56
Ascott Residence Trust
Annual Report 2015
Sustainability Management
Investors
For stakeholder engagement pertaining to investors,
please refer to the section on Investor Relations on
pages 51 to 53 of this Annual Report.
Human Capital
The Group believes people are its greatest assets and
they contribute to the success of the organisation. It
adopts an integrated human capital strategy to recruit,
develop and motivate employees.
To support its business growth, ARTML actively seeks
outstanding talents. They were recruited at different
points in their careers, from fresh graduates to young,
mid-career professionals and industry veterans in
order to strengthen the management bench and talent
pipeline for leadership succession planning. ARTML
leverages on the Group’s scale to provide a platform
for cross-fertilisation of skills and capabilities, where its
employees have the opportunity to rotate to different
serviced residences, functions, cities or countries
within the Group as part of their career development
and growth.
ARTML believes continual learning is a fundamental
building block of growth. Together with the Group,
there is a suite of training and deve lopment
programmes to acquire relevant knowledge and skills
to achieve business excellence for the employees.
A tota l we ll-be ing programme is in p l ace to
promote personal development, healthy living and
work-life harmony. Initiatives include a flexible medical
and benefits plan, flexible work arrangements and
employee engagement activities.
Community Development
ARTML continues to proactively support community
initiatives that contribute to the well-being of the
communities served by the serviced residences in the
portfolio.
In 2015, staff from Ascott Reit properties, together
with CapitaLand Hope Foundation, jointly organised
the first CapitaLand International Volunteer Expedition
to Chiang Rai province. The expedition reached out
to over 500 students of Doi Wiangpha Pittaya School
Materiality
Through regular stakeholder engagement, it identifies
and reviews material issues that are most relevant and
significant to the Group and its stakeholders. Priorities
are ranked based on the likelihood and potential
impact of issues affecting business continuity and
development. For external stakeholders, priority is
given to issues important to society and relevant to
the Group.
Employees
Ascott Reit does not have employees as it is externally
managed by ARTML. The employees of ARTML thus
form the headcount. Through regular communications
sessions with senior management, ARTML engages
its employees and keeps them abreast of its financial
results and strategic business thrusts.
In September 2015, the Group conducted its third
Employee Engagement Survey. An independent
consultancy firm was appointed to administer the
survey and to ensure confidentiality in soliciting honest
responses from the staff. When the analysis of the
survey findings is completed in 2016, the results will
be shared with the employees.
Regular recreational, team-building and networking
events are also held for the employees to reinforce
engagement and cohesiveness.
Customers
Regular resident satisfaction surveys are conducted
at all Ascott Reit’s serviced residences. Feedback
obtained is reviewed and relevant follow-up actions
are taken to improve service levels to improve serviced
residents’ experience.
Supply Chain Management
The Group proactively engages contractors and suppliers
on areas relating to quality of work and commitment
to environment, health and safety (EHS). For more
information, please refer to the EHS sub-section on
page 57 of this Annual Report. The Group also adopts
a strong stance against bribery and corruption.
Third-party service providers and contractors can
provide feedback, via a dedicated email address,
in addition to the regular feedback channels.
