Life Worth Living Report Our plan to care for people and the planet
About Winch Design Winch Design is a leading architectural and design studio where clients’ dreams are brought to life in the air, on land or at sea. Inspired by summer holidays spent sailing, Andrew Winch, our founder, developed a passion for designing experiences that reflect the beauty of the natural world. This passion lives on today in everyone at Winch Design.
Our Values WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT DELIVERING OUR CLIENTS’ DREAMS • • • •
we listen to our clients, we don’t put our egos first we create enduring relationships we are agile – small enough to be nimble, large enough to deliver we deliver exceptional client experience
WE ARE EXCITED BY DESIGN INNOVATION • • • •
we seek excellence in every detail we enjoy pushing boundaries we value craftsmanship we are creative
WE ENJOY WHAT WE DO • • • •
we believe in collaboration we strive to be the best, we go the extra mile we celebrate our diverse perspectives and backgrounds we have fun
WE ACT WITH INTEGRITY • • • •
we are open and honest we are respectful we care about our people, partners and wider community we are passionate about protecting our planet
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CEO Statement 2020 will be regarded as the year our lives dramatically changed. The pandemic has opened our eyes to big problems like inequality, stresses to our wellbeing, the fragility of the economy, and of course; the looming climate crisis that awaits us. But positively it has shown how connected we all are and how much every person can make a real difference. Each week as I joined my neighbourhood in clapping for the NHS, I realised what a force for good we can be when we work together. The pandemic has changed our perspective: for humanity to prosper, we must change, we can change, and we must work together. It’s with this in mind, that I’m incredibly proud to launch Life Worth Living, our plan to care for people and the planet. While our design creations are enjoyed by only a few, all of us at Winch Design believe a Life Worth Living is for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. It is our purpose to fulfil our client’s dreams, our people’s ambitions, and our communities’ needs, in a way that consistently improves lives and protects the environment. As the Life Worth Living plan comes into effect this autumn, so we want to tell our story thus far. To do this, we have used the Life Worth Living framework in this, our first Impact Report, to take stock of our social and environmental progress, and identify the areas where we can improve. We have included a selection of initiatives we are proud to have worked on over the years; and in the next three years, you will see much more from us. We believe it is vital to be authentic, honest, and transparent so others may learn from our experience and make progress as well. We want to start a positive chain reaction in our industry so we will collaborate with our suppliers, peers, and wider stakeholders to make transformational changes. Our people are absolutely vital to our shared success. It is through their passion and expertise we are where we are today, so we will be focusing on initiatives that educate, motivate, and empower them to achieve our goals. We want to remember 2020 as the year the world began a positive transformation. This year, The United Nations and our partners at The Planet Mark called for a “Decade of Action to accelerate sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges”. At Winch Design, we are putting our head above the parapet. We are committing to a Decade of Action, so it is my promise to you that our growth will be coupled with social and environmental prosperity. We invite you to join us in creating a Life Worth Living for everyone.
Aino Grapin CEO
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Strategy Introduction A Robust Methodology
Governing Our Plan
Our ambitious plan to care for people and the planet requires a transformation of the way we do business. We recognised that we could not choose an “off the shelf” sustainability strategy; it had to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact. Therefore, we have worked with the expert sustainability advisors at The Planet Mark to reflect on our social and environmental accomplishments, assess the issues that matter most, and set ambitious 2024 goals.
We want everyone in our business to contribute to the success of the Life Worth Living plan. Each person will have a yearly target to achieve with some individuals owning our 2024 goals. We will set up ways to co-create solutions, bring in external expertise, and consistently check on our progress. By directly linking individual performance to our goals and targets, we will be able to move the dial on sustainable progress not only in our business but the industries in which we operate.
We have created a bespoke three-year plan which gives us a framework to work within while having the freedom to be agile to constant changes in our world. The Life Worth Living plan will become an anchor for our business during these times. At the end of the three years, we will review the plan and set further ambitious goals. Ultimately, it will ensure a positive legacy for future generations to enjoy.
