THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 90 GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE The Board of Directors makes this statement in accordance with Section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. This statement sets out how the Board of Directors has acted to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of the members, having regard to the interest of stakeholders in their decision-making, as further detailed below for the year ended 31 December 2024. THE LIKELY CONSEQUENCES OF ANY DECISION IN THE LONG TERM AND DESIRABILITY TO MAINTAIN A REPUTATION FOR HIGH STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT Acting in the long-term interests of the business and for all our stakeholders is central to the Board’s decision-making process and shapes the Group’s strategy. To help the Board understand our wider stakeholder relationships and inform the Board’s decision-making, the Board receives regular updates from the Executive team, as well as the wider senior leadership team. In all decision-making, the potential impact on our stakeholders is taken into account, together with the likely consequences of these decisions in the long term and also the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct. The Board maintains oversight of the Company’s performance and reserves specific matters for approval, including significant new strategic initiatives and major decisions relating to capital raising and allocation. Through measurement against long-term objectives, the Board monitors how management is acting in accordance with the Board’s agreed strategy and the long-term interests of our key stakeholders. THE INTERESTS OF OUR EMPLOYEES As a service business providing homes for 68,000 young people, who are often living away from home for the first time, the Board recognises the importance of our people and the role they play in delivering our Home for Success purpose. The Board receives regular feedback through Unite Live sessions held with our Chief Executive and other members of the senior leadership team. These sessions enable employees to ask questions directly and for the Board to understand the issues that matter most to our teams and take that into account in Board-level decision-making. Our commitment to employee engagement can be seen by our regular employee engagement surveys where we take the feedback received and turn it into meaningful action. During 2024 this included the launch of My Impact, our performance enablement framework which supports learning and goal setting. Through our employee engagement forum, Culture Matters, the Board received regular feedback from our Non-Executive Director for Workforce Engagement for the year, Ilaria del Beato. During 2024, Ilaria attended the Culture Matters meetings and heard first-hand the context and debate while demonstrating the commitment of the Board. Through our annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) survey completed by employees, the Board was able to better understand employee needs and assess our progress. You can read more about Culture Matters on pages 83 and 86. THE NEED TO ACT FAIRLY BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY The Board recognises that acting fairly in the interests of all shareholders increases investor confidence, reduces our cost of capital and ensures good governance. This also supports the ability of the business to invest and grow through access to capital when it is required. We provide all investors with equal access to information through our public reporting of financial results and trading statements, as well as additional disclosures in areas such as sustainability through our corporate website. Our Annual General Meeting also provides an opportunity for all shareholders to have their say. We engage regularly with investors throughout the year and the Chair of the Board engages with shareholders on governance matters. OUR SECTION 172 STATEMENT Meeting the needs and expectations of our stakeholders is fundamental to delivery of our purpose, creating a Home for Success.