Foundations issue 34

FOUNDATIONS

Growing together Oregon Timber Frame’s new state-of-the-art facility will revolutionise the way we work

THE CORE OF BARRATT How will our new purpose and values impact our business and partnerships?

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Our new Group HR Director, Sally Austin, is excited about her new role

CELEBRATING YOU

Take a look at the individuals and teams that triumphed at the Customer First Awards

ISSUE 34 | WINTER 2024

WELCOME

Editorial team ABIGAIL KINSEY Land Manager

BETH BENSON HR Graduate – Recruitment & Development

EESHA DEGUN

Corporate Communications Graduate

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appy New Year, and welcome to the latest edition of Foundations magazine.

This issue places our timber frame business Oregon in the spotlight. With the opening of our new factory in Derby and the addition of new team members, this business is going from strength to strength.

The expansion represents the next stage of our growth and innovation, and the longer-term integration of our timber business.

We also celebrate our Customer First Award winners. These individuals and teams won awards last year because they have gone above and beyond and really stand out from their colleagues. Well done to all of you, and it was fantastic to celebrate with you in September.

This year, we are rolling out our new purpose and values, reflecting collaboration that involved input from many of you across the business, as well as partners and other stakeholders. Our purpose and values reflect the core strengths of our business, including our commitment to quality, high

standards, doing the right thing, strong partnerships and continuous improvement. They emphasise our dedication to sustainability and community, aligning us with the evolving demands of our industry and society.

I am also delighted to introduce you to our new Group HR Director, Sally Austin.

Sally joined us in November and has brought a wealth of experience to our business. I encourage you to read this interview, which provides valuable insights into our plans as we continue to shape our journey forward.

In addition to these highlights, you will find a range of news, updates and stories from our divisions, and the latest from the Barratt Foundation, which recently announced new charity partnerships.

Thank you to all of you for your commitment and hard work. Let’s continue to work together to overcome any challenges and achieve great things together in 2024.

LILIAN THOMAS Early Careers Advisor – HR Graduate

ROB CHILTON Urban Designer

SAMANTHA CHEESMAN

Customer Matters Team Co-ordinator Lawyer

David Chief Executive Officer

A huge thank you to our brilliant editorial committee for their commitment, energy and passion in putting together another great edition of Foundations.

We couldn’t do it without you!

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CONTENTS

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20 22 24 04 Get in touch with us at employee. communication@ barrattplc.co.uk and tell us what you think of Foundations

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What’s new?

Updates and need-to-know information from around the company You told us what you think We share the results from our 2023 employee engagement survey And the winner is…

A picture gallery celebrating the winners of our Customer First Awards 2023

For editorial submissions or enquiries, email employee.communication@ barrattplc.co.uk © Barratt Developments PLC 2024

Barratt House Cartwright Way Forest Business Park Bardon Hill Coalville Leicestershire LE67 1UF Tel: 01530 278278

Managing Content Editor Jessica Bennett Production Editor Claire O’Sullivan Design Director Nicola Preston

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Thriving habitats Developments from North Thames, South Midlands, North West and South West The big interview: Sally Austin Get to know our highly experienced new Group HR Director The Barratt way Discover our new purpose and values and what they mean for the future Putting down roots Explore Oregon Timber Frame’s new, state-of-the-art factory Reaching out Take a look at two initiatives supporting charity The Outward Bound Trust Making a difference The latest updates from The Barratt Foundation From our divisions Find out what colleagues have been up to across the business Help is at hand Read about training opportunities and a new employee assistance programme An icon of the air We delve into the history of the Barratt helicopter, with memories from colleagues The last word Meet Manjeeta Pathak, Site Manager and Chair of SheBuilds Enter to win!

Find out who won last issue’s competitions and enter our new ones

Designer Ian Restall Group Account Director Rachel Tanner Creative Director Richard Berry Chief Executive Officer Zoë Francis-Cox Dialogue Content Marketing Ltd Fuel Studios Kiln House Pottergate Norwich, NR2 1DX

The views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Barratt Developments PLC or the editor. All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission from Barratt Developments PLC. All materials sent to the editor will be deemed fit for publication. We cannot accept liability for sent materials or that they will be returned.

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What’s new?

Award-winning work

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ur Energy House 2.0 project has earned the Building/ Development of the Year award at the prestigious Unlock Net Zero Awards, a ceremony that recognises and champions progress on the journey to decarbonisation for the UK housing sector and the supply chain that supports it. We would like to extend our congratulations to the entire team behind this achievement: our Technical & Innovation team, Eion Reynolds and our talented build team, and our brilliant partners and sub-contractors.

Energy House 2.0, featuring our innovative eHome2, is a research initiative that explores how climate change could impact the future of home

construction. At the heart of this project lies the climate chamber, a revolutionary facility that can accurately replicate 95% of environments worldwide. eHome2 was also crowned Best Sustainability Initiative at the Housebuilder Awards, which celebrate excellence in all aspects of the sector.

Our fantastic Hendon Waterside development – delivered in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley – won Best Regeneration Initiative at the same awards ceremony. Hendon Waterside will create more than 2,000 new homes, a quarter of which will be affordable housing, and replaces poor-quality local authority flats built in the 1960s, while also providing vital outdoor space.

Prime Minister tours Hayes Village Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Hayes Village, West London, in July. He was shown around by Regional Managing Director Gary Ennis, West London MD Craig Carson and Project Director Lee Greenwood. This is the second time that Rishi has visited Hayes Village, having previously seen it when he was Chancellor during the pandemic. He met with Victoria and Ryan Adair, happy customers at Hayes who moved into 4

FOUNDATIONS | WINTER 2024

their new apartment in December, and site team Anita Anderson-Smith, George Gibson, Anna Nasalska-Olczyk, Hamza Haddad and Joshua Estrada.

During the visit, the Prime Minister announced an additional £200 million for development of brownfield areas in the capital. Hayes is a great example of a successful brownfield regeneration, which combines both residential and commercial space.

BARRATT UPDATES

Sponsoring our Technical Manager to sprint towards success Barratt has been sponsoring Cian O’Donnell, a Technical Manager in our West London division, to support his sprinting career. Cian was South of England Champion in the 100m in 2022 and competed in the British Athletics Championships in 2022 and 2023. He has also represented Scotland in the 4x100m relay in several UK and European competitions. Barratt has given Cian financial support towards regular access to physios, sports massages, new

running spikes, travel costs and competition fees. “These are so important to achieve those marginal gains and hopefully will make the difference in getting quicker,” said Cian.

