Keeping Our Creative Space Sustainable By Meeting The SDGs: Spenbeck’s Social Goals

Here at Spenbeck, we are committed to meeting the UN’s SDGs, providing sustainable creative space in which companies can thrive. In our second blog post exploring how are achieving these targets, we outline how we are working towards the UN’s social sustainability goals.

You can now access our full Sustainability Policy here.

What are the SDGs?

The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, established in the United Nation’s 2015 General Assembly, are essentially a blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. They address numerous global challenges humanity faces including poverty, inequality, climate change and more. These 17 goals, intended to be achieved by the year 2030, summarise the steps we need to take to create a better world for ourselves.

These goals have been set not just for governments, but for every company, business and community, meaning we all have a key part to play. Spenbeck are committed to helping our tenant businesses meet their SDG goals by providing sustainable and inclusive creative space in Nottingham’s Lace Market, all near local transport links, providing a physical environment in which businesses can flourish.

In our recent survey ‘Generation Z and Workplace Sustainability’, 85.7% of participants agreed that businesses should implement the SDGs as much as possible. SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) play a key role in the economy, contributing to economic growth and employment. As a result, we are hoping to set an example and lead the way in effectively integrating the SDGs into our business.

In this blog, the second in a series exploring how are aiming to achieve the UN’s 17 SDGs, we explore how Spenbeck are meeting the UN’s social sustainability goals.

Spenbeck and Social Sustainability

Spenbeck aims to meet as many of the SDGs as possible. We have split these into three pillars: Environmental, Economic and Social.

Social sustainability is defined by UN Global Contact as ‘identifying and managing business impacts, both positive and negative, on people.’ Below, we explore some of the methods we are using to achieve these goals, creating inclusive and accessible office spaces for all.

Goal 4: Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Spenbeck has created an online archive to celebrate The Birkin Building and educate others about its significant role in Nottingham’s Lace Market. The archive, made in partnership with our previous tenants Kind, is an immersive and interactive experience with virtual tours, artefacts, and more.

As The Birkin Building is not public, it provides access of Nottingham’s industrial and social heritage – which would otherwise be inaccessible – to all.

As you may have seen from our Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin posts, Spenbeck has recently taken on two interns from the University of Nottingham – Anousha Bhugun and Matteo Everett. Throughout the duration of their internships, Anousha and Matteo have been given the autonomy and freedom to make big changes to the company, something we have supported through frequent feedback and mentoring. The responsibility we have given them has allowed both our interns to make the most of their experience with us.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Here at Spenbeck we frequently engage with our local tenant community to understand their needs and allow them to widen their employee pool by welcoming neurodiversity. Through ensuring a universal design, installing a life and accessible signage, we have made our spaces inclusive and accessible.

As a female-led company, Spenbeck strives to decrease the gender inequality of leadership positions by setting an example. In addition, our COO has undergone mental health training and is a trustee at Autism East Midlands, while our CEO is a trustee at Emmanuel House. Both these positions have allowed our directors to gain a mere diverse understanding of others and their situations to ensure our spaces are as accommodating as possible.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable

Creating and maintaining a sustainable local environment is a key priority for Spenbeck. Within our creative space, as well as regular recycling provision, we have launched a battery recycling scheme and food waste composting services.

All our tenants have access to well-connected public transport links. As well as being surrounded by local bus stops, our buildings are only a five minutes’ walk from The Lace Market Tram Stop, and ten minutes away from Nottingham Train Station. Moreover, our on-site covered bike racks and handy repair kits, as well as our tenant showers, are also provided to encourage sustainable commuting. The majority of our tenants are also locally based, providing economic growth and stimulation for the Nottingham area as a whole.

Finally, our company directors are directly involved in the community Our CEO, Victoria Green, sits on the NCC Heritage Panel while our COO, Becky Valentine, is a member of the executive board of Nottingham Civil Society, allowing knowledge sharing to make our community as sustainable as possible.

Goal 17: Partnerships For The Goals

Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Spenbeck strives to provide a platform for collaboration and co-creation through seeking partnerships with other local entities. These partnerships allow us to develop and meet our objectives, while ensuring others are able to do the same. Some of our key partners include:

• The University Of Nottingham Energy, Innovation and Collaboration Team, who have funded internships and provided expert advice
• B&M Installations and McNeil Construction, who continue to help deliver our energy efficiency upgrades and heritage regeneration, such as our ongoing HAZ Phase II renovations of The Birkin Building
• Urban Fabric Architects, who specialise in conservation projects to help our buildings’ heritage and culture during renovations
• Stonebridge City Farm, to whom we deliver our compost waste for them to use in their gardens

Be sure to keep an eye out for our final blog in our SDG series, where we will be detailing how we are working to fulfil the UN’s Economic targets.

