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CR in property management

Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield

Reading is Fundamental

 

In 2006 836 children from 14 local primary schools participated in a five-day reading event as part of ongoing support of the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Reading is Fundamental’ initiative.

Meadowhall has over 270 stores employing up to 7,500 people at peak times. It attracts millions of visitors every year and offers excellent transport links. British Land has also invested locally in a major Masterplanning exercise for the Lower Don Valley, in conjunction with Sheffield City Council.

In 2005 Meadowhall became the first UK shopping centre to develop an on-site Resource Recovery Centre, to sort, separate and send materials for recycling, including paper, cardboard, plastics and metals. In 2006 92% of waste entering the facility was recycled and it is estimated that the return on investment was over £100,000 through savings on transport and disposal costs, combined with the revenue from the segregated materials. By working in partnership with Crown Hill Employment, adults with learning difficulties have benefited from job opportunities at the recycling facility.

In 2006 two water storage tanks were installed at Meadowhall to harvest rainwater and condensation from the air conditioning. In the first year 324,000 litres of rainwater were harvested and used for landscaping, cleaning and flushing toilets.

Meadowhall ShopMobility equipment includes motorised scooters, manual wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames. All customer service staff receive Deaf Awareness training. The Centre also offers accompanied shopping services and a Braille information guide for visually impaired customers.

The Source at Meadowhall offers a range of vocational training, with a particular focus on retail skills and customer service. Since opening in 2003 it has received over 250,000 visits. 373 returners to work have improved their employment prospects, health and lifestyle through the Source of Your Own Destiny course, 699 people have benefited from the Work Based Learning programme and 64 people with Autism have received work experience through the Supported Employment programme. In 2005 The Source gained the prestigious Centre of Vocational Excellence in Retail status. In 2007 the team introduced a Retail Foundation Degree developed in partnership with Sheffield College and Sheffield Hallam University.

The Human Resources team has been encouraging local people to apply for jobs at Meadowhall. Each week the team distributes up to 2,000 job sheets in the Centre and to local community groups, as well as advertising positions in local job centres, on the Meadowhall website and at job fairs in the Centre. 32 Meadowhall employees are being supported with literacy skills using Skills for Life funding.

Each year the Centre runs fun events that raise money for good causes. For instance in 2006 over 100 local toddlers toddled around the malls with their parents and carers as part of Barnardo’s ‘Big Toddle’, a national sponsored walk.

Meadowhall match-funds donations that generous customers throw into the Centre’s waterfall, for instance donating £5,000 to Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind in 2006. The team has also sponsored a landmark project in classical music in Sheffield, the European Brandenburg Ensemble led by renowned harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock. This project has played a significant part in establishing Sheffield as an international centre for cultural excellence.

Management and employees at Meadowhall are offered volunteering opportunities. In 2006 they participated in ‘Back to the Shop Floor’, to raise money for the Marie Curie charity, exchanging their usual office based roles for ones on the shop floor. In a separate initiative ten Meadowhall employees also provided reading support through ‘Right to Read’ at Tinsley Primary School.

In 2006 Meadowhall extended its biodiversity activities with the introduction of a Biodiversity Action Plan that identifies important habitats and species to restore wildlife to the Centre’s landscape. Planned initiatives include installing bird boxes, improving access for otters and fish through the weir on the River Don, developing plans for a green roof and enhancing the Nature Trail.