Vistry Group is the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes. As a responsible developer, they work in partnership to deliver sustainable homes, communities, and social value, leaving a lasting legacy of places people love.
Operating across 26 regions, they build homes all over the UK through their respected brands; Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, and Countryside Homes leading their retail sales and Countryside Partnerships driving growth through their strategic partnership model.
As part of Vistry Group’s mission to deliver sustainable homes, the company needed to improve its sustainability reporting. Their current reporting had grown organically, and after a number of previous mergers and acquisitions, their data estate was complex. This was further complicated by a federated regional business model, leading to challenges in standardising processes and driving consistency in reporting.
“It was clear Oakland had the experience and expertise to help us to deliver our goals. Their presentation stood out and was clearly well thought out, not the cookie cutter pitch we had seen from others.”
The Goal
Sustainability is crucial for Vistry Group. It underpins its strategic initiatives, operational practices, and corporate values, ensuring its positive contribution to the environment, society, and the economy. Improving and standardising sustainability reporting was the project goal, driven internally by their “One Vistry” vision and sustainability strategy.
Compliance with government regulations, like the Climate Change Act 2008, and building standards such as BREEAM requires accurate tracking of emissions. The initial focus was onScope 1 (Fuels) and Scope 2 (Electricity) emissions and Scope 3 emissions from the treatment of waste. Historically, Vistry Group has struggled to report on emissions due to data availability and integrity challenges, leading to a lack of confidence in the data’s accuracy and completeness.
This messy data landscape resulted in a lack of ownership over data and processes and a limited capacity to support more strategic use cases and value realisation from data. Challenges in aligning regional business units that were used to operating in siloes and a heavy reliance on Excel had constrained reporting. This made analysis hugely time-consuming and fraught with inefficiency, creating non-compliance risks.
• Collation and analysis of future sustainability data and reporting requirements to clearly outline a future state process.
• A current state assessment of Vistry Group’s internal sustainability reporting capability and a gap analysis vs. future vision and process requirements.
• Consolidation of data quality and data management work to inform a process and framework for future sustainability data management.
• The rapid development of an MVP process and plan to onboard more business units into sustainability reporting.
Tailoring the solution
Oakland began with a focused 5-week “define” phase to understand Vistry Group’s current state and required processes. To successfully engage with the regional business units, we needed a robust plan and toolkit that was easily understood and didn’t blind everyone with jargon.
Oakland’s rapid MVP processes would allow Vistry Group to engage the business alongside the launch of their new sustainability data collection tool. This was a critical driver to land initial BU engagement and adoption.
The process
- Discovery workshops with key stakeholders on vision, current state, emissions reporting requirements, and strategic data use cases.
- 3rd party partner and contractor consultation and review of existing reports, processes, and requirements.
- Design workshops with Group Sustainability on sustainability reporting processes and framework.
- Engagement planning workshops.
- Creation of initial engagement plan, templates, processes,and framework.
“Our current sustainability reporting has grown organically and isn’t scalable. We have a heavy reliance on 3rd parties and most development so far has been reactive.”
What was the Outcome:
Delivering Sustainability Reporting Fit for the Future
Oakland delivered a comprehensive transformation plan to deliver Vistry Group’s ongoing and future reporting needs. The current state summary and consolidated findings provided a clear narrative of the existing challenges and the compelling case for change.
This transformation included documenting reporting requirements to clearly define business needs and priorities. A thorough gap analysis and recommendations across data capability ensured that Vistry Group can meet their vision by delivering the required sustainability processes.
Standardised end-to-end processes were established, creating clear value streams from data definition, acquisition, transformation, and analysis through to reporting and continuous improvement. A defined framework, including roles and responsibilities, was developed, driving consistency and standardisation across the group.
An engagement toolkit and plan were also created to support communication with business units in subsequent phases, ensuring buy-in and adoption. This cohesive approach has equipped Vistry Group with a robust and future-proof sustainability reporting system, capable of generating ongoing value and supporting their sustainability strategy.
Beyond the original scope, Oakland added additional value through documentation of associated sustainability data models. The provision of a future data and solution architecture to support their vision and delivery of sustainability reporting processes. In addition to creating strategic use cases for further value realisation from data beyond initial sustainability reporting obligations.
In conclusion, the consistent and standardised reporting processes have not only streamlined operations but also positioned Vistry Group to leverage data as a strategic asset, driving further value and ensuring robust sustainability practices across the organisation.
“I have never worked with a consultancy I couldn’t fault. The delivery was first rate and very detailed.”
Julia Anukam – Senior Sustainability Manager
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