“My colleagues have been great; they have always shown a genuine interest in what I do and understand that it is important to me. My two biggest goals are to win the Scottish Championships and compete at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026.”

Barratt donates Tatton Flower Show Garden to Salford School In July, we supported the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Tatton Flower Show, which attracts 80,000 visitors each year. The show hosts the prestigious RHS National Young Designer Competition and we sponsored one of the young designers this year, Camellia Hayes, who designed a garden called Seeking Resilience. The garden won a silver award in the competition and we are delighted to share that it is being rebuilt at St. Luke’s CE Primary School in Salford as part of The Barratt Foundation’s partnership with children’s mental health charity Place2Be.

Opening the doors to affordable living in Charfield Gardens Barratt Homes is delighted to have partnered with GreenSquareAccord to bring 42 affordable new homes to the Charfield Gardens development in South Gloucestershire. Among these homes, 31 have been reserved for social rent, while another 11 are available under a low-cost home ownership scheme. The new homes

cater to a variety of housing needs, offering both one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as two-, threeand four-bedroom houses. These homes are complemented by the village of Charfield’s amenities, including two pubs, an independent café, a post office, a cricket ground and a village hall.

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BARRATT UPDATES

Introducing our new Group Human Resources Director

Day of the Girl

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o mark International Day of the Girl, a 14-year-old from London became Chief Executive of Barratt Developments for the day.

Arifa was one of 20 young women who took over leading roles in business, politics, the media and the arts to showcase their skills and demand a seat at the table.

The initiative, led by global children’s charity Plan International UK, saw leading figures including Hillary Clinton, co-organiser of Glastonbury Festival Emily Eavis and Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham hand over their roles to young women from across the country.

Arifa said: “It was an incredible experience. It was truly amazing to see the vast range of jobs Barratt offers. Going on a tour around the Energy House and a number of

locations was really interesting as I learnt a lot about sustainable energy, the technological advancements within the smart homes and the future of the construction industry.”

Our CEO David Thomas said: “We stand for equality, social mobility and sustainability and are leading the construction sector in our actions to increase diversity and inclusion. There is still much more that we, and others in the sector, can do to ensure that this is a place where everyone is represented and feels like they belong. We’ll continue to drive forward our work in this area until we achieve real change in the UK. “It was a pleasure to spend the day with Arifa, who has all of the attributes needed to become a CEO one day.”

Barratt sponsored an all-female crew in world’s toughest rowing race We sponsored four women in the ‘World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic’ at the end of 2023. At the time of writing, the Ace of Blades team – Laura Langton, Kit Windsor, Lizz Watson and Beth Motley – left the Canary Islands on 12 December and are on their way to Antigua. The team will row two hours on, two hours off, continuously, with the aim of being the fastest all-female team to finish the 3,000-mile race. There are 12 all-female crews this year, including solo rowers, pairs and teams.

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Sally Austin has been appointed as our Group Human Resources Director and a member of the Executive Committee. Sally brings a wealth of in-depth strategic HR experience in industries spanning logistics, engineering, defence and manufacturing, and joins us from leading UK supply chain provider Wincanton PLC. Go to page 12 to read our exclusive interview with Sally.

New MD for David Wilson North West We are delighted to welcome Claire Jarvis as Managing Director of David Wilson Homes North West. Claire has become a powerhouse in the North West construction sector, holding numerous sales and management roles with a variety of companies. As chair of the Home Builders Federation’s North West Managing Director’s Group, Claire advocates on behalf of the housebuilding industry across the region. Our CEO David Thomas said: “Claire brings extensive experience, along with a real drive and energy to succeed. In a more challenging housing market, I’m confident that Claire has the right connections in the North West, and the focus on quality and service, that will set Barratt apart.” Please join us in extending a warm Barratt welcome to Claire.

SURVEY

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You told us what you think

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We share our 2023 employee engagement survey results

ur employee engagement survey is our most important feedback tool; it helps us to understand how you feel about working here and to continuously improve.

A big thank you to everyone who took part this year and encouraged others to take part. This is fantastic and means that your feedback will really have an impact.

On average, 74.9% of survey participants ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ with the following statements: • I am proud to tell people I work for Barratt.

• Overall, I am extremely satisfied with Barratt as a place to work.

• I would gladly recommend Barratt to others as a good place to work.

• I intend to stay with Barratt for at least the next 12 months.

That’s a 9.5% decrease from 2022, but still a great score. While a fall in levels of engagement is not what we want to see, global employee engagement benchmarks have fluctuated in 2020 and 2021 for a variety of reasons. It also helps us to understand where you want to see improvements.

Our highest scoring areas

• Organisational responsibility You believe we have a good reputation and that we are taking care of the environment through our business activities.

• Resources and support You have the tools and training you need to do your jobs well, and receive support from your line manager.

• Customer focus Problems are dealt with quickly and we use feedback to do better.

But we must always try to improve.

So, based on your feedback, we have identified three areas to address to continue moving our business forward.

Our focus areas

• Collaboration and communication We want everyone to talk openly and honestly with each other. We are aiming for people to work together, not just as a department or team, but as a company, and we want different parts of the company to co-operate and get things done together.

• Reward Making sure everyone understands their reward and benefits package. We want you to be happy

with what you get from My Barratt Benefits and we want you to feel that you are fairly rewarded for your hard work.

• Clarity of direction Making sure you can see a clear connection between your work and the company’s goals.

We are committed to listening to all team members to ensure we stay competitive.

What happens next?

• November to January Team action planning sessions to tackle specific focus areas.

• By February We will bring together details from every feedback session and create an overall action plan.

• March to September Your ideas and plans will be integrated into our company plans to ensure we are improving our ways of working together.

Speak to your line manager or HR Business Partner if you have questions about the employee engagement survey. We will be sharing more details about the actions we plan to take soon.

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CUSTOMER FIRST AWARDS

And the winner is…

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We are delighted to celebrate the winners of our Customer First Awards 2023

e were thrilled to mark our annual Customer First Employee Awards at the Gala Awards Dinner in September. The Awards spotlight excellence from our employees across the business in several categories, with the winners selected because they have demonstrated a commitment to our ‘we do it for our customers’ behaviours.

Sales Adviser of the Year: Kirsten Mackay, East Scotland Kirsten’s dedication to providing exceptional customer service and her positive approach is reflected in the outstanding customer feedback she receives from NHBC surveys and Trustpilot reviews. Her enthusiasm for ‘The Strand’ and the Barratt brand shines through her interactions with customers and consequently plays a significant role in a customer’s decision to choose a Barratt home.

Individual Excellence: Andy Price, North West As an Adoptions Engineer, Andy works to transfer the maintenance and liabilities of completed developments from the divisions to local councils. This year, Andy significantly reduced the total bond by working closely with the team and proactively engaging with the external local authority and drainage partners, resulting in an outstanding performance.

Team Excellence: Energy House 2.0 Team, GSC The winning team set clear objectives and managed these with stakeholders. They managed a highly complex project and showed a massive amount of dedication and passion, working long hours to make sure the final outcome was achieved.

Apprentice of the Year: Liam Hobkirk, North East Liam consistently strives to learn more from the team to produce a higher standard of finish in his work. He has worked hard to enhance his carpentry skills and college work.

Ray Dargue, Construction Manager, shared: “Liam is determined to succeed and I am proud to have him at Barratt North East.”

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Sales Arena (Low Rise/ Multi-Storey Apartments): Hayes Village, West London, collected

by Craig Carson MD

CUSTOMER FIRST AWARDS Site Manager of the Year (High Rise Apartment Scheme): Leigh-Ann Smith, East London

Divisional Excellence in Safety, Health & Environmental Management: North Thames, collected by Campbell Gregg MD

Leigh-Ann and Barrie Mitchell are exceptional managers and immensely proud of their sites. Their dedication is reflected in the high standards of build quality, presentation, health and safety standards and material management shown. Additionally, they were infectious in their commitment to the details and quality of homes produced on their sites, while being confident and in control of their teams.

Site Manager of the Year – Standard/ Non-Standard Housing Scheme: Barrie Mitchell, East Scotland

National Charity and Community: Southampton, collected by James Dunne MD

Best Site Excellence in Safety, Health & Environmental Management: Paul Ellis, The Orchards, Ross-on-Wye, South Wales

National Customer Service: East Midlands

Sales Arena (Standard): Wadsworth Gardens, Yorkshire West, collected by Mike Roberts RMD

Division of the Year: East Midlands, both awards collected by John Reddington MD

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PROJECTS ROUNDUP

Thriving habitats This issue, we’ve explored developments in our North Thames, South Midlands, North West and South West divisions

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cross our divisions, we continue to design and build high-quality homes that not only seamlessly fit into the landscape but also enhance the environment for local flora and fauna.

Nantwich (North West)

Maylands Park is a DWH development of 188 units, including 30% affordable housing, in Stapeley, Nantwich. The NDSScompliant house types have been re-elevated to create distinct character areas across the site in line with the Cheshire East Borough design guide and a sitespecific design code.

The landscape strategy has been developed with consideration to both biodiversity and the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors. This includes a

tree-lined boulevard to the site entrance, the creation of a newt mitigation area, protection and retention of existing trees and hedgerows, and the positioning of deadwood piles and bug hotels beneath the trees.

Allotments are incorporated into the central open space, which will be offered to the local parish council. Alongside play areas, gym equipment, picnic areas and seating, there is ample space for future events to take place once the community has been established.

Leighton Buzzard (North Thames)

In October, BDW North Thames secured reserved matters planning consent for a 135-unit extension of the Clipstone Park development at Leighton Buzzard.

Comprising Barratt house types, this will contribute to the wider 740-unit joint venture with Taylor Wimpey.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, public consultation was undertaken online in 2021, centring around a dedicated website.

More than 1,000 invitations were sent out to residential addresses in the vicinity

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of the application. One of the major planning issues was the impact the development would have on the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC). To ensure protection of its natural habitats and wild flora and fauna, financial contributions were agreed towards the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) and the Strategy and the Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) Strategy, which was adopted by the local council in March 2023.

PROJECTS ROUNDUP Towcester (South Midlands)

Following a successful land swap with Persimmon in return for a site at Overstone Leys, the South Midlands division is constructing 162 DWH units at The Watlings, within the Towcester Vale Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE).

Towcester is a small market town with a distinctive character running through the main high street.

This was one of the main features the division had to take into consideration during the design

Melksham (South West)

Local history has been carefully considered at the Buckley Gardens development in Melksham, with the route of the historic Wilts & Berks Canal running along its western boundary. The new streets have been named after local canal engineers, while the development itself is named after a lock on the nearby Kennet and Avon Canal.

BDW South West’s scheme includes 144 dwellings, including 40% affordable housing, more than seven acres of open space, a new

process, with a strict design code that went into detail about the typology of houses that would be acceptable for the new development. Due to this, the design includes non-standard variants of our well-known house types. Each one had to fall into three character styles: Vernacular, Georgian or Victorian to provide a combination of elevations, materials and boundary treatments throughout the site.

Award winners Great Places 2023

Each year, completed developments are submitted by divisional Great Places Champions for the Great Places Awards, which are assessed under three categories: Standard, Non-Standard and Multi-Storey. All of this year’s Gold and Silver Award winners are showcased alongside the Best in Category winners on the updated website, which can be accessed via Our Place. This website celebrates the fantastic work of our divisions over the years and provides inspiration for future projects through the gallery pages.

The 2023 Best in Category winners: • Standard Category: Causeway Park, Petersfield (BDW Southampton) • Non-Standard Category: Landmark Square, Wokingham (DWH Southern) • Multi-Storey Category: Blackhorse View, Walthamstow (Barratt East London)

play area and an outdoor gym. The northeastern quadrant of the site has been improved to function as a habitat protection area, including a hibernaculum for amphibians and reptiles and the addition of bird and bat boxes across the site.

As part of the project, the South West division contributed to a number of off-site improvements, including a pedestrian crossing and bus shelter, signage, canal restoration, public arts, education and healthcare.

Blackhorse View, Walthamstow

Green Spaces 2023

From 2023, Great Places includes a section specifically highlighting the delivery of high-quality landscape and biodiversity within the schemes submitted for the awards. The Green Spaces Awards reward the design, delivery and maintenance of exceptional public open space, habitat creation for biodiversity and on-plot landscaping. This year’s winner and runner-up can be found on the website, alongside a gallery of many other successful landscapes from this year’s submissions.

The Green Spaces 2023 winner: • Kings Chase, Romsey (BDW Southampton)

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SALLY AUSTIN

The big interview

Sally Austin Sally Austin has more than 25 years’ experience across many different sectors and will bring her extensive knowledge and enthusiasm to the role of Group HR Director

Why did you decide to pursue a career in HR?

I’ve always been fascinated by the human workings of the brain and knew I wanted to work in some sort of human leadership/ behavioural skills role, so I studied psychology at the University of Portsmouth. One summer, instead of going home, I decided to stay and get a job. A local employment agency placed me with GEC-Marconi, now BAE Systems, and I spent three months in the personnel department and loved it. At the end of the placement, the HR Manager said they were keen to keep me on and, if I returned, they would sponsor me for the rest of my degree. Really, I was in the right place at the right time.

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What attracted you to the role at Barratt?

I’d spent a large part of my career at Costain, an infrastructure and engineering business, and have always felt an affinity with the construction industry. I feel like I’m returning to my roots, in a way. We are putting roofs over people’s heads, which I think is brilliant. Also, Barratt is a well-respected FTSE 100 company where people are a fundamental part of its DNA.

Within your role, what does success look like to you?

I see some pockets of really cool stuff (programmes, campaigns and initiatives), but I think there needs to be more focus –

SALLY AUSTIN

“Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, within reason. All too often, we say no because we feel like we don’t have the right skills – especially women – or someone more senior will get the job, so we don’t bother applying”

rather than try to do 28 things, let’s just do four. The potential within the team and the business is absolutely phenomenal, but we have to be really clear about what we want to do and define what great HR looks like to Barratt, aligning with the Group’s strategy and where we’re trying to get to as a business.

One of the common themes in the recent engagement survey is how we communicate and collaborate as a Group. There’s a massive opportunity for HR to improve the way we communicate, what we’re doing and how we’re doing it for the greater good. I’d like us to be a best-in-class HR function that’s entirely aligned with the DNA and heartbeat of Barratt.

What has been the most challenging moment of your career?

I started working at Wincanton, a leading supply chain for British businesses, just before Covid-19. That was probably the toughest time of my career, especially as I was working in the retail and consumer side of HR, which was new to me. Everyone was panic-buying loo rolls and we were at the heart of that critical supply chain. We also had to deal with furlough and effectively tell thousands of employees, many of whom were on minimum wage, that they were taking a pay cut and we couldn’t tell them how long for. It was challenging because I knew I was impacting people’s lives so much, and it felt quite lonely.

And the highlight of your career?

Stepping into my first chief HR officer role at Costain after I’d been at the company for nine years was one of my proudest personal moments, but the one that sticks in my mind is Wincanton winning HR Team of the Year 2022 at the HR Excellence Awards. For me, it was about the team being recognised externally for all their hard work to make the business a great environment for everybody to be their absolute best.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way, within reason. All too often, we say no because we feel like we don’t have the right skills – especially women – or someone more senior will get the job, so we don’t bother applying. Have confidence in yourself. As my first answer shows, small decisions can turn into something huge.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and went to school in Warwick. I have a strong bond with the area and am Chair of Warwick Schools Foundation. I recognise I had so many opportunities growing up and wanted to give something back.

Have you always worked in the UK?

I’ve always been UK-based, but when I worked for the electrical division of global electronics company, Delta [which was bought

by Eaton Corporation], I did short spells in the US and Australia.

The US leadership team was seconded to the UK and I was buddied with a lady who took me under her wing (she remains

a great role model and mentor to me). We were doing huge integrations with a new HR system across multiple countries, and she told me to go out there and get to know the culture and employment laws. While I enjoyed it, I prefer the UK domestic market, but it did give me exposure to different countries’ ways of working.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My daughter Isabelle is 14 and has a horse, so most weekends are spent driving around the UK to equestrian events, which is great in the summer but not so great in the winter. My son, Thomas, is 11 and loves football (an emphatic Arsenal fan – sorry!). He trains five times a week so, if I’m not doing something with four-legged animals, I’ll be at the football pitch.

What’s your favourite film or boxset?

At the moment, we’re watching all The Hunger Games films because the prequel has just been released, and we also love the Marvel movies.

What are you reading at the moment?

I have a lot of reading from Barratt! I’m trying to submerge myself in all things Barratt. I tend to read articles and short snippets when travelling or listen to podcasts around HR best practice.

Biography Sally joined Barratt in November 2023 as Group HR Director.

She was Chief People Officer at Wincanton PLC from August 2019 to November 2023.

Sally spent 14 years at Costain Group, a British technology-based construction and engineering company, where she started as an HR officer and worked her way up to Group HR Director, a position she held for more than five years.

Sally was HR manager for the electrical division of Delta/Eaton Corporation, covering all EMEA countries.

She started her career as a graduate trainee at BAE Systems (formerly GEC-Marconi).

Externally, Sally is Chair of the Warwick Schools Foundation.

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PURPOSE AND VALUES LAUNCH

The Barratt way In this edition, we’re showcasing our new purpose and values. Let’s explore what they mean for each of us and how they will positively impact our business, our partnerships and our communities

Our purpose is:

Making sustainable living a reality, building strong communities.

It is a powerful statement. It is our north star, guiding our direction, setting us apart from our competitors and keeping us on track. A clear purpose is important to our employees, our customers, partners and other stakeholders. It will help us to be more productive, attract talent and aligns us with the evolving needs of the world today.

Our values are:

Why do we have a new purpose and values?

Our previous vision served an important purpose, but the world has changed significantly since it was created nearly 10 years ago. It was also long and complex, so we wanted to simplify the purpose and values to make them easy to remember and easy to use day to day. The focus on sustainable living and on building strong communities, supported by a clear set of values, will make us a more resilient and more successful business, create a great place to work and keep us ahead of our competition in the future.

How were they developed?

The purpose and values were developed by us, for us. We engaged large numbers of employees and partners in the process. It was important that colleagues from every corner of the business – as well as local authorities, investors, suppliers and land agents – had the opportunity to inform and shape our direction and the behaviours that they would expect from us.

We identified several strengths around quality, high standards, doing

These showcase who we are on our best day, but consistent values are not something just for the good days. They are important, especially when the market is challenging. They provide a memorable guide for making decisions and upholding high standards consistently.

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PURPOSE AND VALUES LAUNCH

the right thing, strong partnerships and an appetite to continually improve. However, people wanted to see more and hear more from us in some key areas, particularly around sustainability and community.

In our values, the customer remains at the heart of everything we do, but people wanted to unlock the benefits of greater collaboration as we continue to lead the industry.

We hope you feel that the purpose and values are familiar, suit us and are an evolution from what we had before.

What happens next?

New look and feel: the first thing you will notice is our new look and feel. There is new iconography, photography, colours, fonts and an overall refreshed look. Over time, our values will weave into all our ways of working, influencing recruitment, induction and reward programmes, so you will continue to see them.

Employee workshops: workshops are in progress to ensure everyone understands our new purpose and values. If you haven’t attended one yet, you will soon. These sessions explore

how our roles connect with the new purpose and values, ensuring alignment across the whole business.

External rollout: soon we will be launching our new purpose and values externally, so that our customers, investors, partners, local communities and other stakeholders can easily see and understand what we stand for.

Your role in the change

Culture starts with each of us and together we can shape a great workplace for everyone. We want everyone to live our purpose and values daily. This requires us all to role model positive behaviours and actively participate in launching and embedding them within our teams.

It is a collective effort, and everyone’s involvement is important. Attend the workshops with an open mind, ask questions and actively participate in discussions. This is an opportunity to actively bring our purpose and values to life, embracing them in our everyday interactions.

Together, let’s make sustainable living a reality and build even stronger communities.

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OREGON

Putting down roots Find out more about the next chapter for Oregon Timber Frame as we open our new state-of-the art factory

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regon Timber Frame was acquired by Barratt in 2019, marking a key step in our commitment to sustainability.

Now, we’re pleased to announce the opening of a new 186,000-square-foot timber production facility at Infinity Park Derby, which will welcome 170 new team members.

Building more homes off site will help us meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and minimise disruption to local communities while also overcoming the skills shortage in the construction sector. We caught up with some of the team members at the new Derby factory.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Mark Shorthouse, Production Supervisor: A typical day involves managing the production team, monitoring productivity, quality and guidance to ensure production targets and delivery dates are met. I troubleshoot any issues that may arise on the production floor to maintain a smooth workflow.

Gemma McCoy, Logistics: Cutting timber, batching small items for the job, using saws, putting deliveries away, packing the flooring packs and using nail guns. It’s a hands-on role that demands attention to detail and precision in handling materials to meet our project requirements.

Jamie Moore, Assistant Supervisor, Pre-kit Department: I’m usually quite busy making sure everyone has enough work, helping out with machinery maintenance, as well as logistics.

Jas Singh, Timber Frame Designer: My typical day involves collaborating with clients to understand their project requirements, creating detailed design drawings, selecting appropriate timber materials, coordinating with structural engineers and overseeing construction to ensure the frame is built to specifications. It’s a blend of office work, site visits and creative design.

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Mark Shorthouse

Jas Singh

Jason Powell

Michele Clark Gemma McCoy

Jamie Moore

OREGON What are the main challenges?

Michele Clark, Receptionist: Within my role, there are very few real challenges.

Every day is different, and I’ve had to expand my computer knowledge and skills to complete certain tasks, but I’ve had the time and the resources to educate myself.

Jamie: Work slippages are always the biggest challenge. You can prepare and cut several kits, only for the delivery dates to move, which has a knock-on effect with our other orders. It’s a balancing act that demands flexibility and effective communication to ensure our work aligns with project timelines.

Jas: The challenges I face as someone new at Oregon include learning the intricacies of timber frame design, dealing with diverse project complexities, aligning with the company’s sustainability focus and ensuring effective teamwork and communication with colleagues.

What is the best part of working at Oregon?

Jas: The exceptional camaraderie among the Oregon staff; their friendliness and approachability have made it easy for me to integrate into the company seamlessly. Additionally, our collective effort towards sustainability and the net-zero goal is remarkable. As a timber frame designer, contributing to projects that align with these goals adds a fulfilling dimension to my work.

Michele: The staff – from those who work in the factory to management.

Although Oregon staff numbers are constantly growing, there’s still a feeling

Exciting times Jason Powell, Operations Director at Oregon Timber Frame, is looking forward to what the future holds

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PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK WAUGH

Barratt has invested in the new factory to increase the number of homes it can build using modern

methods of construction to help achieve the 2025 Future Homes Standard and to also mitigate against the ever-decreasing workforce we have on sites.

It will be an important part of the company’s sustainability plan, as the advantages of building homes in the factory include better efficiency, performance and less waste.

What makes me most proud of my role is having the opportunity to build a new team in a new facility.

There are lots of opportunities to develop a career at Oregon and learn about construction and also manufacturing. We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture, and anyone interested in working at Oregon will be joining a team that will help them grow as a person.

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OREGON

“I find satisfaction in my work, and the approachable nature of my colleagues and management creates a positive work environment” of togetherness and inclusion. Personally, having the autonomy to manage my workload adds a valuable layer to my experience. Oregon’s commitment to social responsibility, with roles like mine as the charity champion, further enriches our workplace.

Gemma: For me, the best part is the job and industry. I find satisfaction in my work, and the approachable nature of my colleagues and management creates a positive work environment. The industry itself is dynamic, and being part of Oregon’s logistics team exposes me to various challenges, making each day different and interesting.

Mark: Being part of the production team is rewarding. There’s a sense of accomplishment in overseeing a project from its initial stages to completion. The collaborative environment at Oregon ensures that everyone’s efforts contribute to the success of the company.

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Sustainability overview • The new factory achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and an EPC ‘A’ rating.

• The facility incorporates solar panels and LED lighting, aligning with our goal to reduce carbon in construction processes.

• 10% of the parking spaces are equipped with EV charging points and the factory is also equipped with EV ducting to future-proof against upcoming changes.

• In FY 2022, more than 3,700 homes were built with timber frames, reducing carbon emissions and waste. Our goal is for at least 30% of homes to use modern construction methods by 2030.

• Timber frames cut development time by an average of seven weeks compared with traditional methods, enhancing efficiency and minimising disruption to local communities.

• 100% of timber is certified for net zero deforestation, sourced from continuously replenished forests certified by FSC and PEFC. • The use of timber frames contributes to a reduction in waste intensity compared with traditional build methods.

• Timber frame homes can be constructed in all weather conditions, providing a practical advantage – especially in the unpredictable UK climate.

THE OUTWARD BOUND TRUST

Reaching out

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Discover how colleagues have been working with the charity The Outward Bound Trust

stablished in 1941, The Outward Bound Trust partners with schools, colleges, employers and youth groups to provide outdoor adventures and challenges for young people who need it most, aiming to inspire participants to believe in themselves and build their confidence.

Barratt Developments has been working with The Outward Bound Trust since September 2019. Here are a couple of recent initiatives our colleagues have taken part in.

Ambassador Programme

Over the next 12 months, 45 Barratt Ambassadors will work alongside each other to guide schoolchildren through five-day adventure courses at an Outward Bound Trust centre based in either the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District or Snowdonia.

The Outward Bound Trust has proven the life-changing impact courses can have on participants, and we hope to give back to the children near our developments as they overcome challenges and develop essential life skills, including self-belief, resilience and problem-solving.

For the Barratt Ambassadors, this is an opportunity to participate in an outdoor learning and adventure experience, supporting a group of

young people to create a genuine feel-good factor and sense of selfactualisation as ambassadors watch the young people grow.

We are thrilled to have a brilliant group of ambassadors representing us and contributing positively to the communities we build in. We wish them the best of luck on their adventures!

If you are interested in the progress of each cohort or wish to become a Barratt Ambassador, stay tuned on Our Place for more content on The Outward Bound Trust – Ambassador Programme.

Barratt Ambassadors described the experiences as “five stars” and “Inspirational”, with one commenting: “The best aspect of my course was hiking 8km to a log cabin where we stayed overnight. On the last night, a little girl in our group read a speech saying Adam (my instructor) and myself would never be forgotten due to the positive impact we had on her course experience over the week.”

Big Barratt Hike

This year’s two-day adventure on the Big Barratt Hike was hugely successful, raising a record amount of money!

We brought more than 130 colleagues together for a memorable journey through the stunning Peak District to support two of our charity partners: The Outward Bound Trust and Whizz Kidz.

The £50,000 donation was raised by our teams and their families, friends and suppliers, which was matched twice by the company to reach an amazing £150,000 total. This is the most money ever raised by employees in the hike and will go a long way towards making a real difference in the lives of young people supported by these two charities, who have each received £75,000 in funding.

The hike itself was one to remember.

The sun was shining and colleagues worked tirelessly, helping one another along the trail, offering support and cheering each other on. Special hike T-shirts and medals will be a reminder of the fantastic effort everyone made to cross the finish line.

Following the event, we had the privilege of hearing inspiring speeches from representatives of both The Outward Bound Trust and Whizz Kidz, highlighting the profound impact these funds will have on the young people they support.

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THE BARRATT FOUNDATION

Making a difference The latest updates from The Barratt Foundation, which supports a variety of worthy causes around the UK

Get into volunteering!

There are so many opportunities for our colleagues to use their volunteering days with our partnered charities, from virtual reading lessons to beach litter picking. The Barratt Foundation has created a handy guidance note to signpost these opportunities, which can be found on Our Place.

South Wales has been bracing the cold to clean the beaches of the local coast with CleanupUK. Get your division involved by registering your interest here: bit.ly/3SzHYGT

Scan QR code

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Supporting our charity partners The Barratt Foundation has a new vision to help communities throughout the UK to thrive, focusing their support on children and young people and those most disadvantaged. One way it makes a difference is via impactful national partnerships with vision-aligned charities, including The Outward Bound Trust, Whizz Kidz, Bookmark and Place2Be. We are excited to announce a new charity partner: Magic Breakfast! This amazing charity delivers free breakfasts to schoolchildren facing hunger every day.

A hungry child cannot concentrate and could miss out on learning if not given anything nutritious to eat in the morning.

As well as £500,000 in donations from the Foundation over the next two years, divisions have already been participating in various activities for the charity.

Bardon & Kent House took part in the Great Big Breakfast, the Building Safety Unit invited them to their away day and East Scotland will soon be hosting a breakfast event of their own.

Magic Breakfast will provide a range of fundraising and volunteering opportunities over the course of the partnership, so get your division involved to ensure no child is too hungry to learn.

Visit magicbreakfast.com

THE BARRATT FOUNDATION

Spotlight on your fundraising activities!

In October, Southampton held its annual charity dinner in aid of the Saints Foundation, the charity of Southampton Football Club, which supports people in need throughout the city. The evening raised an incredible £170,000.

Divisional initiatives With support from The Foundation, some of our divisions have been able to deliver fantastic initiatives in their communities, such as a project to refurbish a mental health hub for students, parents and teachers of Honilands Primary School in Enfield.

Collaborating with children’s mental health charity Place2Be, Barratt East London’s Rising Stars Tom Byrne and Harry Woodhouse put in a fantastic effort to make a real difference to this meaningful project.

Matched funding Get your fundraising matched! In FY24, The Barratt Foundation will be offering matched funding for your efforts. Each division has access to £12,000 and each individual has access to £1,000.

Here is a recent matched funding story: Phil Chillcott from Bristol did a skydive for Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Foundation and raised £2,259 (including matched funding).

Stuart Hay from East Scotland ran the Berlin Marathon for Get Kids Going! and raised £950. Stuart said: “Berlin was my 58th full marathon and it was great to finally complete it after a few failed attempts to enter the ballot. It was a pleasure to run on behalf of Get Kids Going!, which has given great support to family friends in the past, and friends and colleagues at Barratt have been very generous with their support. Next stop: the London Marathon 2024!”

Amanda Amass from West Midlands held a tuck shop for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and raised £225.

Avneet Johal from Mercia took part in a boxing match for Birmingham PHAB Camps and raised £750. Avneet said: “It was an incredible experience and I’m so proud to have taken part in such a challenge. I’ve volunteered with Birmingham PHAB Camps for the past eight years and have seen first-hand what the week away means to the children and their families.”

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UPDATES FROM ACROSS THE BUSINESS Southampton team transforms school A huge well done to our team in Southampton who, along with several local businesses, pulled together to back a vital project for Vermont School, which supports children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The team worked hard to create a new courtyard, where pupils can work, play and eat in a safe environment, along with a quiet space for younger children. They also created a sensory room with soft seating areas, colourful lights and bubble lamps where the children can unwind.

Headteacher Maria Smyth said: “Over the past eight years, the Vermont family has increased from 28 pupils to 50. The learning spaces and quiet areas were becoming increasingly limited and, because of an overstretched budget, we were unable to do any refurbishment. We were delighted when Barratt and David Wilson Homes offered to help us. The incredible spaces the team have created are already supporting our children’s development.”

Nursery children on construction adventure with Ladden Garden Village team

Children from St Mary’s Pre-School in Yate welcomed the Ladden Garden Village team into the classroom to learn how new houses are built. Chanella Luz and Nick O’Sullivan provided an educational session that explored the world of architecture and construction, fostering the children’s curiosity and expanding their understanding of the build environment.

Rachel Moore, owner of St Mary’s Pre-School, said: “Our children were able to learn about the magic of what goes into creating new homes. It was great to see their eyes light up and their minds buzz with so many questions. The session has undoubtedly sparked their curiosity about the built environment around them.”

From our divisions Here’s what our divisions have been up to since last issue

South West team raises over £40,000 for Sarcoma UK

The team from Barratt David Wilson Homes South West has raised an incredible £40,204 for Sarcoma UK over the past year, almost £20,000 of which came via a charity golf day which was attended by more than 130 guests, including employees and contractors.

The team has been championing Sarcoma UK after one of their friends and colleagues, Tim Blythe, lost his life to soft tissue cancer in 2021 after battling the disease for eight years.

