!

In September we'll be launching a new My Barratt Benefits platform as part of our commitment to improve our reward and recognition packages.

We recognise that the past few months have been difficult for everyone, and wanted to thank our employees for their continued hard work and support throughout the coronavirus pandemic which is why we granted an award of shares worth £1,250 to full time employees (pro-rated for part time employees) in July.

The award was be made to all employees at Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 inclusive (i.e. up to and including divisional director level), whether monthly or weekly paid, who were employed

by Barratt on 1 July 2021. The only condition associated with the shares is that employees will normally need to stay with the company for two years from the point the award is made.

The new platform has a fresh and modern design, incorporating colleagues’ feedback to make it easier to use and navigate around. With quick and easy access onto the platform, you’ll be able to see information and benefits tailored to you.

And our new retail discounts provider offers more immediate shopping discounts, meaning you can save more by being a Barratt employee, as well as being able to access offers through the dedicated app.

Everyone who is eligible for the award should have received an email from barratt@howells-associates.com, so make sure you log on to the Share Plans Portal and accept the award by 5pm on Thursday 30 September.

Deadline to accept 30 September

WHAT'S NEW? / 5

Keeping colleagues safe Health and safety continues to be one of our core values, and we’ve kept this front of mind throughout our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ll be publishing a Hybrid Working Support Guide, which will be available on our benefits platform and on Our Place, to remind us of the importance of a dedicated home work space as colleagues divide their time between the office, home and site.

Some key tips to remember are:

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create a comfortable space, separate from where you sleep and relax.

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nsure you have a comfortable chair and an un-cluttered worksurface where your equipment is set up.

Where possible raise your screen so that the top is at eye level.

(Don’t forget to visit our new benefits platform to find out how you can claim your free eye test).

Where possible adjust your chair height so that your arms are at right angles and make sure your lower back is supported.

Sitting close to a window which gets plenty of natural sunlight can help with mental health and productivity.

At the end of the day, closing the door and leaving the work space physically, will help with the mental transition between work and home.

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Darren Broderick, onstruction Support anager and Health and Wellbeing hampion at ercia, has been driving changes both on site and in the divisional office.

He highlights the importance of health, safety and wellbeing during this time of transition: “You may feel or behave differently to people you work with and vice versa, so it’s important to be respectful and to take care of your mind as well as your body.

While working from home or in the office, find your own routine, but also connect with your colleagues. Give them a call on eams to break up your day.”

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As the office capacity limit increases, we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable to return safely to their desks as part of our new hybrid working approach. SHe officers and H&S colleagues have been working behind the scenes to enhance the safety protocols across the country, including improving air conditioning in offices to aid ventilation, additional cleaning, and the presence of cleaning materials at every turn.

While our constructions teams have implemented a number of coVIDsecure measures over the past year, with some of these remaining in place including enhanced cleaning of facilities, everyone’s awareness of health and safety has become even more vital to the running of our business. this is just as important for home and office working.

We put measures in place to keep our colleagues, subcontractors, suppliers and customers safe during this time, and as some of us begin a phased return to the offices, we want to reassure you of the measures we have in place, and encourage the safest ways to work from home too.

Don’t forget to complete your workstation assessment whether you’re working in the office or at home.

FOUNDATIONS

Building Sustainably We are determined to be the leading national sustainable housebuilder, and many teams across the business are constantly looking at initiatives to help us do this. Find out about what they’ve been up to below and be inspired to make some changes in your own habits and routines.

Sustainable sourcing As part of our ambition to support the elimination of deforestation and degradation of forests we have been closely tracking where our timber comes from, to ensure we only source certified sustainable timber.

Our latest annual timber survey, covering Group suppliers, BD Living, subcontractor fencing timber and for the first time Oregon Timber Frame, shows that 98.94% of our supply is certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) standards. These are the certification systems for forest management and conservation, ensuring that that our timber is sourced responsibly.

However, we’re not stopping there and we’ll continue working with our timber suppliers to achieve 100%!

How you can be kinder to the planet With a number of renewable energy suppliers out there, you can power your home using 100% green tariffs and you could also save yourself some money. Thanks to our “I’ve switched which partnership with Big Clean will save me around Switch, you can compare the £125 each year, costs and see how much you which is more than I can save quickly and easily. It was expecting!” takes less than five minutes to Surveyor switch, plus as a Barratt employee you’ll also get £35 credit!

Leaders in our sector Our recent results in key sustainability benchmarks are testament to the exceptional collaborative teamwork across the business and have given us confidence that we’re moving in the right direction.

We are currently the highest scoring national housebuilder in the NextGeneration benchmark, the only sustainability benchmark that focuses solely on housebuilders. The Tortoise Responsibility Index is a ranking of environmental leadership and crucially provides ‘walk’ and ‘talk’ scores to ensure companies are delivering the actions they have promised to take.

Overall we increased our ranking amongst other FTSE 100 companies from 22nd to 11th in April 2021.

Powering our business through renewables Did you know that diesel makes up 60% of our operational carbon emissions, 76% of which comes from telehandlers? As part of our efforts to reduce diesel on site we are trialling hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to fuel telehandlers in our Mercia division, and we hope to extend this. HVO is much better for the environment as it is not a fossil fuel, and therefore could, if successful, significantly help us meet our carbon targets. In addition, electric and hybrid vehicles were introduced into our company fleet in September 2020. To date, this has led to a fantastic 25% reduction of internal combustion engine vehicles chosen!

Reducing plastics and packaging With construction the second largest producer of single use plastics in the UK, beaten only by the packaging industry, we're putting initiatives in place to reduce our usage.

We are conducting packaging trials with our leading brick, block and insulation suppliers to reduce our use of shrink-wrap, as well as minimising the thickness of our packaging, which will reduce the weight of any plastic they do use by around half.

We are also working with other housebuilders to research packaging waste at its manufacturing and supply source, supported by Zero Waste Scotland and Valpak.

We’re no longer wrapping timber I-beams in plastic during the summer months.

We no longer use balloons or plastic bags as part of our sales and marketing, and have sourced ecologically compatible and recyclable pens, with close to 100% from either reused or recycled products.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLY / 7

Looking back on the past year The past year has presented us all with a range of challenges, from being stuck in the same four walls, to not being able to see friends and family, to having to adapt to a range of new measures we'd never have considered before.

We take a look back with colleagues to hear how they’ve found the past 18 months, some of the challenges they’ve faced, what’s kept them going and how the business has supported them.

Wayne Prince Head of IT Operations, Group IT When we first started to hear about COVID, we quickly starting looking at the impact this could have on the business, and how we could continue to provide IT support and also ensure people could continue to work.

