THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 109 FIRE SAFETY The Committee reviewed the business’s approach to fire safety, always keeping in mind the paramount importance of our responsibility to keep our customers safe and that we operate our properties in accordance with best practice aligned with the Fire Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety Regulations 2022. All our properties continue to be confirmed as safe to operate by third-party accredited fire risk assessors pursuant to the comprehensive annual fire risk assessments completed at each property. This reflects our robust approach to fire safety across our portfolio, and our continued commitment to improving fire safety performance through proactive surveying and appropriate remediation of façades and investment in smoke control systems, passive fire protection and fire doors. We have a dedicated Fire Safety team with valuable hands-on knowledge and experience from working in fire authorities. Our Fire Safety team also work closely with fire and rescue services, local authorities, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as fire safety experts, to provide advice and guidance through the lifecycle of our buildings, from development design, occupation and through to disposal. CLADDING REMEDIATION PROGRAMME Through 2024, the Committee continued its oversight of the business’s comprehensive cladding remediation programme, which provides significant capital expenditure to secure the safety of our customers and people. The programme is divided into phases based on the risk associated with each building, following detailed surveys of our properties to understand property specific issues. The business remediated seven buildings during 2024, bringing this to a total of 43 properties since we launched our cladding programme in 2019. The business employs a dedicated team focused solely on cladding remediation, using an established contractor base with expertise in remediating buildings to a high quality and at pace. The Committee has monitored progress through the year and ensured the operating properties remain safe to operate, with customer safety always our priority. BUILDING SAFETY ACT Following the implementation of the Building Safety Act, the Health & Safety Committee continues to oversee the businesses’s compliance with the Act. During 2024, the Committee supported the decision to move our Primary Fire Authority to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services, conscious of their expertise with high-rise buildings. SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CUSTOMERS AND OUR PEOPLE Aligned with our strategic objectives of providing a Great Place to Live and Work, the Committee has continued to oversee our focus on wider safety issues for our customers and people. The Committee has monitored safety performance through the year, comparing the levels and types of incidents with prior years. The Committee noted an increase in the number of safety incidents reported and is confident this reflects a healthy reporting culture, rather than a decrease in safety performance. Five RIDDOR operational incidents were reported in the year (2023:1). This compares favourably to the industry benchmark and highlights the positive safety culture across the business. The Committee also received regular updates from the Risk & Assurance team as they continued to undertake operational compliance audits throughout our buildings to ensure compliance. These audits are focused upon legislative, regulatory and Company policy compliance, incorporating fire safety, health and safety at work and security. PROPERTY SECURITY The Health & Safety Committee continued its review of the physical security of our properties to better understand the risks and create more tailored mitigation plans. Moving into 2025, the Committee will oversee the implementation of these security improvements and monitor the type and level of security incidents to understand if these security improvements are proving successful. PROFESSOR SIR STEVE SMITH CHAIR OF THE HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE