In the latest episode of the SfH podcast, Sarah Forster, CEO of the Good Economy and Secretariat at Sustainability for Housing, is joined by Elizabeth Froude, the Group Chief Executive of Platform Housing Group.  

Elizabeth’s career spans two halves. The first is 20 years of commercial experience with large FTSE companies across the UK and Europe. The second is a move into the housing sector in 2005, where she has since gained a wealth of expertise.

During this edition, Sarah and Elizabeth discuss where ESG sits in Platform’s core missions, how investors view ESG performance, the competing pressures when reaching sustainability targets, the importance of AI and data and how residents engage with ESG strategies.

Below are some of the key takeaways.

The importance of sustainability in Platform’s core mission

When questioned on how integral ESG (environmental, social and governance) was to Platform Housing, Elizabeth emphasised ESG was not an add-on, rather it was part of their identity as a social landlord.

Drawing on Platform’s core purpose of delivering affordable homes, Elizabeth says: “Everything we build we keep and everything we build is an affordable tenure so therefore that delivers massive social value.”

ESG performance and investor appeal

Elizabeth explains that Platform added ESG metrics to their commitment with lenders. As well as making them more attractive to funders, it also reduces the cost of borrowing. This means more can be invested into building more homes and improving existing ones.

“It’s a win-win circle for the investors, for the funders, for us and for our residents in what they get out of us doing that.”

Discussing the effects of the SRS and the wider sustainability movement on investors, Elizabeth explains how investors need to identify specific criteria for funding. She said: “ [It] drives us to understand at a different level our own ESG journey and our own ability to report.”

Increasing costs vs sustainability targets

Amidst rising construction costs, Elizabeth and Sarah discuss the difficult environment the housing sector is currently in. From legislation, macro-economic to regulatory, Elizabeth explains that pressures are coming from all directions.

She explains how the social housing sector is mobilising the supply chain towards decarbonisation, Elizabeth says: “We’re helping the supply chain feel that there is a market there and it’s worth them investing in.”

How AI improves data quality

When it comes to data, Elizabeth highlights that it constantly changes. It is extremely important that data is robust and accurate, especially in regards to reporting.

To combat potential error, Elizabeth discusses Platform’s use of AI through a data validation tool which identifies anomalies, she says: “You’ve got to maintain [AI], that’s the important thing. It’s not just a one-off exercise; it’s about establishing protocols and the processes to keep it in that space.”

Residents care about sustainability

Elizabeth explores the importance of organisations engaging with residents on their  sustainability an ESG strategy. She notes that the energy crisis crystallised the importance of improving the energy-efficiency of homes for residents, especially for older ones.

Elizabeth said: “It’s important to the broader spectrum from very young, to parents thinking about their children, to the very old who are looking at their expenditure.”

To find out more, listen to the podcast via the Adopter Hub – an exclusive section for SRS Adopters.