Positioning Hillcrest as a sector leader in ESG reporting within the Scottish housing sector, the recognition underscores its commitment to improving lives and protecting the environment through sustainable practices.

Since adopting the Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) for Social Housing in 2022/23, Hillcrest annually measures and reports on ESG performance using comprehensive qualitative and quantitative criteria across a range of categories. Reporting against this framework allows Hillcrest to showcase and track its sustainability and progressive decision-making as the organisation continues to develop and evolve.

Over the past year, Hillcrest has delivered initiatives that make a tangible difference to the people and communities it serves. In Arbroath, for example, a whole-house retrofit project transformed 22 homes, with £1.15 million invested in new windows and doors, air source heat pumps, external wall insulation, solar PV, and battery storage.

At Rose Terrace in Perth, Hillcrest Maintenance demonstrated its growing expertise by installing 97 hardwood sash and case windows. These improvements delivered enhanced energy efficiency and comfort of tenants’ homes while preserving the character and integrity of the historically important building.

Such initiatives, alongside a significant improvement in reporting, have resulted in an assessment grading improvement from ‘Satisfactory’ to ‘Exemplary’, and the organisation has been noted by Ritterwald as ‘frontrunners’ of ESG reporting within the Scottish housing sector.

Ad Hereijgers, Ritterwald director UK and sustainability lead, said: “We congratulate Hillcrest on their high-quality ESG report, even more improved from last year. By obtaining limited assurance, Hillcrest is helping to improve the SRS and position itself for audited non-financial reporting in the future.

“It shows leadership to have a third party voluntarily assess the status of the company’s ESG credentials. This shows a high level of transparency that should be emulated among peers.”

Dave Boyle, Hillcrest chair, said: “Our ESG journey continues to be shaped by key milestones, and we are delighted that this year’s report has been graded as ‘Exemplary’ through a rigorous and independent external assessment process. This is a great indicator of continuous improvement over the last year.”

John Alexander, Hillcrest chief executive, added: “This year’s ESG report reflects our ongoing dedication to long-term sustainability and meaningful impact. We’re pleased to be further strengthening this commitment by introducing our net zero strategy, which will guide our efforts to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and support a greener future for the communities we serve.”

Hillcrest’s net zero strategy, which aligns directly to ESG reporting, will be published in November 2025 and will build upon the organisation’s existing environmental initiatives, setting out clear, actionable goals to help achieve carbon neutrality across operations.