One of the key things we had to do quickly was to secure a vast number of laptops to enable people to work remotely, which wasn’t easy as we were just one company amongst

thousands who were trying to do the same thing! Once we’d successfully secured all the laptops, the fun part began – building them. It involved myself and several of the IT team spending several long days (and nights) building more than 1,000 laptops around the clock, and then the team doing multiple journeys to divisions with vehicles full of laptops.

Building laptops was just one of the many challenges we had to overcome when the pandemic hit. We also had to increase the network capacity and deploy a new VPN so we could cater for the increase of people working remotely, and accelerated the

Linda Gollop, PA to Construction Director, BDW South Wales I can’t say that I’ve really struggled with the intermittent lockdowns over the past year, or even struggled with working from home. For me, the whole experience has been mostly positive. I suppose the worst thing about working from home is the interaction and collaboration with your colleagues. Teams is a great platform which has allowed us to continue having meetings, but for me, there is nothing quite like seeing people in person – you can get a better idea of how people are feeling and gauge their reactions more readily. I think the company responded quickly to the challenges we faced when we first went into lockdown and provided us with the tools to be able to still work effectively. I’m looking forward to mixing up working from home and working in the office – for me this creates the perfect mix and I’m glad the company are supporting this structure going forward.

8 / LOOKING BACK ON THE PAST YEAR

Tim Roy, Solutions Architect, Group IT has been kept company with his co-worker Minty.

deployment of Microsoft Teams as a key way for people to communicate.

All these challenges stretched the team significantly but what remained true and consistent throughout was an amazing team work ethic, a togetherness and spirit to help each other and consistently go above and beyond to ensure all our users felt supported at all times.

During this most challenging time I have never been more proud to work with this team, they truly are an amazing group of people and have shown how much they truly live and breathe the Barratt values.

Debbie Pashley, Office Administrator in Group Finance got married on 20 March 2020, just before the lockdown was announced! Although they had to reduce the number of guests allowed in the room, they wouldn’t change a thing as it was such a magical day!

FOUNDATIONS

The GSC team at Bardon

have been kept entertained with a variety of lockdown social events via Teams, including a Halloween Generation Game, quizzes for Christmas and St Patrick’s Day, and a massively successful game of Bingo!

Donations were made to charity as well as prizes being awarded to the winners. Special thanks to Tiffany Bucko and Carol Wardle for hosting!

Stefanie Taylor, Future Talent Coordinator & Sally Bradbery, Group Resourcing Manager, Group HR During the last 12 months and the changes brought by COVID has meant that studies for our students at Sheffield Hallam University have continued virtually.

Two of our cohorts were working towards completion of a qualification during this time.

In June, 33 students received their results for the Cert HE Professional Practice in Residential Development and Construction or Quantity Surveying. These students are currently completing assessments for the achievement of their Higher Apprenticeship, before continuing onto the BSc (Hons) degree in January 2022.

Additionally, 11 students have now completed their BSc (Hons) degree in Residential Development and Construction, and are awaiting their graduation. These are fantastic results and we are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication these students have shown, completing their studies alongside full time roles.

Owen Tebbatt, Apprentice – Bricklayer, East Midlands When the first lockdown happened, there was a few nerves over what would happen next and how things would be in the future. When I was on furlough, I was glad the company kept me informed about what was happening with regular communications. I also heard from college regularly and they kept us updated on when our tests would be.

Throughout all of this, I’ve made an effort to look after my health and wellbeing. I’ve kept myself busy, with social life on FaceTime, working in the garden, exercising with gym equipment and helping with the shopping, to get some fresh air and different scenery.

Harminder Gill, Purchase Ledger Clerk, BDW Mercia When we made the initial move to working from home, and through the first lockdown, I found it very, very difficult because of the transition from working primarily on paper, to entirely digital. I also really missed the banter of the office.

Now, I have got used to the new systems of working but until recently, I was reluctant to go into the office.

I was concerned about COVID safety, sanitisation, hot desking and wanted to know it would be safe. I’ve been coming back into the office for a couple of months now and mentally I feel in a really good place.

I have a good balance, and the opportunity to work from home for a few days and come into the office to see colleagues made a big difference for me.

On a personal note, I hadn’t seen my twin for such a long time and finally visited her on the weekend! To have summer plans, from simple things to my If you want to son’s friend’s wedding, I am share your thoughts definitely looking forward to looking back on the past year, normality!

or maybe something that you’re looking forward to, email employee.communication@ barrattplc.co.uk

Alex Northcott, IT Change Manager, in Group IT put on driveway concerts with her band over the summer to help keep spirits up in local villages

LOOKING BACK ON THE PAST YEAR / 9

Celebrating our 500,000th home

This year we celebrated completing our 500,000th home, and over the years we’ve not only built homes but helped to create communities. Since 1958, Barratt has evolved into a nationwide housebuilder, known for our outstanding quality and customer service, with tailored schemes spanning from Aberdeen through to Exeter. Reaching this incredible landmark provided many opportunities for celebration and we thank everyone who has contributed towards making this possible.

1960s

Whether you’re a dedicated Maidstone fan or a Holden enthusiast, you most likely have a favourite house from the Barratt and David Wilson housetypes, and this was clear in our recent Barratt 500K Housetype Competition, voted by our employees. With a 35% lead, the winner was the classic David Wilson Homes house, the Winstone, a favourite housetype for over two decades. Read more about the shortlisted housetypes in our previous Foundations issue.

Our 500K celebrations continued with a special share award for employees, the Barratt 500K Giveaway and the completion of the Million Makers’ 500K Challenge. The 500K Giveaway saw the launch of the Barratt Charitable Foundation, with donations to ten charities totalling £500,000. Whilst the 500K Challenge, hosted by the ASPIRE 2019 graduate cohort, encouraged all employees to complete 500,000m to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust.

Congratulations to our Kent division for the highest fundraising amount and distance completed and to all employees who helped to cover 41,712,000m!

Through the Decades

TIMELINE

2020s

As we look back on the previous 63 years and the achievement of building 500,000 homes, we can also highlight the versatility of the Barratt brand with these key events through the decades:

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s The development of the 103-bedroom Swallow Hotel in Gateshead.

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s Debut of the Barratt Helicopter in TV adverts and development of the oak leaf logo, now synonymous with the Barratt brand.

1980

s The expansion of Barratt Developments to include Barratt London and Barratt America.

1990s The welcoming of Diana, Princess of Wales at St Peter’s Marina Village.