DIAGRAM ON THE LIFE WORTH LIVING GOVERANCE STRUCTURE TBS
Creating Value To ensure the Life Worth Living plan is of value to all our stakeholders, we have aligned it with our business ten-point plan and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are proud that we will be contributing to the following goals:
1
2
3
No poverty
7
Zero hunger
8 Affordable and clean energy
13
Good health and well-being
9 Decent work and economic growth
14 Climate action
4
Life below water
5 Quality education
10
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
15
Gender equality
11 Reduced inequalities
16 Life on land
6
Peace, justice and strong institutions
Clean water and sanitation
12
Sustainable cities and communities
17 Partnerships for the goals
Responsible consumption & production
Vision We believe a life worth living is for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future
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The Life Worth Living Plan Our plan to care for people and the planet
Our Vision: We believe a Life Worth Living is for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future
Caring for our Communities
Protecting our Air, Land & Sea
Leading our Industries
Transforming our business
• Our dream is to positively impact the lives of those that we connect with • Our dream is to help create a thriving planet while encouraging others to do the same • Our dream is to lead positive change in our industries and create designs fit for the future • Our dream is to transform to a sustainable business by inspiring people
Our Life Worth Living Committee The passion and drive our people have makes Life Worth Living at Winch Design. They are the key to realizing our client’s dreams and achieving our goals. In 2017, we formed a committee of determined and enthusiastic colleagues who share a passion to protect people and the planet. Through many engaging initiatives, the Eco Committee has inspired hearts and minds across the business. In 2018, we committed to minimising our environmental footprint at the studio and project level, so we were very pleased to be awarded The Planet Mark certification in the same year. As we set sail on the next leg of our journey, our Life Worth Living Committee will be vitally important as we embed sustainability in everything we do. We will give them the tools, resources, and people they need to achieve our strategic long-term goals. Moreover, we will ensure that every employee owns a Life Worth Living target every year. By unlocking our people’s talent, knowledge, and passion, we hope to motivate them to find innovative solutions as we lead our industries.
“Social and environmental progress is a business imperative for Winch Design. We see it as way to future-proof our client’s dreams while creating total value for future generations, the planet and our business. Having worked alongside my brilliant colleagues in the Eco Committee, I am now excited to see the Life Worth Living plan drive transformation within our company and across our industries.”
Member of the Eco Committee
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Life Worth Living Highlights Our 2018 – 2019 Highlights • • • • • • • •
Sustainability done the Winch Way competition: Established to encourage everyone at Winch Design to share their ideas and think innovatively, the volume of entries we received was fantastic. The winner, Jeremy Lewin, created an outstanding bamboo bike design concept to promote sustainable transport and materials. Our sustainability newsletter: Our bi-monthly newsletters share updates on the Eco Committee initiatives along with national and international news. Employee of the month award: Established to recognise our employees who have excelled in demonstrating our values that month. Plastic pickups: With our office based on the River Thames, we started an annual lunchtime plastic pick-up, with the intention to increase frequency to at least quarterly. Supporting local suppliers: Daily lunches for our 100 staff members are provided by local suppliers, along with our weekly fruit order. Switching to Ecosia: Ecosia search engine has been rolled out to all Winch Design users. We estimate we have helped plant close to 3000 trees across the world since January 2020. (verify info) Our sustainable suppliers’ library: Our Office Manager sourced the most appropriate supplier and has switched all of our contracts to move across to SSE as the existing contracts expire. Investing in technology: Implemented a group policy for single sided printing and an sleep/hibernation across all systems has been completed by IT.
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Caring for our Communities Our dream is to positively impact the lives of those that we connect with. We are stronger when we support our communities, so we put people at the heart of everything we do. Our people People want to work for companies where they can really make a difference. The happiness of our people is directly linked to the pride they share in delivering their best to our clients and the wider world. We are a family of colleagues that value one another, and celebrate great talent. But of course, we always want to improve, so we listen as much as we do. Our clients’ dreams are big, but we empower our employees to dream bigger. By continuing to care for and invest in our people, we believe there is no dream we cannot achieve.
Diversity & Inclusion
We create a diverse place of that is an accessible and work inclusive place for everyone.