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Ralph Hawkins, Managing Director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West, said: “Throughout Tim’s illness, he was grateful for the care he received from Sarcoma UK and we wanted to continue to support the charity in his memory. To have raised more than £40,000 is a terrific achievement and one that will help Sarcoma UK fund vital research, campaign for better treatments and support people in our communities who are affected

by Sarcoma and other uncommon cancers.”

West Scotland gets gardening

Members of West Scotland’s Commercial, Technical, Sales and Customer Care teams carried out three days of volunteering duties at St Andrew’s Hospice to tidy up their gardens. The teams got stuck in painting fences, weeding and litterpicking. The hospice provides specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illnesses, offering physical, psychological, social and spiritual care for patients free of charge in a calm, peaceful and welcoming environment.

UPDATES FROM ACROSS THE BUSINESS Celebrating mid-autumn festival at Harrow

Residents at our Eastman Village in Harrow came together to celebrate the mid-autumn festival. Also known as the Moon Festival, it is a harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese community held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It was a fantastic evening, giving residents the chance to celebrate and connect over food and stories in our sales suite, while sharing and eating delicious mooncakes.

West Midlands helps out Cakes4casualties

In July, 15 team members from our West Midlands division attended Cakes4casualties, which serves baked goods to injured soldiers to lift their spirits. A lot of work was needed to repair the grounds and the team – including Construction Director Steven Cartwright – went back to their roots, mixing cement by hand to repair brickwork, replace broken fences and tidy the landscape, for which the troops were extremely grateful.

Yorkshire West mucks in at Young Dementia Leeds’ garden

Twenty members of the Commercial team got stuck in to revamp the garden at Young Dementia Leeds, which offers a range of wellbeing, holistic, mutual and peer support to its users to help them live well with dementia. On their volunteering day, the team undertook tasks including weeding, hedge-trimming and bulb-planting to ensure a beautiful outdoor space for its users to enjoy in spring. The site team at the Ambler’s Meadow development also built a planter, delivered by JD Groundworks, and filled it with plants and flowers to give an extra warm welcome to the visitors at the centre each day.

Foal Farm gets a clean-up from Kent

Colleagues from our Kent division got stuck into a day of volunteering with Foal Farm Animal Rescue. Foal Farm is more than 60 years old and rescues and rehomes neglected animals in and around Kent, restoring them to health and happiness and, where possible, finding them new homes. On a hot day, 25 volunteers from various departments painted fences, cleared out an area for the pigs and tidied the chicken area. They were rewarded with a tour of the farm and the opportunity to meet and feed the animals.

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HR

Help is at hand Introducing an exciting new management training programme and our employee assistance programme, which can be used by you and your families

New Management Development Training In the ever-changing world of business, the role of a manager is complex and always evolving. To support our managers in adapting to these changes, we are pleased to introduce our Management Development Offer – a programme designed to provide all line managers at Barratt Developments with valuable insights and practical skills.

The Management Development Offer begins with a focus on self-awareness, because knowing yourself is the foundation of effective leadership. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment gives delegates valuable insights into their personality type, preferences and how they interact with others.

Once delegates have established a foundation of self-awareness, the programme shifts to focus on practical 24

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management skills. A two-day in-person session provides the opportunity to develop delegates’ abilities in effective communication, team motivation, handling important conversations and nurturing and mentoring their team.

The programme concludes with an online module that serves as an opportunity to consolidate delegates’ new-found knowledge, connect with their peers and share best practices, experiences and learnings with colleagues.

Our ambition is to equip our managers with the skills and knowledge they need to be more effective and contribute to the success of our company.

Since launching the programme in September, we have already delivered training to more than 100 delegates.

These managers have rated ‘the likelihood of recommending the programme to a colleague’ as 9.4/10.

We are proud of the programme we are delivering and excited to welcome all line managers to the Management Development Offer in the coming year.

Here’s what some attendees had to say: • “This course was a great reminder to look inward and refresh your thinking.”

• “Very beneficial to meet others across the business and develop coaching skills.”

• “Great time to reflect and consider how I can change for the better.”

• “Absolutely fantastic course, which has changed the way I think about certain aspects of management that I hope to now carry forward.”

HR

Helping you and your loved ones You, your partner or spouse and children (aged 16 to 24 in full-time education) can now benefit from our new Employee Assistance Programme called Help@Hand. To access ondemand health and wellbeing support and everyday lifestyle assistance, all in one place 24/7, download the Help@Hand App, which provides you with access to: • Unlimited counselling • 24/7 UK freephone helpline • Bereavement counselling • Financial support • Legal support • Wellbeing content • 360 wellbeing score

You can also call anytime for practical support on freephone 08083 043 698.

How to download the app:

1. On your personal device, scan the QR code or download from the App Store or Google Play by searching ‘Unum Help@Hand’.

2. Choose ‘Register with company PIN’.

3. Enter the Barratt Developments six-digit pin: 672154.

4. Answer the questions to complete registration.

Scan the QR code to download on your personal device

Please note: eligibility may vary on services. The app can be used on work-issued and personal phones or tablets.

Diversity and inclusion dates for your diary We have many exciting events planned over the first half of 2024. Please see the calendar below that our webinars and events will promote. Full event details will be posted on Our Place closer to the time.

Your 2024 Planner January

February

March

April

May

June

21 World Religion Day

Autism Awareness Month 1 Easter Monday 13 or 14 Vaisakhi Eid al-Fitr (dates depend on moon)

LGBT+ History Month 5-11 Race Equality Week 24 Stand Up to Bullying Day

15 International Day of Families 25 Africa Day

8 International Women’s Day 10 Ramadan (predicted, but dates depend on the moon because the Islamic calendar is lunar) 29 Good Friday 31 Easter Sunday

Pride Month 10-16 Carers Week Eid ul-Adha (dates depend on moon)

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THE BARRATT HELICOPTER

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n 1978, we were the first housebuilder to use TV advertising, and a series of hugely popular ads featuring actor Patrick Allen and the iconic Barratt helicopter helped turn the company into a household name.

However, the helicopter had much more than a promotional role and there were several, including an AgustaWestland and Bell 407s. The Agusta was used most days of the week as founder Sir Lawrie Barratt’s mode of transport, allowing him and other executives to move easily between sites around the country. The Bell was used in the ads. There was an air traffic controller based in Barratt Newcastle’s office, and the helicopters were chartered out when they weren’t being used by the business.

Sir Lawrie used the helicopter to attend monthly York subsidiary board meetings before returning to his home in Corbridge, Newcastle, where it could land. In those days, most Barratt offices were located rurally with large grounds to facilitate a helicopter pad. Each site was issued with a standard specification to build a helicopter pad in a remote area, making it easy for Sir Lawrie to visit multiple sites around the country in one day.