2000

s Welcoming David Wilson Homes, Wilson Bowden Developments and Ward Homes into the business.

2010

s The 60th anniversary of Barratt Developments, the launch of our partnership with wildlife charity RSPB and welcoming Oregon Timber Frame to Barratt.

2020

s The completion of our 500,000th home and our dedicated support to NHS charities and St John Ambulance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

More information on the history of Barratt can be found in our interactive timeline Barratt Through the Decades and video.

10 / CELEBRATING OUR 500,000TH HOME

FOUNDATIONS

Promoting Inclusion and Diversity Inclusion and Diversity remains an important topic at Barratt and since their launch during the first lockdown in 2020, our Connect groups have helped to support colleagues across the business.

Connect Connect is a collection of employee networks, built around bringing together under-represented demographics across Barratt. With the use of Teams, colleagues are able to unite and support ‘Diverse Minority’ groups across the organisation.

Creating these networks allows colleagues in different parts of the business to freely discuss the topical issues facing them and support each other within a safe and accepting environment.

We find out more about our employee networks and their focus areas, see why they’ve attracted members from a wide variety of roles across the business, from MDs to colleagues on site, and hear what it means to be part of the groups.

Under One Roof

Barratt Connect

Under One Roof was our first employee network set up in 2019, focusing on gender equality and can be joined by anyone who wants to support this vital area at Barratt.

There are currently more than 80 members and the network runs a number of competitions, awareness campaigns, and webinars.

Barratt Connect is an informal platform for those who are feeling isolated in their current homeworking situation. The group meets once a month, and is kept as an informal drop in.

Members frequently report on the chat that it improves their wellbeing and makes them feel listened to.

Barratt Parent Connect

LGBTQ+

The Parent Connect group meet monthly and discuss a range of topics from schooling and COVID-19 to recommended Ted talks and support for new parents.

Parents can also share pictures from special occasions with the group. The most recent event focused on parent mental health.

Established in 2020, the Connect LGBTQ+ network aims to better support our employees to bring their whole selves to work. This furthers our commitment in putting people first and celebrating our differences as an asset. The network is inclusive of both LGBTQ+ employees and allies alike, with one member of the network commenting:

We hear from two members of the parent group: “ It’s good to know that other colleagues out there have similar issues, especially during COVID, that we can all relate to (even if you have a toddler or teenager).” “ Great to drop in and talk to someone different and knowing we support each other. Not just a focus on COVID, but also an understanding of how we can all adapt going forward out of lockdown and support parents as a whole.“

“ As a straight cis person I feel very grateful and humbled to be allowed to be part of your group. It’s important to me personally to learn and understand how the Company and myself could make the workplace (and everyday life) more inclusive and what issues the LGBTQ+ community are facing that I never knew or thought about. From my point of view it’s educational and humbling in many ways. The group also provides a unique opportunity to see what different divisions are doing in terms of inclusion and ideas of how good practices could be adapted to different departments and divisions.”

As a direct result of the network members’ efforts so far, we have inspired and supported a number of our people to be their best selves at work. We’re actively working with employees to improve our familyfriendly policies and have recently supported the transition of a transgender colleague.

Connect LGBTQ+ aims to provide a platform for the business to keep up to date with the emergent needs of our employees and vice versa, to create a culture where diverse employees can find comfort and inclusion at work.

Visit the Inclusion and Diversity hub on Our Place, or speak to our Diversity and Inclusion Managers Becky Nicholls and Jo Clay, to find out more about our employee networks and how to join.

PROMOTING INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY / 11

Biography Barratt Developments Group HR Director (2021 – present) Countryside Group Chief People Officer (2014 – 2021) Brighthouse HR Director (2011-2014) British Gas HR Director (2009-2010) National Grid UK HR Director (2005-2009) As measures ease, what are you most looking forward to doing this summer?

Going to live sport, live theatre and live music again, I’ve missed all of them.

What holiday destination are you eager to get to?

I’m really keen to get to New Zealand, it’s definitely on the bucket list. I’ve been to Oz but never NZ, maybe I’ll make it for the next Lions tour.

What do you like to do to relax?

Watch sport, footie, cricket, F1, rugby, probably in that order. I’m a Man City season ticket holder, so have suffered for my cause for decades, but am now officially living the dream!

What is one thing people won't know about you?

I once shared a stage with Stavros Flatley from the X Factor!

12 / THE BIG INTERVIEW NICK WORRALL

Everyone I’ve met has a real passion for what they do, Going to live sport, live theatre and live music and a pride in again, I’ve missed all of them. working for the What holiday destination are you eager to get to? business.

As measures ease, what are you most looking forward to doing this summer?

I’m really keen to get to New Zealand, it’s definitely on the bucket list. I’ve been to Oz but never NZ, maybe I’ll make it for the next Lions tour.

What do you like to do to relax?

Watch sport, footie, cricket, F1, rugby, probably in that order. I’m a Man City season ticket holder, so have suffered for my cause for decades, but am now officially living the dream!.

A surprising fact about yourself I once shared a stage with Stavros Flatley from the X Factor!

FOUNDATIONS

The Big Interview Nick Worrall We hear from our Group HR Director, Nick Worrall, who joined the business in January to find out what it was like joining the business during a pandemic and to understand his key priorities in the role.

How have your found changing jobs at such a strange time?

‘Strange’ is the word. I’ve been blown away by how welcoming everyone has been, giving me time and really useful input on what they do and where they fit in. I can’t wait though to really get out and about and see people face to face, it’s pretty important in the job I do!

What attracted you to the construction industry?

I came from another housebuilder, so when Barratt approached me, it was a no-brainer to join the industry leader. As the UK’s largest housebuilder, I’ve always been impressed by Barratt’s high standards for quality and customer service, it really helps to set us apart in the sector.

I’ve now had a great seven years in housebuilding, and what I love most about this sector is the passion for creating great products, and the pride in delivering great results.

What are your key aims at Barratt?

I truly believe that the people are key to the success of a business, and that’s clear throughout Barratt.

There’s some great foundations in place already across the business, and my aim is to drive the people agenda throughout the organisation, and ensure that everyone at every level sees the value that all of our people bring.

It’s also crucial that we continue to identify and develop talent at all levels, an area that’s proven very successful over the years at Barratt.

I also want to make a real shift in our Inclusion and Diversity agenda, this is such a key focus for our business and the wider sector, and it’s important that we continue to lead the industry on this.

We also need to ensure there is a focus on people’s health and wellbeing, particularly mental health. This has never been more important given everything we’ve all been through in the past year, and as many of our colleagues change their ways of working with the introduction of hybrid working, this will continue to be vital for the business.

What does an average day look like for you?

Well so far in Barratt it’s been pretty exclusively Teams-based, which I’m sure many people can relate to.

As measures across the country have eased in recent months, I’ve been in to Kent House and Bardon several times, which has been good to have a change of scenery and meet many colleagues face to face.

What have you enjoyed most about your role so far?

Meeting as many people in the business as I have, albeit remotely, who have all just wanted to do the best possible job they can.

Everyone I’ve met has a real passion for what they do, and a pride in working for the business, and it means that we all want to do a great job for the customer, the company and for themselves.

How would you describe your role to someone who knows nothing about our business or HR? It’s a people business, we have so many interactions with people on a day to day basis. Our colleagues help customers to make the biggest purchase of their lives, and we know the best way of delighting our customers is to deliver high quality new homes and provide excellent service.

In HR, we play an important role in supporting the business to grow by helping identify, recruit, retain and develop talent at all levels.

We also need to be as hands on and as visible as we can be, especially in a pandemic, and supporting people throughout the business in the best way possible.

Most of my day is spent in meetings with other members of the executive team, external suppliers (recruiters, consultants, legal advisors etc.) and other members of the HR team.

THE BIG INTERVIEW NICK WORRALL / 13

We have been speaking with some of our employees who have hit Long Service milestones between January and June 2021 to find out what has kept them with the company for so long and share some of their highlights over the years.

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Ann-Marie Doonan, Receptionist, GSC What has kept you at Barratt for this amount of time?

It’s a friendly environment and I have got to know a lot of people over the years, both employees and customers.

Forming friendships has been incredible, and I’ve kept in touch with people even once they have moved on.

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Scott Pratt Graeme Christie David Scott Lynn Booth Ashlea Shackler Wright Paul Robson Neil Milburn Paul Armstrong Barry Butler Dean Bradley Sharon Holmes Wayne Shaw Shaun Gallagher Racheal Smith Mark Nicolson Alison Reading Amadou Keita Kevin Ashcroft Janet Jenkins David Jones Michael Thomas Colin Akers Justin Satchwell Karen Ingram Stephen Dudley Neil Saville Louise Wells Karen Phelps Stephen Wright Lee Chapman

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In each issue of Foundations we recognise those who have reached a 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years’ long service milestone over the last six months. Congratulations and thank you to all of you who reached a milestone between January and June 2021.

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One of the standout moments was meeting Sir Lawrie Barratt, I was the Site Manager on a development off of Fleet Street in London. It was a scheduled visit but there had been delays during the day and he and I ended up walking the development together. He was someone whose values I respected and I feel privileged to have met him.

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I have to say that I am someone who likes a challenge from time to time and I have certainly had many pass my way during my time at Barratt. I have taken secondments in the operational business to support the Divisional Commercial teams and then returning to a Group role on more than one occasion. I have also worked with some very inspirational people over the years on different projects and the recognition awards that I have received have given me the encouragement to go further.

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What has kept you at Barratt for this amount of time?

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Celebrating long service

Our long service awards celebrate and reward employees who have shown loyalty and commitment to our business. We recognise colleagues locally from five years onwards with a cash reward as well as a certificate and letter at five yearly intervals. For those achieving 20 years and more they also receive an invitation to our (normally) annual Long Service Celebration Dinner.

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FOUNDATIONS

Team Golden Bricks The Golden Bricks 2019 team had tremendous success with their fundraising this year, through individual feats and the popular 500K Challenge which took place in January. Despite the challenges faced by all due to COVID-19, the team beat the odds and raised a total of £200,000 for The Prince’s Trust, and this would not have been possible without so many colleagues across the business taking part.

Alongside their fundraising efforts, the 2019 ASPIRE graduates have created a Legacy Project ‘Building Beginnings’, which is an Apprenticeship Careers Workshop for secondary school students aged 14-16. Recognising the growing skills shortage in the construction industry, they wanted to create a project that contributes to Barratt’s ongoing efforts to encourage young people into the sector, and what better way than giving students direct insight to the diverse career opportunities they can strive for via our Apprenticeship Programmes?

Alongside our Technical and Commercial Apprenticeship Programmes, there are opportunities to join our Trades Programme.

Working closely with the Home Builders Federation and key personnel from other major housebuilders, the team have not only created a Barratt-specific workshop, but

have contributed to an industry-wide version that other businesses can use. Of course, and as with everything this past year, COVID-19 had a role to play in the making of this project. The pandemic is predicted to have a huge impact on youth unemployment, so it was vital that the team adapt their project into a virtual package to be launched without delay.

The workshop is engaging and interactive, including insight videos, CV skills sessions, quizzes, and work experience activities directly relating to Barratt’s existing Apprenticeship Schemes. Key speakers were streamed live to classrooms via Teams in two successful pilot trials earlier this year, giving students a real taste of how we are embracing the new virtual way of working.

The feedback was all positive from pupils at Hagley High School:

‘ I enjoyed learning about how important construction is to the economy and about how to write a good CV.’

‘ There is far more to construction than most people realise and it is full of opportunities.’

The Apprenticeship Careers Workshop will be adopted by the Talent Team and used regularly with schools across the country to keep our talent pool growing.

TEAM GOLDEN BRICKS / 15

Meet the team: Customer First Employee Recognition award winners We understand how important it is to recognise employees hard work and dedication, and through our Customer First Employee Recognition Scheme, behaviour as well as results are celebrated for both teams and individuals.

The scheme acknowledges colleagues at a local level on a quarterly basis as well as having annual awards, with a range of categories including Sales Advisor of the Year, Individual and Team Excellence. It is open to all employees, including weekly and monthly paid, plus site and office-based individuals and teams, and anyone can nominate a colleague.

In addition to the formal awards, Instant Recognition is a great way for managers to recognise their employees for a job well done on an ad-hoc and impromptu basis.

This could be in the form of gift vouchers or a small gift for example, and can be at the value between £50-£100.

We spoke to 2019 National Team Excellence Award winners from our Yorkshire East division to find out more about the award they won, to hear what they’re working on now, and what the recognition meant to them.

The Kingsley Meadows Show Home Delivery Team won the national award in 2019, can you tell us a little bit more about this project and why you won the award?

All: After we’d started work on the Kingsley Meadows development in Harrogate in 2019, we were tasked with building and launching the two show home arenas in eight weeks. The Group Board were coming for a visit to meet colleagues and see the new development, so we had to make sure we completed before this deadline, while ensuring our high standards were met.

Were there any particular challenges or elements that made the project special or different?

