ISO 14001 gives Taylor Woodrow Construction a firm foundation on which to build
Taylor Woodrow Construction (TWC) is a subsidiary of Taylor Woodrow plc. Taylor Woodrow plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in year ending 31 December 2005, revenue increased to £3.5 billion.
Taylor Woodrow Construction's primary business is in repeat services for blue-chip clients, facilities management, Private Finance Initiatives and expert support to Taylor Woodrow's housing development operations.
At the end of 2000, the board of Taylor Woodrow Construction decided to seek certification to environment-management standard ISO 14001. The process turned out to be remarkably quick and easy, taking just ten months to complete.
Steve Hunt, Taylor Woodrow corporate social responsibility manager, explains how ISO 14001-certification helps the construction company to:
- win new business
- reduce costs, boost profits and enhance competitiveness
- comply with legislation
- maintain excellent relationships with stakeholders.
Introducing the standard
In 2001, TWC needed a process that supported the implementation of its own environmental policy, objectives and targets. ISO 14001-certification provided the solution.
Steve says:
"A working group was formed and project managed. Various measures we already had in place were reviewed and a single company-wide EMS (environmental management system) was developed and introduced. Certification was achieved in November 2001 - the entire process took just ten months."
Specific training was given to employees in 2001 and since then it has been supported by ad hoc sessions, while updates to environmental processes are communicated to company representatives when necessary.
Steve says:
"Employees receive environmental awareness training through a course we run called 'Managing Environmental Issues on Site'. Senior managers attend a 'Directing Environmental Management' course."
As part of its EMS, Taylor Woodrow Construction also monitors the environmental performance of its sub-contractors and encourages improved awareness of green issues among them.
Key business benefits
Taylor Woodrow Construction's ISO 14001-certified EMS helps the company to identify, assess and manage environmental issues on projects it undertakes, thereby minimising environmental risks and associated threats to the company's environmental reputation.
Steve says:
"Our EMS helps us maintain excellent relations with neighbours and other stakeholders. There are many other business benefits too.
"We are beginning to look more closely at costs and how environmental management can save money, for example by reducing waste. Being ISO 14001-certified also provides us with an important selling point, which has helped us to win new customers. Certification is an indicator to customers that TWC is able to meet their aspirations and expectations."
Additional advantages
Communicating an environmental-management policy effectively is one of the key elements of ISO 14001. During the Brent River Park project, the council was keen to keep a strong two-way dialogue going.
Being environmentally friendly provides great PR for the company. Effective environmental management is one of the factors that drive corporate reputation.
Steve says:
"Our environmental record has always been excellent, however, being ISO 14001-certified gives our customers added confidence that we are able to manage environmental risks effectively.
"ISO 14001-certification is now a requirement specified by many clients. Becoming certified enabled us to carry on tendering for major construction projects. ISO 14001 is becoming key to the construction sector. It's something that should be considered by all contractors."
Certification also helps Taylor Woodrow Construction meet its legal obligations to the environment. The company also operates in Ghana, broadly employing the same EMS as in the UK (even though there is currently no regulatory or customer driver for certification in the West African country).
Steve says:
"Our overall awareness of environmental issues and regulations has always been good, but it is much higher since we became ISO 14001-certified. Since 2001, when we became certified, we have had a more robust system for identifying and managing environmental risks."