Our people make Winch Design the success it is today. We attract people from across the world, creating a vibrant and exciting culture to work in. To guarantee quality in our designs, we ensure that the best minds are working across all our projects. As our family grows, we will keep attracting a community of talent that is diverse in backgrounds and boasts a breadth of skills.
Employee Health & Wellbeing We aim to be the employer of for the design industry. choice
Winch Design moved swiftly in the early stages of the global health pandemic to protect our people and their families. We began by restricting travel within our teams, and the number of visitors to the office, whilst simultaneously preparing for all 100 employees to work from home. Staff were supported in the transition to working from home through technology support, flexible hours of working, and DSE set-up guidance.
We understood, recognised and were able to support all our employees in the individual challenges they faced. Clear, transparent communication was a priority from day one with a weekly internal newsletter, fortnightly all company Zooms and regular Pulse check surveys put into place. Additional training for our Mental Health first aiders, access for all to a mindfulness app, and employee assistance programme were key initiatives we rolled out in the early weeks.
The health and wellbeing, and development of our people will always remain a top priority for Winch Design. To support healthy lifestyles, we have invested in fitness classes and massage sessions available to all employees. We have also appointed 10 individuals from across the business to attend Mental Health First Aiders training courses. All employees have 24/7 access to a dedicated team of trained counsellors provided by our insurance provider AVIVA.
Training & Development We encourage all our employees to build and share their sustainability knowledge.
Our internships are open to talented students who reflect Winch’s values and ethos. We offer a rich variety of internship opportunities with individual investment by members of staff. One of our Senior Designers joined us seven years ago as an intern and is still working with us today. Two of our Associates within the Yachts and Aviation design team joined us as interns and have been developed into the leaders they are today. By investing in the next generation, we will develop a thriving business full of fresh creativity and knowledge.
Our communities We play an active role in supporting our local communities and addressing the social issues where we can have the most impact. We are committed to using our skills, experience, and determination to help the wider world.
We build a long-term, positive in our communities. impact
Community Engagement
Every year Winch Design commits £1,000 per head for every team member to our charity and eco budget. Our Charity Committee arranges exciting fundraising events. In 2019, we were proud to support Maggie’s, Place2Be, and Blue Marine Foundation.
We believe that every employee can positively contribute to society, so we give them each a volunteering day to support one of our nominated charities. The uptake of the charity days increased from 25% in 2018 to 43% in 2019.
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Maggie’s We are proud to support Maggie’s, a charity that offers practical, emotional, and social support to people who have cancer, including their families and friends. In 2019, Winch Design donated £15,000 and fundraised £3,213 through numerous bake sales, quizzes and Winchledon, our highly competitive table tennis competition. As a result, we funded the full overhead costs at Maggie’s Hammersmith for three weeks. We will continue to support Maggie’s with our own expertise and knowledge to ensure they continue to reach more people.
Place2Be Place2Be is a charity close to our hearts for their pioneering approach to protecting the mental wellbeing of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties through art therapy. Embedded within schools, Place2Be encourages children to explore their feelings through art and craft. In 2019, Winch donated £15,000 and fundraised £2,949 which supported approximately 30 children through a year’s worth of counselling.
Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Our work with Essex & Herts was a step away from our usual projects, but it is a partnership we are honoured to be a part of. Winch Design created a distinctive logo and brand for the merger of two services. Developing a bold brand for the air ambulances has given Essex & Herts visual exposure within the communities it serves, supporting fundraising efforts and establishing a recognised symbol of safety.
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Protecting our Air, Land and Sea Our dream is to help create a thriving planet while encouraging others to do the same. Our creations exist so our clients can enjoy the beauty of the natural world, now and in the future. We recognise that a healthy environment is essential to realising our client’s dreams and the prosperity of society. We have started our journey to protect our air, land and sea, and as we implement Life Worth Living over the next few years, we commit to taking it further. Climate Action
We take urgent action to help end the climate crisis.
The Planet Mark In 2018, we were proud to be awarded The Planet Mark certification in recognition of our commitment to measure our carbon footprint, engage our staff and communicate our progress.
