Making a positive social impact

Every business has an impact on people, whether that is employees, suppliers or local residents. However, real estate investors, through shaping the built environment and developing new communities, are in a unique position to make changes for the better. All this helps build a reputation as a good neighbour and helps lay a firm foundation for a collaborative approach with local communities. This is essential for effective development planning.

But many firms are fazed by how to make a positive social impact. Building relationships with local charities and not-for-profit organisations is key, as they have a grasp of local issues and are best placed to assist those in need. That is why RE Capital has formed a multi-year partnership with The Non-Violence Project Foundation.

Centred on engagement and education for entire communities, the partnership’s activities will involve workshops with local artists, schools and educational institutions where RE Capital has a presence. The vision is to create programmes for specific audiences and tackling key issues such as mental ill health, youth disenfranchisement and women’s empowerment.

This sits beside our other social initiatives, including with Geneva-based refugee charity Rookie Slash, whose summer and winter projects we support, or the Marvilla Art District in Lisbon, which offers local artists spaces awaiting planning approval (which we support, as well as buying the art for our offices and buildings).

The benefits of these kinds of partnership to any real estate investor are manifold. They make a direct positive impact on our communities, including those living and working around as well as in our buildings. It also benefits your team’s morale, instilling a greater sense of purpose into their work and motivating them further.

With tough times ahead, now is the time to nurture and create new community partnerships to forge positive reputations.

Newman Leech is chief executive of RE Capital