The Better Buildings Partnership is launching a new real estate industry training course focused on integrating environmental, social and governance factors into the property investment management process.
It will be developed and delivered by ESG training and advisory firm Hillbreak and will be tailored specifically to real estate professionals working for fund management and investment advisory institutions, REITs and private property companies.
BBP members Hammerson, LaSalle Investment Management, Legal & General Investment Management and Nuveen Real Estate initiated the course, with additional support from Derwent London, Great Portland Estates, Logicor, Picton, Royal London Asset Management and Savills Investment Management.
These landlords will continue to oversee the programme through a steering group.
Louise Ellison, chair of the BBP and group head of sustainability at Hammerson, said: “Access to targeted, practical ESG training that focuses on equipping people with expertise they can deploy directly within their roles is essential for our sector to move forward quickly on climate change.”
The programme aims to involve participants from various roles across the spectrum of the property life cycle, such as fund, asset and development management, deal teams, investor relations, and product development.
It will include two half-days of interactive teaching, supported by online preparatory and post-course learning.
Learning materials and formats will include classroom-style learning, interview-based video and podcast content, together with written resources and case studies. There will be bespoke materials specific to each participant’s role type.
The first training course will take place in June, with limited class sizes to “optimise peer-to-peer learning through real-world insights”.
BBP said it hoped its participants would benefit from having a better command of how to respond to the ESG risks and opportunities that will impact on their decision-making, as well as a better understanding of the principles, disciplines and tools required to develop strategies and solutions for their portfolios.
Sophie Carruth, head of sustainability at LaSalle Investment Management, said that upskilling people in each sector would be a “key tool in the delivery of net zero carbon”.
She said: “I believe it will be hugely impactful and will drive progress across our sector.”
See also: One year on the road to net zero
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