Through our Life Worth Living plan, we will ensure to reduce our carbon emissions year on year to help end the climate crisis. As a result, we are making vital changes to the business. For example, we have installed an electric charging point at our studio to support those with electric vehicles. Recently we switched our utilities supplier to ensure all our energy comes from 100% renewable sources.
Environmental Protection
Blue Marine Foundation The protection of our oceans is very close to our hearts. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation in their mission to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. In collaboration with Blue Marine Foundation, over the past four years we have organised and taken part in the London to Monaco Bike Ride, covering 1,400km in 10 days. In total we have raised over £250,000 for the Blue Marine Foundation through the annual bike ride, fundraisers, and other donations.
We aim to be industry-leading advocates of air, land and sea protection while supporting biodiversity.
Waste Management
Moving to double sided, black and white printing has significantly reduced our paper and ink usage. And more importantly, it highlighted the need to change many behaviours in our head office that we are now working on.
We changed our kitchen roll and washroom loo roll to a more sustainable bamboobased paper. Our supplier, Cheeky Panda, is also certified by The Planet Mark, so we are supporting companies that are also cutting their carbon footprint.
We have removed all plastic bags from our bins, banned single use plastic bottles from the office, and provide all employees with a reusable Winch Design water bottle.
We embed circular economy principles in our design practices and operations.
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.�
David Attenborough
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Leading our Industries Our dream is to lead positive change in our industries and create designs fit for the future. Winch Design strongly believes in the role that creativity, innovation, and collaboration have to play in creating a thriving planet. For decades we have dreamed big, and designed experiences that gift clients the freedom to enjoy the natural world. We are inspired by nature, light, and movement, so our bespoke designs often reflect the natural world through biomimicry. We are confident in what we do, so we can continually challenge ourselves to do more and encourage others to follow. Industry Transformation We will lead the sustainable transformation of our industries.
The Circular Economy We support the UK’s transition to a circular economy.
Water Revolution Foundation We have the opportunity to create ripples of change within our industries. The Water Revolution Foundation is the first independent, science driven foundation focused on transforming the superyacht industry. In February 2020, we signed the Water Revolution Foundation’s Code of Conduct, advancing our commitment to lead the transformation of our industries for the future. “Winch Design is supporting and partnering with Water Revolution Foundation so that, as designers, we can offer our clients informed options to choose from. Sustainability is a top priority for Winch Design, for our partners in the supply chain and increasingly for our clients. None of us control the supply chain from start to end, but we all have a role to play and Water Revolution can help us mobilise the whole yacht industry.” Aino Grapin, CEO We are also pleased to be signatories to The Walpole British Luxury Manifesto. Walpole’s sustainability manifesto aims to drive positive change through the following key aims: leading the transition towards a circular economy, safeguarding the environment and natural resources, guiding partners and suppliers towards sustainable practices and advocating for equal and respectful working conditions.
Preservation of Craftmanship & Heritage We celebrate the rich British history of Winch Design while preserving our craft.
Sustainable Innovation & Design We embed sustainability principles into our design and services.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) We are recognised for our rich British history and excellence in craftmanship. Our celebration of these elements is reflected in our promise to preserve them. In 2019 Winch Design committed to supporting QEST, a charity dedicated to preserving British craftmanship through access to education opportunities, sustaining craftmanship skills and promoting excellence across industries. We are delighted to have sponsored one scholar to develop their craft and advance their career. Our present scholar is an experienced wood turner, who is self-taught and is inspired by nature. We have a responsibility to support, invest in and promote designs that protect people and the planet. Our global influence means we have a visible platform to advocate for sustainable design and to make it the most desirable option. By telling stories about our designs that our suppliers, partners and clients will fall in love with, we aim to empower everyone to join us in Life Worth Living.
Transforming Our Business Our dream is to transform to a sustainable business by inspiring people.We will be transparent in our progress towards embedding the ‘Life Worth Living’ plan into everything that we do. We recognise that the decisions we make as a business and as individuals, will influence the future of our planet. We will provide the resources to achieve our 2024 goals, constantly challenge ourselves to improve, and be open about our successes and challenges. Travel We are transforming the way we do business to reduce our journeys whilst offering more sustainable travel options.
Suppliers & Partners We promote sustainable action with our suppliers and partners.
