Benefits

An unrivalled understanding of sustainability performance

Quote Mark  Inspace Partnerships has found its decision to become a member of the NextGeneration initiative invaluable...Having an independent party scrutinise our achievements is providing us with a snapshot of where we currently are and helps us to see where our strengths and weaknesses lie.  Quote Mark
Brendan Ritchie, Inspace Partnerships
 
The NextGeneration benchmark is unique in the market, providing an independent assessment of how companies are performing in relation to their peers in the management and development of their approach to sustainability.
Participation in NextGeneration enables companies to understand the strengths and weakness of their approach to managing sustainability. This occurs formally (through the benchmark) and informally (through member events, networking and intelligence briefings). Members are provided with a presentation and report of the benchmarking results; in order to maximise the benefits and value to companies these are tailored specifically to the needs of the company.
 
Providing intelligence: from practical solutions to best practice
The recommendations presented to companies following the benchmarking exercise provide practical suggestions of areas where improvements can be made.
The members meetings and intelligence briefings provide access to the latest thinking and innovation in sustainability practice by homebuilders. Feedback from recent member events has been excellent:
  • 100% of attendees at the member meeting on FSC timber agreed the issue to be very or increasingly relevant to company activities.
  • Many companies have used to the results of our ‘mystery shopper’ exercise carried out in 2008 to improve the information provided to customers in sales and marketing suites.
From late 2008 members will have access to their own intranet site, giving access to a whole range of information.
 
Enhancing communications
Quote Mark  The Berkeley Group was delighted to be ranked first in the 2007 NextGeneration benchmark. As an urban regenerator, sustainability is at the heart of Berkeley and an integral part of the business strategy. Our participation in NextGeneration has enabled us to understand our level of commitment to these issues in relation to our peers, and engage with key stakeholders.  Quote Mark
Karl Whiteman, The Berkeley Group

The results of the benchmark enable companies to drive change internally (by understanding where improvements could be made) and improve the quality of publicly available information (by understanding strengths in approach and areas of weakness in reporting).
Members are welcome to use the logo in communications and marketing, subject to NextGeneration’s approval. Using the results of the benchmark in Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting enables companies to provide a simple overview to stakeholders of their performance relative to their peers. 
 
Enabling collaboration
Quote Mark  Having been personally involved in the initiative for some years, I know that NextGeneration is instrumental in driving sustainability into the residential sector and I’m delighted to formally endorse it on behalf of the UK-GBC.  Quote Mark
Paul King, Chief Executive, UK-Green Building Council
 
NextGeneration enables members to collaborate with peers in voicing shared problems and solutions – to government, planning authorities, investors and professional institutions.