If you or your business are striving to meet your SDG goals and are looking to move into a sustainable workplace, get in touch to find out how we can make our creative spaces work for you.

Anousha Bhugun & Becky Valentine

[Blog 3]

Keeping Our Creative Spaces Sustainable By Meeting The SDGs: Spenbeck’s Environmental Goals

Here at Spenbeck, we are committed to using our Carbon Literacy knowledge to provide environmentally-sustainable creative spaces in the heart of Nottingham’s Lace Market, helping our tenants meet their sustainability goals and boosting client and staff retention while working towards Nottingham City Council’s Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028 pledge.

You can now access our full Sustainability Policy here.

One of the ways we are doing this is by working towards meeting the UN’s SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

What are the SDGs?

The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, established in the United Nation’s 2015 General Assembly, are essentially a blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. They address numerous global challenges humanity faces including poverty, inequality, climate change and more. These 17 goals, intended to be achieved by the year 2030, summarise the steps we need to take to create a better world for ourselves.

These goals have been set not just for governments, but for every company, business and community, meaning we all have a key part to play. Spenbeck are committed to helping our tenant businesses meet their SDG goals by providing sustainable and inclusive creative spaces in Nottingham’s Lace Market, all near local transport links, providing a physical environment in which businesses can flourish.

In our recent survey ‘Generation Z and Workplace Sustainability’, 97.6% of participants agreed that companies have a responsibility to be more environmentally aware. In addition, 85.7% of participants agreed that businesses should implement the SDGs as much as possible.

SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) play a key role in the economy, contributing to economic growth and employment. As a result, we are hoping to set an example and lead the way in effectively integrating the SDGs into our business.

In this blog, the first in a series exploring how are aiming to achieve the UN’s 17 SDGs, we explore how Spenbeck are meeting the UN’s environmental sustainability goals.

Spenbeck and Environmental Sustainability

Spenbeck aim to meet as many of the SDGs as possible. We have split these into three pillars: Environmental, Economic and Social. Below, we explore some of the methods we are using to achieve our Environmental goals.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

In order to meet SDG Goal 7, at the start of 2021 Spenbeck switched to Valda Energy as our electricity provider.

Valda Energy supplies all customers with electricity from 100% renewable energy sources, reducing our – and our tenants’ – carbon footprint and environmental impact.

In addition, we have prioritised works to improving the thermal health of The Birkin Building (home to our flagship creative space in Nottingham’s Lace Market), as part of Phase II of our HAZ renovation project, thereby reducing our tenants’ energy bills.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Responsible consumption is key in order to minimise the number of materials and resources we are using. In turn, this decreases waste, emissions, and carbon footprint. Spenbeck has aimed to meet this goal by:

• Issuing pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) to guarantee quality assurance among our contractors, ensuring that our partners have the appropriate accreditations and follow sustainable business practices that align with our values while working towards a circular economy
• Sourcing FSC-certified, locally-produced and recycled materials where possible
• Installing zoned LED lights to decrease energy usage
• Using chemical-free cleaning products which are biodegradable, kinder to the environment and proven to have a positive impact on mental and physical health
• Implementing the DOFF steam-cleaning technique, an environmentally-friendly method approved by Historic England, to clean masonry

Goal 13: Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Nottingham has made an ambitious commitment to become the UK’s first Carbon Neutral City by 2028, and Spenbeck is keen to help achieve this goal by implementing a number of suggestions listed in Nottingham City Council’s ‘2028 Carbon Neutral Action Plan‘, including:

• Increasing energy conservation by tackling thermal leakage in our spaces
• Installing bike racks and on-site showers to encourage a more environmentally-friendly commute to work
• Switching to a renewable energy tariff

Be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming Sustainability blog posts, where we will be detailing how we are working to fulfil the UN’s Social and Economic SDG goals.

If you or your business are striving to meet your SDG goals and are looking to move into a sustainable workspace, get in touch to find out how we can make our creative spaces work for you.

Anousha Bhugun