Developer and contractor Caddick has recently appointed Jessica Herman as its new Head of ESG and Sustainability. This marks Caddick’s commitment to protect the environment, support local communities and drive forward sustainable development and construction practices.
Jessica will lead on the delivery of Caddick’s ESG strategy, ‘Places for Life’, across all divisions of the multi-sector business. The strategy was launched publicly in 2023, and its vision is to lead in creating the best places in the country, redefining what it means to support people and the environment.
To achieve its sustainability goals, Caddick is working in close collaboration with partner organisations Moda Group and Leeds Rhinos, and is actively fostering unified core values for the benefit of stakeholders, including employees, partners, suppliers, clients and the communities it serves.
Jessica joins Caddick from sustainability consultancy JustOne UK, where she was Associate Sustainability Director, with Caddick being a key client. She worked to develop and drive strategies and implement bespoke solutions in line with environmental best practices to achieve impactful results. Jessica brings over eight years of sustainability and real estate experience to the role, having previously been Senior Sustainability Advisor at JLL, where she worked to drive forward its sustainability strategy across the UK.
Jessica has now joined the team as a full-time employee and will work closely with Caddick’s senior leaders who form part of its ESG Taskforce and lead governance of the Places for Life strategy. She will also work with colleagues across the four Places for Life working groups who are driving sustainability progress across all Caddick teams, while supporting the business’ wider purpose to create exceptional places and communities where people thrive.
The appointment complements the recent publication of the Places for Life 2023 Impact Report, which sets out Caddick’s ESG progress in its first year of implementation, focusing on three key areas: communities, environment and business. Caddick’s ambitions were translated into 22 goals to achieve by 2025 and beyond, developed through ongoing discussions with sustainability advisors, key stakeholders including the supply chain, and leaders across the business.
Caddick’s sustainability goals include ambitions to become a net zero business by 2040, support key social issues across local communities, and continue to deliver developments that set new standards for sustainability contributing to the local biodiversity and the wider circular economy. The report captures the business’ sustainability progress and key achievements, including supporting 212 apprentices, spending over £550,000 with VCSEs across the supply chain, investment into mental health campaigns and donating over £322,000 to charities.
Employee training and engagement remains a central focus as Caddick seeks to continually support all employees to improve their skills and wellbeing. To welcome new starters, the business has introduced Induction Days across Caddick, Moda Group and Leeds Rhinos, supporting an open dialogue around its sustainability efforts and ensuring that all colleagues understand the key role that ‘Places for Life’ plays across each organisation.
Myles Hartley, Managing Director and ESG Lead at Caddick, said: “We’re delighted to have Jessica join our team and lead our ESG agenda towards our goals for 2025 and beyond. As one of the largest privately-owned developers in the country, we want to not only give back to the local communities of today, but to also invest in the future generations by creating welcoming and sustainable places.
“Our Places for Life vision is about fostering collaboration across all Caddick businesses, engaging our colleagues, partners, clients and residents in meaningful conversations to build a more inclusive, equal, and sustainable future. With her expertise and broad experience, Jessica will be able to lead our ESG ambitions brilliantly.”
Jessica Herman, Head of ESG and Sustainability at Caddick, added: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Caddick team during this exciting time of growth and innovation across the business. This newly created role will be a great opportunity to spearhead the Places for Life vision and support our wider purpose, while empowering our colleagues, communities and wider stakeholders to help achieve a positive impact at every stage. I’m looking forward to leading our ESG ambitions as part of the inclusive and progressive Caddick workforce.”
You can access Caddick’s Places for Life 2023 Impact Report here: https://caddick.co.uk/placesforlife/