ESG

We are committed to acting responsibly by taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions.  It starts with us, which is why we have a robust operational policy and governance framework that enables us to deliver positive environmental, social and financial outcomes. 

We aim to embed and integrate our sustainable approach across all areas of our business including our investment activity, asset management, risk management and in the development and retention of our people. We believe that by doing so, we can build lasting value for all of our stakeholders.

QSix has rigorously reviewed how sustainability is managed within our business and aligned these with the views of our stakeholders and business priorities to create our ‘Better Futures’ Corporate Responsibility (CR) Plan.  Our Better futures plan captures our activities under four key pillars that are integrated throughout our business operations. These are Protecting our Environment, Valuing our Customers, Respecting People, and Investing in our Communities.

To ensure the successful delivery of our ‘Better Futures’ CR Plan, we have policies for each of the pillars, a measurement framework to monitor progress and a governance structure to ensure robust oversight.

QSix has an ESG Task Force that oversees the implementation of the Plan across the business. This Task Force meets quarterly and, where QSix outsources any key functions to other business partners, it has shared its policies with them and requested that they periodically verify that they have acted within the spirit of the relevant policies.

Our Charities

QSix is committed to supporting charities where there is a connection with either “homelessness” or “families.” We support two charities in London, SPEAR and SHP, working with homeless people.

SHP

Funding provided to SHP supports an employability programme that helps homeless people or those at high risk of becoming homeless to find a job and secure a sustainable income. Our involvement with SHP during 2021 allowed 180 additional people to benefit from this programme.

Read More

SPEAR

Funding is given to SPEAR to run an outreach service, helping rough sleepers in the Wandsworth area into accommodation and helping them to address health and wider social care problems. Our work with SPEAR provided assistance to 302 homeless people in Wandsworth during 2021.

Read More

Additionally, Phoenix Spree Deutschland, to which QSix acts as Property Advisor, provides financial support to two Berlin focused charities, The Intercultural Initiative and Laughing Hearts.

The Intercultural Initiative

Is a Berlin refuge that helps women and children affected by domestic violence. Donations to the Intercultural Initiative have helped with the operational costs of a support apartment which provides accommodation for families who no longer need to live in a refuge, but still require protection and support to build an independent life. We also helped fund education therapy sessions for children and family counselling support.

Read More

Laughing Hearts

Supports children living in children’s homes and social care. Donations in 2021 helped fund the purchase of sports and camping equipment for summer school activities and the provision of equipment for new school starters.

Read More

Protecting our Environment

For existing properties that reside within our residential strategies, where modernisation, refurbishment or repair is required, we strive to reduce our environmental impact by minimising waste, using products and materials that have a low environmental impact. Where possible, we reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, by reusing materials and recycling.​ Our new build projects are completed to the highest energy standards.

Our rental customers are encouraged to minimise their utility use. To better manage tenants’ waste, we ensure that tenants are kept well informed about how to properly recycle their waste and we work with our waste providers on the disposal routes. Many of our properties have been awarded recycling awards.

Both QSix’s Berlin and London offices are fitted with energy saving products, and they have an Environment Champion for each office to encourage employees to reduce their utility usage, improve recycling and reduce the amount of paper used within the business.

QSix is committed to providing transparency in environmental reporting and our German residential rental strategy (Phoenix Spree Deutschland) was recognised in the EPRA Sustainability Awards 2022, receiving a Gold award in recognition of the Company’s commitment to best practice in its reporting.

Valuing our customers

We are committed to providing good-quality affordable homes with a reliable, friendly service to our tenants and homebuyers.  Providing people with homes is a basic human need and therefore our customers are at the centre of our business activity.

Ensuring a reliable friendly rental service and responding to any concerns in a timely manner are important to building our customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty, which ultimately safeguards our long-term commercial success. Through customer surveys, we are able to build a clear picture of what is important so that we can deliver a high standard of service. Our 2021 annual customer satisfaction survey showed that 85 per cent of new customers were satisfied with their property and 88 per cent were satisfied with the rental process.

Working with the right partners is key to ensuring we deliver the best results for our customers and investors. We require our partners to share our commitment to high standards of responsibility and treating customers fairly, as outlined in our Suppliers Code of Conduct. Our key policies and Company Values are shared with our business partners annually and they are asked to affirm that they are operating in a manner consistent with them.

QSix Supplier Code of Conduct October 2020 – Read More

Respecting People

QSix is committed to having an inclusive working environment that encourages all employees to develop both personally and professionally through having access to a variety of training programmes, receiving on-the-job support and coaching and having annual Development Reviews. The culture is to have a strong work-life balance, with the Company and QSix being committed to the health and wellbeing of all employees. Leading health and welfare benefits are provided, including access to medical and legal advice.

“I started as a Receptionist for QSix in their London office in December 2020. My manager was very supportive and gave me numerous projects to help me develop my skills and in April 2021, I was promoted to the role of HR Administrator.

During 2021, I worked towards gaining my CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice, which QSix funded and gave me time off to study and take the assessments.

I have used many of the things I learned on my course in my day-to day-job and continue to be given challenging new projects to develop my skills further and gain more experience.”

Katarzyna Araszkiewska
HR Administrator, QSix

QSix fully supports the intentions of the Modern Slavery Act and is committed to implementing systems and controls aimed at minimising the risk of modern slavery taking place anywhere within our organisation or in our supply chains. We have an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy which is shared with key business partners, who are asked to verify that they have acted in accordance with the policy.

QSix People Policy October 2020 – Download Document

QSix Anti-Slavery Policy October 2020 – Download Document

Investing in our communities

We help contribute to thriving communities by providing affordable homes and rents and supporting local charities. We are committed to being good corporate citizens and we take a strategic approach to our charitable giving which is guided by our Community Investment Policy and focuses on supporting charities where there is a connection with either ‘homelessness’ or ‘families’. QSix supports two charities, SPEAR and SHP, working with homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless in Greater London. The funding with SHP supports an employability programme that helps homeless people or those at high risk of becoming homeless to find a job and secure a sustainable income that enables them to afford housing. Funding is given to SPEAR to run an outreach service, helping rough sleepers in the Wandsworth area secure accommodation and helping them to address health and wider social care problems. In 2021, this helped 302 homeless people in Wandsworth. Please click here to find out more about our charitable initiatives.

QSix Community Investment Policy October 2020
Download Document