All: As most people across the business will know, especially with a deadline like this, planning is key. We had to work closely with trades, materials and services to ensure they arrived exactly when required, as we couldn’t afford any delays if we were to meet the eight week deadline.

What did it mean to receive the recognition?

All: We all felt delighted and honoured to be recognised by management at a national level. It was a real feat to get this across the line, but we were all so proud when we hosted the Board visit. And it just shows that your hard work on a day to day basis doesn’t go unnoticed.

16 / MEET THE TEAM

What are you all working on at the moment?

All: We’re finishing the last 15 plots at Kingsley Meadows, then we’ll be moving onto our next development.

What do you enjoy most about working at Barratt?

Ricky: I’ve worked at Barratt for the last ten years and have progressed from apprentice to Site Manager. I enjoy working on site with all different types of people, who respect each other and want others to succeed. Everyday is a learning curve and you’re always supported at Barratt which makes it a great place to work.

Find out more about our employee recognition scheme on Docushare, including how you can nominate colleagues, plus find out how managers can recognise their teams for a job well done on an ad-hoc basis with Instant Recognition.

FOUNDATIONS

Improving our ways of working Our Business Change Project teams are continually looking at how we can improve our ways of working, to help streamline our processes and make colleagues’ lives easier.

Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365) continues to evolve, with new features such as Teams Rooms, which allows you to use the large TV or other AV equipment in a meeting room for your Teams meetings. Microsoft also makes changes to the look and feel of the system following user feedback – you may have noticed the layout changing for Teams calls, or when sharing your screen with others.

A series of updates and guides was published during “Teams Week” in May. You can find the videos and other materials here: https://bdwcloud.sharepoint.com/sites/ BusinessChangeProjects/Teams Week/Forms/ AllItems.aspx.

While Teams is the most obvious feature of Microsoft 365, there are several other tools that will become more familiar over the next few months. Did you know that you can use Microsoft Forms instead of SurveyMonkey? Or that there is a project planning tool called Planner? Some colleagues have also discovered the power of OneNote, a notetaking app that synchronises across all your Barratt devices automatically.

All these new apps are available to use now and may be found by going to https://myapplications.microsoft.com.

COINS BoQ Update The COINS BoQ solution is now available to all divisions. Eight of our divisions are now using COINS BoQ as part of their business as usual activities, and the remaining divisions will continue to work with Project Team and the Group Surveying Managers to setup new sites on COINS BoQ and work through a controlled transition of existing sites from iCom’s to COINS BoQ. To date over 40 sites have been transitioned from iCom’s to COINS BoQ and approximately 300 Surveyors and Buyers have been trained.

Dynamics rollout update We have now completed the first rollout phase of Dynamics365 to our Sales and Marketing teams. This phase included the pre-reservation part of the customer journey and Microsoft Marketing. The next phase will include reservation through to legal completion and up to the end of the 2 year warranty period. We are finalising phase two system build in advance of beginning roll out later in

FY22. We are liaising with colleagues across the business to agree a roll out plan that minimises any risk on business operations.

The Dynamics projects team is solely focused on building the new system functionality for the next rollout and preparing the training and business readiness plan. The build of the new system is progressing well and is on track.

Share the link Traditional methods of file sharing, which date back to the 1980s, secure where the file is stored, but not the file’s contents. Anyone with access to the file can email, download, print or copy it.

You do this by sending a “link” to the file, rather than a copy of the file itself (usually as an attachment in an email). Only the recipient will be able to view the file, and they will not be able to forward it.

Sharing files from OneDrive or Teams is much more secure and means documents can be shared securely with anyone you choose.

We’ll be sharing further information about this new way of sharing documents, along with training soon.

Barratt Risk and Internal Control knowhow (BRICk) and UK SOX Barratt is embarking on an important continuous improvement journey to strengthen our internal control through the introduction of Barratt Risk and Internal Control knowhow (BRICk).

The first step of the journey is to enhance and clarify our policies and procedures across the entire business and ensure that robust controls are embedded within them. This will improve our operational effectiveness and efficiency, make it

easier for everyone to follow our rules, help avoid mistakes, and provide accurate information for effective decision making.

Internal control is also an important regulatory requirement; legislation in the UK, referred to as UK SOX, is about to be strengthened as a result of the government’s consultation on Corporate Governance Reform. BRICk is an important step in getting ahead of this and preparing ourselves to comply with UK SOX.

We all have an important role to play in complying with controls, policies and procedures at all times, and consider internal control an integral part of everyone’s job. The enhanced controls, policies and procedures will be rolled out as we progress through FY22. Look out for briefings within your region or function. For more information visit the BRICk SharePoint page.

IMPROVING CELEBRATING OUR WAYS OF LONG WORKING SERVICE// 17

Projects roundup We continue to tour around the country to look at some of our divisions’ latest schemes. Despite the challenges over the past year, the commitment our divisional teams have shown to our Great Places priority remains clear.

The examples demonstrate the emphasis placed on working with the site’s existing features and neighbouring uses, prioritising connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, and building relationships through Joint Ventures and with local communities. Giving nature a home is a key consideration that drives the design of our developments and their surrounding landscapes, ensuring that we minimise ecological impact while creating new wildlife corridors and habitat features.

Edinburgh

East Scotland The East Scotland division achieved planning consent in January for Phase 2 of their Merchant Quay development in Leith, Edinburgh: a high rise development of 83 flats and 12 colony units on the site of a former car compound. Following submission in March 2020, the division experienced a number of challenges, including local Council changes to the planning process, furlough of key stakeholders and changes in working practice due to the pandemic. The consented scheme, which we’re in the process of purchasing, includes numerous amendments to storey heights, incorporation of rain gardens as a result of emerging policy, and the addition of an active travel route and future links.

New Hartley

North East Located in the heart of Northumberland, Church Fields is a semi-rural development in the village of New Hartley, comprising 285 new Barratt homes. The site, by the North East division, has had its challenges with planning being won at appeal and construction recently started after a lengthy arbitration process. The hard work undertaken is now paying off with strong sales aided by the many transport links to Newcastle, country walks and cycle routes on the doorstep, and the Blue Flag beaches of nearby Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.

Stretton

Manchester In Stretton, south of Warrington, Barratt Manchester is close to completing 180 units, with a mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes including 30% affordable. The greenfield site, purchased from Homes England, is split by an existing watercourse and footpath network and has been sold from two outlets: Kings Quarter and Saviours Place. To assist with an accelerated build and sales programme, there has been extensive use of Modern Methods of Construction, including closed panel timber frame and pre-fabricated roof construction.