We develop lifestyle experiences for people across the globe, and we are aware of the impact this has on our international travel. As we embrace Life Worth Living, we will ensure that we offer sustainable travel options. One of our project teams working in Paris, now regularly takes the Eurostar, instead of air travel. We have always encouraged our suppliers and partners to make responsible business decisions. We have mapped the sustainability credentials of each of our suppliers, and are researching sustainable design materials across all areas of Winch Design. Looking to the future, we will be prioritising deeper conversations on Life Worth Living with all our suppliers and partners. We will focus on equipping them with the knowledge they need to make the right decisions for people and the planet. We will continue to drive supply chain improvement by setting out policies and targets that build sustainable businesses.
Communication & Transparency We use our reach and influence to inspire sustainable action.
Corporate Governance & Compliance We ensure we have the resources needed to achieve our goals.
By launching this first report on our sustainability progress, we hope to showcase the great things we’ve accomplished, demonstrate where we want to improve and motivate our staff to achieve our goals. We have set ambitious long-term goals in the Life Worth Livingplan that will require time, money and skill. We are committed to ensuring that we plan accordingly so that we have the resources and ability to achieve our goals.
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Our Life Worth Living 2024 Goals To set our eyes on a destination, we have set 32 ambitious goals for 2024. As we work through them, we will benefit from our success along the way and these will be passed on to our clients, our people, and our communities. Focus Area
2024 Goal
Caring for our communities
Increase our social value year on year Support the strategic aims of our key charity & community partners Donate ÂŁ1000 per employee for our chosen charities, and sustainability initiatives Achieve a volunteering rate of over 50% Support local businesses and seek new opportunities to engage the local community Achieve 70% diversity & inclusion satisfaction rating on the internal staff survey Further develop a more structured and consistent internship programme Achieve 70% health & wellbeing satisfaction rating on the internal staff survey Ensure 100% of staff have a tracked development process with embedded Life Worth Living training targets Create an internal mentoring programme 100% of design led staff have a yearly objective to build internal and external knowledge of sustainable technologies and design
Protecting our air, land & sea
Reduce energy consumption across the business (2017 baseline) Use 100% renewable energy across all our buildings Achieve The Planet Mark Certification every year Set and achieve one annual conservation project Zero waste to landfill 70% of all waste recycled Eliminate single-use products
Leading our industries
Be recognised as a leader in sustainable design innovation Deliver 2 thought leadership pieces on sustainable design for our industries Build sustainable technologies and design into our processes Create a model for sustainable design based on zero carbon principles New business models contribute 5% to our turnover Support the circular economy through our services and design practices, workplace and public affairs activities Create and implement a long-term plan for preserving our crafts and heritage
Transforming our business
Reduce business travel by 20% per FTE (2019 Baseline) 30% of all business travel to use sustainable modes Develop a sustainable procurement policy for suppliers and sustainable guidance for partners Create and implement a sustainability communication plan Annual report on our Life Worth Living progress Achieve 100% of our Life Worth Living targets while complying with all legislation and new business requirements as they come into force Maintain the highest data quality score (20 points) with The Planet Mark Certification
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Plans for the future A Life Worth Living, now and in the future
There will be joy in the journey, but we are very aware there will also be challenges along the way too. We will be open about them, adjust our yearly targets accordingly and work hard to ensure we achieve our goals. Everyone deserves the ability to explore our beautiful planet without causing it any harm. Knowledge is power; and we want to give our clients the power to create a thriving planet. We have sustainable solutions embedded in our designs and we will work to educate our clients and partners in choosing the best option for them and the environment. It is our job to make the sustainable choice so desirable that everyone wants it. Winch doesn’t have a cookie-cutter approach and every project is unique. The scope of work is limitless, as are our own clients’ dreams. Everything we design is about interpreting and delivering a lifestyle and an emotion. Through this approach we will show that everyone can enjoy a Life Worth Living. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities that the future holds. We want to hear your comments and suggestions so please get in touch. By taking bold steps forward, we hope to inspire others to join us in our Life Worth Living plan, now and in the future. We believe a Life Worth Living is for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. A dream without limitations is achievable in the world of Winch.
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