More than bricks and mortar
A more sustainable future, one workplace at a time
Putting people and planet at the heart of our spaces
Deloitte’s commitment to achieve net-zero by 2040 is influencing more than how we work – it’s impacting how we design, run and use our offices.
Whether it’s through the materials we choose or the equipment we purchase, our real estate can have a significant impact on the environment. So across the firm, we’re reimagining our footprint.
From negotiating green leases to designing for sustainability, our teams are working together to create buildings that support us on our journey to net-zero.
Our new workspaces in Belfast, Bristol and Manchester are much more than bricks and mortar. As well as supporting our environmental commitments, they demonstrate the importance we place on our people’s wellbeing and our commitment to our local communities.
Buildings for a better world
We’ve brought together Deloitte expertise in sustainability consulting, design, engineering and project management to transform traditional offices into places that work for today’s teams.
Our buildings are shaped by our Better Buildings Framework, which guides the decisions we make on site selection, the use of renewable electricity and reducing consumption and waste in operation. We prioritise buildings that do not use onsite fossil fuels where possible and specify materials that are natural or recycled to reduce the embodied carbon within our refurbishments.
The spaces within also prioritise our people, with nursing, multi-faith and wellness rooms, alongside areas for flexible working and socialising, so everyone feels valued.
“Our refurbishments show how workplace design can foster community, elevate collaboration and redefine what an office means in a hybrid world,” says Joe Baum, head of real estate. “They promote connection, flexibility and inclusivity and are creating vibrant hubs where people and ideas can thrive.”
To reach net-zero, we must cut emissions from everywhere we work, and with Deloitte embracing hybrid working, that includes our colleagues’ homes.
We’ve shared guidance to help our people make more sustainable choices when based remotely, including tips on energy efficiency and smarter shopping, because every individual action, no matter how small, matters.
“Our offices support our ambitious net-zero strategy. Our Future of Work model is based on collaboration and flexibility, balancing hybrid working with meaningful in-person interaction that enables our people to work together more effectively.”
Gavin Harrison, head of Sustainability
“We listened to our people and designed the Manchester office around how they want to work, focusing on collaboration, connection and innovation.”
Jo Ahmed, North West Practice senior partner
Reimagining sustainability in the new workplace
Opened in the past year, our sites in Belfast, Manchester and Bristol continue to turn our vision into reality.
Deloitte’s new Belfast headquarters at The Ewart brings our 1,300-plus people in Northern Ireland together for the first time.
Once almost derelict, one of the city’s most recognisable historic buildings has been given a new lease of life, through the careful addition of new, sustainable elements, like bio-based flooring and acoustic panels made of recycled plastics, and the retention of original features.
The Ewart has earned an excellent rating from the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), proving careful adaptation of historic buildings can result in future-ready and sustainable spaces.
In Manchester, 100 Embankment’s sustainability credentials are clear throughout, with carpets crafted from discarded fishing nets, wood-waste worktops, wall cladding made of recycled paper and solar panels that contribute to the building’s energy supply.
To encourage more sustainable travel, the building is equipped with cycle racks and changing rooms. Colleagues are also encouraging sustainable behaviours, running events such as pre-loved clothes swaps.
And Bristol’s Halo building, featuring solar panels, energy-efficient chillers and recycled energy generated by the lifts, was one of the first buildings outside London to earn an outstanding rating under the BREEAM 2018 New Construction scheme. It also boasts a Platinum Cycle Score, signifying exceptional commitment to active commuting.
From local action to systems change
We want our offices to create lasting benefits not just for Deloitte but for our communities too.
In Belfast, Deloitte has partnered with Catalyst to operate an innovation hub and co-working space on the ground floor of the Ewart, with a social enterprise café run by NOW Group. Open to the public, the café provides training and development opportunities for people with disabilities, giving them sustainable employment within the hospitality sector.
As a global knowledge partner of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and a member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), we’re also using our voice to drive real estate decarbonisation more broadly.
“In demonstrating our efforts in sustainable real estate and through our collaboration with WorldGBC, we’re committed to being a leader in this space, inspiring other organisations and sparking conversations that can drive wider change,” says Michelle Wang, sustainability manager, Global Real Estate.
As we work towards our 2040 goal, our Better Buildings philosophy will continue to embed low-carbon thinking across our real estate and guide our journey to net-zero. Because sustainable spaces make sense – for the environment, our people and our business.