18 / PROJECTS ROUNDUP

FOUNDATIONS

Bodicote

Mercia The Pavilions is a dual-branded development of 280 homes in the village of Bodicote near Banbury. The scheme required specific response by the Mercia division to local characteristics in terms of architecture, urban morphology and local character, as set out by Cherwell District Council’s Residential Design Guide. The site had a number of constraints including the historic Salt Way edge, which required a 20m buffer, existing public right of way, access to the adjacent cricket club, provision of sport facilities and a visitor car park for school drop offs. The development provides green corridors that help to achieve the required biodiversity net gain.

Milton Keynes

Northampton Fairfields is a dual-branded development of 1,450 homes on the edge of Milton Keynes, split over six phases, with the final phase currently under construction by the Northampton division. The key planning requirement of this development was sustainability, with regular open spaces encouraging the flow of pedestrian traffic throughout the site. Higher density contemporary housing is located nearer to the town, whilst lower density family housing is located adjacent to the open countryside in order to cause minimal disturbance to the existing ecology. Play areas and allotments have also been positioned along this edge to integrate most effectively with the surrounding open landscape.

Bristol

Bristol Filwood Park is a design-led scheme for 150 units by Barratt Bristol, in partnership with Homes England. Standard housetypes have been stretched and re-elevated to meet the brief of invigorating and regenerating the local area with a high quality, aspirational solution. Emphasis was on simple materials, with strict attention to detail such as the feature brickwork. The development is on the site of an old run-down local park, and another key focus has been on natural play, ample provision of quality green space with multiple uses for the wider community, and ecological enhancement.

Walthamstow

East London Blackhorse View is an East London development, converting a tube station car park into 350 apartments and 7 new commercial units. The site is a key part of the wider Blackhorse Station hub redevelopment, converting former industrial land into over 2,000 new apartments. Despite the challenges over the last 18 months, the first 68 apartments were completed ahead of programme in June 2021, with the remainder completing in phases up to November 2022. This has been Barratt London’s first Joint Venture with Transport for London, one of London’s biggest landowners, with very positive feedback to date.

Buckingham

North Thames St Rumbold's Fields, by the North Thames division, is a dual-branded development with a total of 397 units, 139 of which are HA. The site is surrounded by rural countryside whilst being just a 14 minute walk away from Buckingham town centre. 43% of the development has been allocated to open space, with a number of ecological features including planting of new trees, bird and bat boxes and hedgehog highways. St Rumbold’s Well falls within the development, which is of both archaeological and historical significance and therefore must be retained. The planning consent required inclusion of a number of bungalows, while the contract with the land owner also required a small element of custom build homes.

PROJECTS ROUNDUP / 19

Improving customers’ rights Our vision is to lead the future of housebuilding by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do, and with the biggest change to rights for new homeowners coming in 2021, this is more important than ever.

We’ve shown that we’re industry leading when it comes to looking after our customers, achieving HBF 5 Star status for 12 years in a row, but we must continue to do the right thing. With the launch of the New Homes Ombudsman and New Homes Quality Code this autumn, it’ll be crucial to get things right first time and resolve issues quickly in order to continue leading the industry in quality and customer service.

We set out below details of the new schemes, how they affect our business, training plus other updates we’ll be sharing with the business before they launch.

New Homes Ombudsman The New Homes Ombudsman will provide a clear route for purchasers of new built homes to raise issues, and provide effective redress through alternative dispute resolution, avoiding the need to go to court.

All developers will be required to belong to the Ombudsman Service, which will be independent of the industry, and free to consumers.

New Homes Quality Code Committed to ensuring the fair treatment of customers, the Code aims to build on existing protections and the consumer codes already in place that cover the sales process. It will cover important aspects of the construction and inspection processes, as well as the sales process, and intends to place requirements on the relevant parties involved.

The biggest changes that we’ll see to our business include:

Sales: Additional information required for customers at reservation and legal completion.

Construction: New pre-completion inspections by customers to identify any minor issues prior to handover.

Customer care: The way we respond to customer complaints, including providing details of the procedures to resolve defects and the timescales for resolution.

20 / IMPROVING CUSTOMERS’ RIGHTS

As part of some of these key changes to our ways of working, we’ll be rolling out training initiatives with relevant teams over the coming months, along with our Divisional Boards.

We’ll be sharing further updates with colleagues about the changes and the role we all play in ensuring that we continue to lead the future of housebuilding by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.

FOUNDATIONS

An update from the Workforce Forum

At Barratt Developments, one of our priorities is investing in our people to create a great place to work. To help us achieve this, in 2018 we launched the Workforce Forum to improve the ways in which we engage with our employees and ensure that colleagues remain well informed.

The forum, which has nominated colleagues from across the regions and GSC, represents a cross section of our business and provides input and feedback from a range of perspectives. With the support from the Group Board, the forum allows us to gather more employee input and add real value in areas like SHE, health and wellbeing, employee benefits and working conditions. By having a presence in divisions, the members are able to feedback on how new ideas and systems work for employees day to day.

Over the past year, members have played a crucial role in Barratt’s response to COVID-19, helping us to understand the effectiveness of measures we put in place to keep colleagues safe across our business and areas we could improve on. They’ve also been involved with the move to a new benefits platform for employees, to ensure that this reflects feedback to be easier to use and navigate as well as presenting the best benefits offering to colleagues.

At their last meeting in April, they heard from our Group Sustainability Director Bukky Bird about our plans to make Barratt the leading, national sustainable

housebuilder and our progress on our targets in the past year. She also shared details of the new sustainability framework, which will be shared more widely with colleagues this autumn, and covers three key areas: Environment, Communities and People. With targets in each of these areas to help us reach our carbon reduction and waste goals, everyone will play an important role in helping the business to achieve this.

Following the return to offices survey earlier this year to understand colleagues' attitudes to our ways of working, members discussed the different approaches we could take in the future in virtual break out groups. Their feedback

reaffirmed that the Group’s approach of hybrid working, and allowing office-based colleagues to split their time between the office, home and site. The break out groups also agreed that a phased return to offices should only begin when it’s safe to do so, and that we should continue with enhanced cleaning and servicing of air conditioning to aid ventilation.

Members also heard from Steven Boyes, Chief Operating Officer about the ongoing importance of health and safety across the business and the role everyone plays and they also heard about the range of learning and development opportunities available to all colleagues.

We’ll continue to share updates from the forum, but if you have any queries or questions, or want to suggest something that should be considered as an agenda item at their next meeting in November, please get in touch with members by emailing workforce.forum@barrattplc.co.uk and you can also find out who the members are in your division or region in the updated list.

