Recently, for PFM magazine, our OCS UK and Ireland ESG Director, Jacky So, visited our customer KBR’s UK headquarters in Leatherhead, East Sussex, to chat with their Facilities Manager, Karen Henchy. The headquarters is a 42-acre campus with around 2,300 employees.
OCS has been fostering a partnership with KBR since 2008, starting with a sole catering contract. Today, we provide total facilities management services to the site and have recently secured a five-year extension on the contract.
The strength of our relationship with KBR stems from a shared dedication to sustainability and forward-thinking environmental practices integrated into corporate activities. For example, we partner with Olio to combat food waste by giving unsold food to the local community. Our Food for Life Served Here bronze and silver accreditations, while we work towards Gold, help us ensure we provide a catering service that is not only nourishing but also has a positive social and environmental impact. We are also on a journey to sign up for the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a framework that will help us and our customers be more precise in our sustainability efforts.
Among other initiatives, we launched No Mow May earlier this year, a campaign that saw the KBR campus letting its lawns grow wild to encourage pollinators to return during peak season. New additions to the campus include a greenhouse to grow fresh fruit and vegetables and a beehive to promote circular food production, with opportunities to sell products from both, where proceeds would go to charity. Members of the team will also be trained in hive management and bee handling.
In conclusion, our ongoing collaboration with KBR exemplifies how shared values and innovative practices can lead to a more sustainable and impactful partnership. We look forward to continuing this journey together, making strides in sustainability and setting new standards for corporate responsibility. For the full story visit PFM magazine here.
