corporate strategy 2015-2020

Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The BIG questions

Let’s start with the BIG questions such as Who are we? Why are we here? Then look at the next five years 2015-2020 And see how will we make a difference

who are we?

we are pioneering

The First Ark Group is a unique social impact business - we bring together the best aspects of Private, Public, Social Enterprise and Third sector organisations to drive our growth.

why? Because by growing our business – we support positive social and economic outcomes. ‘innovation is at the heart of our business’

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The BIG questions

why are we here?

we are fair

We’re about creating success that changes people’s lives.

World Merit

Digital Inclusion project Tenants in Gaywood Green training to use tablet devices to go online

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2 winners in the One Ark project World Merit who won the chance to travel the world and debate with world leaders

Win a Shop Cheryl Mullins the first winner of our ‘Win a Shop’ initiative

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The BIG questions

Homes for rent To provide great quality homes, services and sustainable neighbourhoods

- Homes to rent - Managing lettings - Providing advice on benefits - Supported living

Homes for sale To provide great quality homes that meet your aspirations

how do we do this? We’re on a mission to deliver first class homes, products and services that enable people, places and organisations to flourish.

Changing people’s lives To increase wealth and create resilient communities in the North West, generating opportunities for people to make inspiring changes to their life chances.

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- Corporate strategy & direction - Business & service development including marketing services - Business support provision including customer contact centre services

- Managing, attracting and providing investment - Strengthening communities - Creating and supporting partnerships - Evaluating initiatives and sharing the lessons learned

Business & property solutions

Pioneering & supporting To provide group strategy and corporate activities

- Homes for sale - Homes for shared ownership

To deliver commercial activities, to maximise profits and invest back into the community through employment, education and training.

- Facilities management - Refurbishing property - Planned and responsive repairs and maintenance - Diverse product and service offer

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The BIG questions

why does it matter?

we are brave

Our social impact changes people’s lives. In one year we invested £4.5m into North West people, businesses and communities.

environment - Our ‘Save Energy Save Money’ campaign generated £212k of savings for households that took part and saved 1,116 Tonnes of CO2 - New processes at Vivark resulted in 90% of waste recycled from empty homes and repairs

communities - 232 days of voluntary work to support community initiatives - £15,000 charitable funds raised by staff efforts for our charity of the year

people - We recruited 32 Apprentices - Secured £143,000 additional income for KHT tenants through sound financial inclusion advice

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partnerships - Through our procurement practices, we encourage our subcontractors to commit 1% of every £100,000 we spend with them as a levy towards group social impact activity generating £65,571 social levy - Engaged 2899 young people in gaining qualifications, improving education attendance or getting a job - Working with The Women’s Organisation to support 43 female business start ups creating a social value of £285,495 HACT value

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“This apprenticeship was a lifesaver for me” “A great place to work” “Warm and welcoming from the minute you enter the business”

Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The BIG questions

who do we work with?

what’s it like to work here?

We work with a diverse range of partners from across the sectors. We share a passion for doing things differently, making an impact and improving social inclusion. Through our partnerships we are helping to shape a new culture of public service innovation.

To meet our purpose of Changing People’s Lives we’re guided by our Values - every day: » We step up to tackle difficult situations or problems ( Brave ) » We like to innovate and try something new ( Pioneering ) » We treat everyone fairly and with respect ( Fair ) » We communicate effectively and honestly ( Open ) » We actively seek improvements ( Bold )

Create a climate for Innovation Getting the right people involved Look at actions and motivation

Partners from all sectors

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Working together

Social inclusion

If this sounds like a working partnership you’d be interested in then we’re right here... www.firstark.com

- 500+ employees - Range of skills and roles - Apprentices - Living Wage commitment

- Commitment to training, learning and development - Volunteering and social activity

If this sounds like somewhere you’d like to work be bold and get in touch... www.firstark.com

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

the next five years 2015 - 2020 changing people’s lives This is what’s important to us for the next five years... We want First Ark to become established as a diversified high performing business with a social purpose. We are passionate about making a difference not just in what we do but how we do it

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We are a business with a difference... Why? Because we will make a difference Not just by achieving growth But also:

by supporting enterprise by extending our influence by smart investment by delivering customer excellence by living our values 13

Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

Developing careers

New areas

New services Homes to rent New products

achieving growth means Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference, so we want to grow:

our business by

other businesses by

- Delivering a diverse range of new products and services over the next five years that put money in people’s pockets as well as help us to grow - Extending our geographical reach so we change the lives of people across a much wider area - And our scope... so we touch more lives, delight more customers, support more businesses than ever before

- Attracting inward social investment to the areas we work in so that other businesses succeed alongside us - Taking a considered approach to purchasing that achieves best value AND social value so that others grow with us - Influencing others to follow our approach to responsible profitable social growth

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Wider audiences Investment

Advice & support

Homes to buy Supporting businesses Repairs & maintenance Facilities Management

Supporting entrepreneurs

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

supporting enterprise means

we are bold

Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference, so we want to encourage the spirit of enterprise by

- Providing advice guidance and practical support to emerging enterprises in the areas where we work - Building a bridge between sectors of the economy - Helping people achieve their ambitions - Supporting jobs, training and skills, entrepreneurship

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

extending our influence means

we are open

Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference so

- Transfer of power and accountability to regions and local places - A digitally included society - Greener, fairer and included communities - A fair deal for work and in later years - Socially responsible growth and UK competitive advantage - Well connected, joined up communities

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Our manifesto

- We will lead by example and encourage other businesses to follow our principles - Our Manifesto is at the heart of our influencing for the future - it’s what we will influence and aim for nationally, regionally, locally, politically with partners for the next five years

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

smart investment means Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference, so we want to be smart investors by

- Setting up social investment funds that make a social return and make business sense - Attracting other investors to work alongside us and support emerging enterprise - So that more people and organisations flourish

customer excellence means Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference, so we want to deliver customer excellence by

- Being easy and enjoyable to do business with - Keeping our promises every time - Generating trust so we really know our customers - Delighting our customers with a personal approach

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Corporate Plan 2015-2020 » The next five years

living our values means Doing more of what we do now, naturally, but it’s not just this... We are a business with a difference, so we want to live our values in the next five years in our corporate behaviour

- Being a pioneering business – we want to create a business model that inspires others to follow our model - Being a brave business – we want to expand our reach so that more people benefit from our services, products and influencing - Being a fair business – we want to invest in our people, our customers and in society so that they flourish with us

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- Being an open business – we want to be known for providing a first class customer experience and being open to feedback to achieve this - Being a bold business – we want to change YOUR life and YOUR business for the better

we are fair bold open brave pioneering 23

We’ve answered the big questions about who we are and what we’ve been doing and you’ve heard what the next five years holds for us... If you are as passionate about making a difference as we are - not just in what you do but how you do it - then get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

So much more than ‘business as usual’

First Ark Group Lakeview, Kings Business Park Prescot L34 1PJ Tel: 0151 290 7000 www.firstark.co.uk Connect with us on: @firstark www.facebook.com/firstark search for First Ark search for First Ark