AN UPDATE FROM THE WORKFORCE FORUM / 21

Looking after our people Our people are key to the success of our business, which is why we’re continually looking at how we can improve and enhance our employee benefits to set us aside as employer of choice.

Health and wellbeing Looking after our people also means ensuring that we provide the support and advice that you need, which is why health and wellbeing is so important to us.

We have four key health and wellbeing areas that we focus on at Barratt to support colleagues: mental, physical, lifestyle and financial health and wellbeing.

We recognise that all of these areas can have an impact on one another, and

therefore play a crucial role in improving our overall health and wellbeing.

There’s a range of support and advice available for colleagues which cover these areas, including webinars and eLearning modules to understand and practice mindfulness and manage stress, discounted gym memberships, My Active Discounts and our Cycle2Work schemes, and retirement planning webinars.

Watch this short You can find out video to find out why more information your health and wellbeing is so about all of these important to us. areas, and much more, by visiting the Health and Wellbeing areas on My Barratt Benefits or Our Place.

Plus we’ll continue to focus on a different topic each month in our newsletter.

New My Barratt Benefits platform launching soon Don’t forget our new My Barratt Benefits platform will be launching next month, with a fresh and modern design, and benefits and information tailored to you. You’ll still be able to access all of our benefits, including our Cycle2Work schemes, and new Barratt pension to our Dulux decorators centre discount. Plus you’ll be able to save with our new retail discounts provider, so watch out for further updates about the new platforms and how to access them.

Mental Health First Aiders We’re delighted to have a growing network of MHFAs across the business with each division, as well as GSC, having a MHFA and by October, we’ll have more than 100 Mental Health First Aider trained colleagues.

MHFAs have been professionally trained to spot the signs of mental ill health and to provide initial support to colleagues who need assistance, in much the same way as physical first-aiders respond to injury or illness. A MHFA should be a first point of contact for those who are experiencing a mental health issue or

emotional distress.

This would be in the form of an informal and confidential chat followed by further support from within the organisation if required. MHFAs can also point people in the right direction if they are seeking external professional support.

MHFAs are not mental health professionals so are not qualified or expected to diagnose or treat, although they will have received accredited mental health first-aid training.

Our confidential hotline allows colleagues to raise any concerns about improper conduct experienced at work. If you have any concerns that you feel you can’t speak to your manager about you can contact Safecall confidentially by dialling 0800 915 1571. The line is open 24/7 and calls are not audio recorded.

Employee Assistance Programme app Health and wellbeing support is now easily accessible through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) app. The EAP is provided by Unum Lifeworks who have a dedicated Lifeworks app which has been rolled out to all Barratt devices. The app is also available to download on personal devices via the app store. To log in, enter the user name ‘unum’ and password ‘lifeworks’.

The app includes handy articles, videos and audio tips and guides to help cope with issues like burnout, living with depression or balancing work and family life.

Additional support is also available through the chat or helpline.

22 / LOOKING AFTER OUR PEOPLE

Colleagues can also access confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year through the freephone number 0800 048 2702 (UK) or visit the LifeWorks website at www. unumuk.lifeworks.com and enter the user name ‘unum’ and password ‘lifeworks’.

FOUNDATIONS

Celebrating Pride in the Job success For the seventeenth year in a row, our site managers received more NHBC Pride in the Job Quality awards than any other housebuilder, with 93 of our colleagues achieving this award in 2021.

We hear from Darren Thornton, a site manager in our Yorkshire ast division who's won his second award in two years, about his aspirations for the future and what it takes to be an award-winning site manager.

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Eastern Counties Ian inehan Jason Paola Andrew artin Joe Rolph James Armstrong Alex Bott Jordan annon Rob Ruffy

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he Pride in the Job Quality Awards recognise site managers who achieve the highest standards in housebuilding across the K. his is a fantastic achievement, particularly considering that the winners are selected from more than 11,000 site managers working on sites registered with the NHB , with just 450 individual winners recognised.

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Supporting charities and communities Following the launch of the Barratt Foundation earlier this year, we've made some changes to the management of our existing initiatives to help us manage our charitable giving more effectively.

Divisional and GSC match funding

The Barratt Foundation has been established as an umbrella body for all the good work that Barratt Developments PLC as a whole does in supporting local and national charities across the country. The Foundation operates independently from the PLC but will support the great work that is already done by our teams and divisions across the UK and help to promote the charitable giving of the Group.

Each year divisions can claim up to £15,000 per financial year and GSC up to £20,000 in match funding. Divisions and GSC should submit an application form before any fundraising takes place to the Foundation, who will then confirm whether they'll be able to match fund the donations. Once the fundraising is completed, the division or GSC will need to provide evidence of the amount of fundraising achieved, along with bank details of the charity, and the Foundation will process the matching.

The key changes which came into effect from 1 July, and impact our donation and matching initiatives including the Barratt & David Wilson Community Fund, divisional matching and individual matching, are as follows: The Foundation can only make donations to registered charities in England, Scotland and Wales The Foundation must approve every charity prior to any donations being made All donations will be paid directly from the Foundation As part of these changes, there are new forms that divisions and GSC will now need to follow in order to process donations and match funding for the Community Fund, divisional matching and individual matching schemes.

Further details about the changes can be found below and via Docushare, where the forms are also hosted.

24 / SUPPORTING INTRODUCINGCHARITIES THE BARRETT ANDFOUNDATION COMMUNITIES

Community Fund The Community Fund allows divisions and GSC to donate £1,000 each month to a local charity to improve the quality of life for those living in their area. With the Foundation now making these donations, divisions and GSC will submit an application to the Foundation quarterly in advance, along with each charity's bank details.

Once divisions and GSC have been notified if their request has been successful, they'll then receive a notification each month when the donation has been made so they can let the charity know and promote news of the donation both internally and externally.

FOUNDATIONS

Colleagues from our Kent division climb Mount Snowdon to raise money for their charity of the year, NSPCC

Individual matching The Foundation has set aside £1m per financial year to match funds raised by employees, with match funding on a pound for pound basis between £500-£1,000 in any financial year.

Employees will need to complete the application form, with the Foundation then confirming whether they'll be able to match fund the donations. Once the fundraising is completed, the individual will need to provide evidence of the amount of fundraising achieved, along with bank details of the charity, and the Foundation will process the matching.

Our West Midlands division donate to a local school through the Community Fund

Southern Counties present their charity of the year Sebastian’s Action Trust with a cheque following an incredible year of divisional fundraising

Volunteer day and payroll giving Our other initiatives to support colleagues, including our volunteer leave and Payroll Giving remain unchanged. Colleagues are entitled to one volunteer day per year to support a cause or organisation which matters to you. Find out how to use your volunteering day in the Special Leave policy on Docushare.

