Results of our latest GRESB assessment

Posted on in

Our 2024 GRESB rating

We are pleased to have achieved a GRESB rating of 90 out of a total 100 during our latest GRESB assessment. The GRESB assessment, which uses a wide range of measurements to develop its scores, has shown that despite our significant growth in company size – effectively doubling the criteria on which we are judged – we have managed to nearly maintain our previous score of 92.

This year’s score is testament to our ongoing commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and robust governance within the data centre industry, and is particularly encouraging when compared to the overall GRESB average of 85, and the peer group average of 82.

What is GRESB?

The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) is an industry-driven organisation that assesses the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of real estate assets around the globe. The GRESB assessments are structured to provide valuable insights into how organisations manage key ESG factors, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions and drive progress in sustainability.

Why GRESB is important

GRESB is pivotal for several reasons:

  • Benchmarking: it provides a standardised and transparent benchmark that allows companies to compare their ESG performance against peers.
  • Investor focus: investors use GRESB scores to measure the sustainability performance of their portfolios.
  • Risk management: by identifying strengths and areas for improvement, organisations can mitigate risks associated with ESG factors.

What’s changed since last year?

The GRESB scheme is evolving, and achieving the highest scores is increasingly challenging for participants. The scheme demands more comprehensive documentation and rigorous processes. Climate risk became a scored element this year, adding another dimension of complexity to the scheme. Furthermore, the star rating boundaries have been progressively rising each year, pushing organisations towards continuous improvement in sustainability practices. This evolution underscores GRESB’s commitment to enhancing industry standards and encouraging stakeholders to advance their sustainability efforts proactively.

Notably, both our Manchester (MCR) and Farnborough (FRN) sites were included in our GRESB submission this year. By including both locations, we now benefit from a clearer, more holistic view of our sustainability performance, enabling us to identify areas for improvement and enhance our strategic planning across these key facilities.

Our performance in the latest assessment

In this year’s assessment, we ranked 10th out of 19 data centres participating in the GRESB scheme. Most notably, we are thrilled to see that we scored higher than the peer group average across all of the key assessment components highlighted below:

  • Environmental: our score was 21 out of 22 (above the peer group average of 19).
  • Social: our score was 46 out of 50 (above the peer group average of 43).
  • Governance: our score was 23 out of 28 (above the peer group average of 20).
  • GRESB score: our score was 90 out of 100 (above the peer group average of 82).
  • Management score: our score was 37 out of 40 (above the peer group average of 32).
  • Performance score: our score was 53 out of 60 (above the peer group average of 51).

Key indicators and highlights

The GRESB assessment measures performance against 17 key indicators, providing a comprehensive view of our ESG standing. Our scores across these indicators offer invaluable insights into our strengths and areas needing improvement.
We scored particularly well in the following areas:

  • Leadership: our leadership team has been instrumental in driving ESG initiatives.
  • Reporting: we maintain transparent and thorough reporting practices.
  • Risk management: our risk management protocols are robust and proactive.
  • Energy: we have made significant strides in energy efficiency.
  • Health and safety: our health and safety measures ensure a secure environment for all stakeholders.

Our sustainability strategy

As part of our sustainability strategy, we are deeply committed to proactive sustainability management across all facets of our operations and are convinced that operational excellence can be combined with environmental efficiency. As such, we actively support and lead the charge in integrating sustainable design, construction, and operation practices within the data centre industry.

We are extremely pleased with our GRESB results, which have demonstrated our commitment to sustainable practices, however, we are not resting on our laurels; we are using the GRESB benchmark report to identify areas where we can make further improvements to our ESG performance.

Find out more

If you’re looking for a data centre partner that places sustainability at the core of its operations, then look no further. Talk to a member of our team to discuss your requirements.