In 2023, we embarked on an exciting new partnership with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), a charity committed to enhancing the UK's green spaces and engaging communities in conservation efforts. Our collaboration with TCV offers our employees the unique opportunity to participate in corporate volunteering days, where they can engage in meaningful conservation work under expert guidance, benefiting local communities and the environment.

These bespoke team-building programmes are designed to bolster team dynamics and staff morale, while also providing a platform for our teams to acquire new skills, forge connections with local communities, and enjoy a refreshing break from the office setting. TCV's tailored conservation activities align with our environmental objectives and are adapted to meet the specific needs of each site.

Throughout the financial year 2023/24, 81 employees have been involved in a variety of seasonal activities, ranging from grassland management, and creating wildlife habitats in the spring and summer, to woodland management and tree planting during the autumn and winter months. Nearly all of our employee volunteers would now explore other volunteering opportunities having taken part in a TCV volunteering day.

These efforts not only contribute to the preservation and improvement of local ecosystems but also offer a wealth of benefits for our employees, including increased motivation, enhanced skills and self-confidence, improved team building and communication, and the fulfilment of our ESG commitments. Through this partnership, we support the vital work of TCV and demonstrate our dedication to environmental stewardship and community engagement.

In October 2022, we embarked on a collaborative initiative with prominent UK food assistance organisations, one of which was The Felix Project, to address the escalating cost-of-living crisis affecting clients, employees and communities. The crisis of food insecurity, which already affects 8% of the UK's population, has worsened, leaving many families struggling to provide meals. At the same time, the UK faces significant food wastage due to overstocking by supermarkets and the required overproduction of farms.

Recognising the parallel nature of these problems, we seized the opportunity to drive positive change by forging a partnership with The Felix Project. Our collaboration aimed to channel surplus food to those in need, thereby addressing one issue through the mitigation of another.

The Felix Project salvages fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise go unsold and redirects it to charities and schools in London, where healthy meals are prepared for those in need. In the past financial year, 242 Investec employees dedicated over 1,420 hours to volunteer with The Felix Project, supporting the charity with meal preparation and distribution to various charities and community groups in London.

This practice alleviates hunger by providing meals to those in need and reduces the environmental impact of food production and waste. It aligns with the principles of a circular economy, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value before recovery and regeneration. Following the success of this partnership we have decided to continue to support The Felix Project in its endeavours. Our involvement in these initiatives reflects our commitment to social responsibility and dedication to environmental sustainability.

Since 2010, our partnership with Trees for Cities has flourished, with our employees actively participating in environmental initiatives, such as tree planting, which enhance both ecological and community wellbeing. Our collaboration has evolved to include funding the Planting Healthy Air in Schools programme. This initiative is pivotal in transforming the playgrounds of some of London's most pollution-affected primary schools into greener, healthier spaces. The Planting Healthy Air programme is designed to mitigate exposure to harmful airborne pollution through strategic green infrastructure. By creating woodland shelters and wildlife areas, Trees for Cities aims to enhance outdoor learning and play, while addressing London's air quality issues.

In 2023, Investec’s funding facilitated the St Mary & Michael Primary School’s Planting Healthy Air programme. The school, situated in an area with high pollution levels and limited access to green spaces, has seen its playground transformed with raised beds, meadows and a growing pergola. The engagement activities, including air quality assessments and planting workshops, have empowered pupils and staff to embrace outdoor learning and take pride in their environment. The positive impacts of green infrastructure are evident, with the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) platform providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of planting schemes in reducing pollution. Our commitment to the Planting Healthy Air in Schools programme underscores our dedication to creating healthier environments for children and fostering a sustainable future.

In July 2021, we embarked on a collaboration with the Hawk Conservancy Trust, a renowned conservation charity and visitor attraction in Hampshire nestled in 22 acres with a woodland and wildflower meadow. The Trust’s mission is the conservation of birds of prey and their habitats. It is dedicated to the care, rehabilitation, research and conservation of birds of prey, with its efforts extending both in the UK and overseas. Our alliance with the Trust reflects our shared vision to forge a sustainable future for endangered species, their ecosystems and biodiversity at large, by fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world. Our support extends to the Trust's National Bird of Prey Hospital and its enriching wildlife workshops and wellbeing education programmes.

These initiatives are specifically designed to offer students from local educational institutions, particularly those who might not otherwise have such opportunities, a chance to immerse themselves in nature and be inspired by the Trust's conservation efforts. Our sponsorship has allowed the Trust to add two new interns to its team. Lisa, the Trust’s conservation education intern, is channelling her passion for avian species into a career in conservation education, while Holly, the Trust’s biodiversity conservation intern, brings a wealth of experience from her zoology degree and previous conservation work.

The Trust's Explore Nature programme has been refined based on feedback and adapted to a bursary model for pupil premium students. With 62 students who already visited the Trust the financial year of 2023/24, it is actively seeking to expand this offering to more schools, particularly in urban areas, to maximise its reach and impact.

In response to the ongoing threat of avian influenza (bird flu) the Trust, with Investec's support, has initiated the construction of separate epidemiological units to safeguard resident birds. This includes establishing four additional food preparation facilities to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination and protect the Trust's avian residents, including critically endangered white-headed vulture breeding pairs.

 Investec's heritage drives our commitment to protecting African species as a South African financial institution. We partner with trusted non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through Investec Rhino Lifeline. Since 2012, we've saved rhinos, supported their rehabilitation, raised global awareness, educated South African children on conservation, and provided conservation learnerships to young people through the Youth Employment Service (YES). We believe investing in biodiversity and inclusive conservation is vital for preserving our wildlife and creating a better future for all.