Helicopters were also used extensively for show home openings. In the 1980s, most Barratt openings involved the helicopter, which attracted lots of publicity and visitors. There were free rides for Scout groups and local communities, and potential purchasers.

One of the most famous was the simultaneous launch of four show home villages around the country in 1985. Many of the launches also involved celebrities, such as comedy trio The Goodies and actress Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street.

I had several rides in the helicopter and the fixed-wing aircraft over the

An icon of the air As the Barratt helicopter model finds a new home at our Bardon office, Steven Boyes, Chief Operating Officer, reflects on the real helicopter’s history years, and I can honestly say that I didn’t really enjoy any of the journeys! The helicopter was very noisy with a lot of vibration, and I was always pleased to be back on the ground.

The worst journey I had was from a development near Filey in North Yorkshire. The pilot took a group of the Barratt York team out over the North

Sea, where he was permitted to do some action manoeuvres that I’ll never forget.

Exciting at the time, but I was very relieved to be back on land!

Did you ride in one of the Barratt helicopters and have a story to tell?

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

Jamie Cawthorn, Regional Solicitor (East and London & Southern)

“My father, John, worked for Barratt in the 1970s and ’80s and flew in the helicopter, so it was a huge part of my childhood. When I mentioned my dad’s job, the first question I got asked by schoolmates was whether I had ever been in the helicopter.

“I went to several show home openings with my family as a child. They were theatrical events, with Patrick landing nearby in the helicopter and signing photos of himself for attendees. I got to sit in the helicopter myself during one of these openings, which was hugely exciting.

Things are done very differently now and a helicopter is not a suitable symbol for a company interested in sustainability, but back in the day it was massive.”

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Above: The famous aircraft Left: Jamie Cawthorn’s dad, John, with actor Patrick Allen

QUICKFIRE INTERVIEW

The last word Manjeeta Pathak, Site Manager and Chair of SheBuilds, tells us about her four years at Barratt West London

What did life look like before you joined Barratt Developments?

I was working at Redrow, but the opportunity that came up at Barratt was the right one for me and the company’s reputation further attracted me to the role.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My typical day starts with ensuring that workers are set in the correct location as per the programme/agreed briefing, addressing any issues that arise on site, carrying out the meetings, DABs (daily allocation briefings for co-ordination on site) and constant monitoring of the site to make sure the quality expectations of the build are met.

What are the biggest challenges in your role?

One of the biggest challenges is to ensure that the correct drawings are followed and works are carried out to

the highest standard. All quality assurance is captured for future reference.

What has been your biggest achievement at Barratt so far?

Delivering two blocks with more than 60 units of flats successfully and getting a fantastic customer review was a highlight. I am also proud of the recent launch of SheBuilds, a peer-to-peer support network for all women within the business. The network will promote construction as a career choice and inform our wider site environment of the different needs and challenges of women on site. It is also for colleagues from across the wider community to play their roles as allies to develop a safer, more inclusive work environment for everyone.

I am also proud of the recent launch of SheBuilds, a peer-to-peer support network for all women within the business

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

I love hiking, painting, rock climbing and volunteering for charity in my spare time.

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COMPETITIONS

Enter to win!

Photo competition

Find out who won last issue’s competitions and have a go at our new ones The prize crossword

For our new competition launched last issue, we challenged you to take a picture of yourself or your team reading Foundations in an interesting or unusual environment. Here is (left to right): Lilian Thomas, HR Graduate; Sonal Henderson, Barratt Foundation Partnerships and Projects Manager; and Derek Harris, Head of Public Relations getting festive with Foundations in London!

Email us at employee.communication@barrattplc.co.uk by 17 May 2024 to be in with a chance of winning a gift card.

We’ll print the winning photo in the next issue.

To take part in the prize crossword, you can either fill in the form online or print it out and take a photo with your phone.

Send your entry to employee.communication@barrattplc.co.uk or post it to the Employee Communications team, Third Floor Press Centre, Here East, 13 East Bay Lane, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E15 2GW. Congratulations to last issue’s winner, Kevin Scott, Design Manager from Barratt West Midlands, who receives a £50 gift card of their choice.

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What do you think?

We’d love your feedback on how we can continue to improve Foundations, so please send us your comments, ideas and stories to employee.communication@ barrattplc.co.uk.

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Who found Morph?

Barratt CEO David Thomas was invited to meet the creator of Morph and co-founder of Aardman Animations, Peter Lord, to help promote Morph’s Epic Art Adventure trail.

The trail comprised 56 Morph figures, which were located around central London landmarks this summer, featuring designs from individual artists to help promote wheelchair accessibility for Whizz Kidz. David and Peter met at Hays Galleria where one of the Barrattsponsored Morph figures was situated. The theme of this Morph was ‘London Parklife’ and it was the most popular figure on the whole trail. The other Barratt-sponsored Morph figure was located by the City of London Visitor Information Centre opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, with the theme of ‘Morph and Friends Explore London’.

Last issue, to celebrate the trail, we hid a Morph in the pages of Foundations for you to find. Well done to Melanie Fey, Sales Progressor from Bristol, who found Morph on page 15 and receives a £50 gift card of their choice.

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5. Which Village in West London did the Prime Minister visit? (5)

3. We make it –, one of Barratt’s values (6)

9. First name of Site Manager of the Year? (6)

4. What does the letter C stand for in SAC? (12)

2. Name the iconic clay character who was spotted 56 times around London this summer (5)

10. What kind of room did the Southampton team create at the Vermont School? (7) 12. What are Wilts & Berks and Kennet and Avon? (6) 15. The surname of our new Group HR Director and a city in Texas (6) 16. What’s the name of the charity that helps children who are hungry for knowledge? (5,9) 17. Name of the Barrattsponsored team competing in the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic race (3,2,6) 18. What’s the name of the shelter amphibians and reptiles use during winter? (12)

1. Which peer-to-peer support network does Manjeeta Pathak chair? (9)

6. A non-standard variant of Barratt’s well-known house types (10) 7. Technical Manager Cian O’Donnell is hoping to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Where are they being held? (9) 8. Where did our new Group HR Director go to university? (10) 11. A creative pastime for Manjeeta Pathak (8) 13. The first name of our Prime Minister, who visited one of our sites recently? (5) 14. Who “piloted” the helicopter that appeared in the first Barratt TV adverts in the 1970s? (7,5) 19. What type of hotels will be built at Maylands Park in Stapeley, Nantwich? (3)