And with Payroll Giving, colleagues can manage all of their donations from one place and help give even more to charity thanks to the tax efficient scheme, plus during 2021 Barratt will match your donations. Find out more and sign up online: www.barrattdevelopments.givingonline.org.uk

SUPPORTING INTRODUCING CHARITIES THE BARRATT AND COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION / 25

Nature on Your Doorstep In May 2021, our partners RSPB launched their new ‘Nature on Your Doorstep’ campaign, supported by a £1m investment by Barratt.

The new campaign will run for three years and shows us all how we can turn our patches into paradise. From simple tips including the benefits of mowing your lawn less frequently through to DIY-sunflower growing, the RSPB continues to encourage people nationwide to give some TLC to their minds as well as their green spaces – no matter how small these may be!

The ambition of the project is to help more people act for nature on their doorstep, bring communities together online and where they can share their experiences and ultimately create more havens for wildlife and people.

The Nature on Your Doorstep website features affordable, time conscious tasks for various skillsets via: As a business, we have benefitted from our partnership with the RSPB since 2014, and have implemented improvements across our developments throughout the years.

Our diverse schemes have evolved to include wildlife initiatives such as, swift nesting bricks and boxes, bat boxes, biodiverse planting areas, ponds and the newly favoured hedgehog highways! We remain committed to providing homes for nature within our developments and our Wildlife Friendly Gardens in our show homes seek to encourage our customers, employees and neighbours to do the same.

The RSPB have published useful online guides and videos for balconies, terraces and gardens alike. Visit the Nature on Your Doorstep website to follow walkthroughs from wildlife gardening expert, Adrian Thomas, which includes a series of regularly uploaded videos. In the latest series: ’10 easy ways to help nature on your doorstep.’ Adrian helps to tackle plant care in the garden and the delivery of safe homes for wildlife.

26 / NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Monthly eNewsletters with seasonal and gardening tips 33 wildlife-friendly garden ideas Online forums and blogs for the budding gardening community This campaign is the perfect opportunity to transform your green space – the results could be endless!

Get started today and visit the Nature on Your Doorstep website

FOUNDATIONS

Delighting our customers At Barratt, we pride ourselves in putting our customers at the heart of everything we do, and this drives us as a business every day to work hard, build high-quality new homes and deliver outstanding customer service.

While it’s what we do on a day to day basis, we recognise that buying a home is normally the biggest purchase of our customers’ lives, which is why delighting our customers and ensuring they have the best

Vibhaker and Hina Baxi, Ridgeway Views The lockdown has surfaced a new homebuyer wish-list, with many property firms and portals reporting a surge of enquiries for bigger gardens, rural locations, and idyllic views. But, whilst the countryside may be seeing a resurgence, for some families and downsizers staying connected to the capital remains an important consideration.

Vibhaker Baxi and his wife Hina from Hendon, were able to find the best of both worlds at our East London division’s Ridgeway Views development in Mill Hill. They are one of the many London downsizers that want to stay close to friends, family and amenities, but knew staying where they were and maintaining a fivebedroom family house was out of the question.

"We just didn’t want to spend the money anymore – the cost of heating and upkeep of a big house for the two of us became arduous,” explains Vibhaker. “We also knew that if we left it any later, we wouldn’t have the energy to physically be able to move house. Decluttering a lifetime of memories is no easy task. We are just a couple of miles from our old house but by sitting in a conservation belt, there are no obstructions as far as the eye can see – you can’t believe that you are in London! We’re also west facing, which gives us an extended period of sunshine in summer months. The huge terrace and balcony is a great compensation for giving up a private garden.”

experience is so important for our business. We hear from a couple of our customers from across the country who have recently found their dream homes on our developments.

Baleanu family, Marston Moretaine The Baleanu family moved into South Midlands Marston Moretaine development, Marston Fields, after their three year old daughter pointed out the foundations of the home whilst walking around the development a year earlier. Originally from Romania, the family took advantage of the Help to Buy scheme as well as our NHS Deposit Contribution scheme, which allowed them to step on to the property ladder with a 5% deposit.

Vasile, a Charge Nurse at Milton Keynes University Hospital, said: “We visited the development in May last year with our daughter, who asked if the foundations of a property were going to be her home. From then, we visited the development every day when I was off work.

We have many photos from when we first saw the property up until the day we moved in.

"We moved to Marston Moretaine back in 2011 and fell in love with the village. Our son went to the nursery and then the primary school, so it really feels like our home.

When we saw David Wilson Homes were building new homes here, we really wanted to move in.”

DELIGHTING OUR CUSTOMERS / 27

And finally

Share your views

Caption competition One of our customers in Barratt London looks delighted with his purchase, but what do we think he’s so excited about?

Email us at employee.communication@barrattplc.co.uk

by Thursday 30 September to be in with a chance of winning a gift card. We’ll print the best suggestion in the next issue.

We’d love your feedback on how we can continue to improve Foundations. So whether there’s any types of stories you’d love to hear about or anything else you can think of, please email employee.communication@ barrattplc.co.uk.

And the winner is…

Thanks to all the readers who sent in captions for our last competition, with our team in North Scotland being joined by their new furry recruits.

The winning caption came from Duncan Atkins, Financial Controller at Wilson Bowden who has won a Marks & Spencer gift card worth £50.

Please be aware that Barratt will not tolerate paw performance

The prize crossword 1

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To take part in the prize crossword you can either fill in the form online here or take a photo with your phone, sending your entry to employee.communication@barrattplc.co.uk.

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Across: 6. Removal people (6) 7. N ew platform we're launching in September (8) 8. Make this in a hurry (1,4) 11. Member of the editorial team (3) 12. Connect groups help you do this (5) 14. F avourite housetype (8) 15. A ward winning site manager (6) 16. F irst type of property build in the 60's (5) 18. Tim’s co-worker (5) 19. Dynamics365 completed this phase (5)

Congratulations

Down: 1. W hat's helping to improve us as an employer (9) 2. Completes the house purchase (4) 3. N o slouch in this Responsibility Index (8) 4. I mprovement journey is a building block (5) 5. Year in a row 5 star rating (7) 9. October celebration at Bardon (9) 10. H ow many singing in the rain? (4) 13. Talk for new parents (3) 17. R oad surface (3)

£50

Congratulations to the winner of our crossword, Anna Then, Estimator Scheduler in East London who received a Marks and Spencer gift card worth £50.