Robertson achieves £1bn social value five years ahead of target, ESG report finds

Through its Responsible Business 2030 strategy, the group has achieved £1 billion of social value five years ahead of target.

This milestone represents the collective impact of Robertson projects across the UK, where local spend, employment, apprenticeships, and community investment are integral to delivery. It demonstrates a consistent focus on collaboration with customers, suppliers, and local partners to strengthen local economies, develop skills, and create lasting employment opportunities in the communities where it operates.

Team Robertson and its supply chain delivered more than 2,700 volunteering hours and contributed £540k donations and in-kind support to local causes. 1,753 lives were enhanced through apprenticeships, formal training, mentoring, and work placements, including 78 individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds supported into employment.

Its Ideal Candidate programme passed 1,000 participants, while partnerships with City of Glasgow College and Edinburgh College created new routes into construction careers.

Robertson also delivered a 73.72% reduction in carbon intensity since baselining its carbon footprint ten years ago, 46% of which has been achieved in the last five years.

After fixing its offset level in 2020 and continuing to make reductions, Robertson has offset 3,943.10 tonnes more carbon than it generated, maintaining its climate positive status.

These reductions reflect continued investment in sustainable construction methods, the adoption of low-carbon technologies, responsible sourcing, and early engagement with design teams to reduce embodied carbon from the outset.

During 2024–25, Robertson was also named Green Business of the Year at the British Business Awards and achieved a 100% ultra-low emissions company car fleet.

Robertson became the first tier-one contractor to achieve Platinum status in the Supply Chain Sustainability School Plant Charter, one of the highest standards for sustainable plant and equipment use in the UK. The company also strengthened its partnership with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, launching a Sustainable Growth toolkit that helps the wider construction sector improve environmental compliance and performance.

Projects such as Montgomerie Park Primary School and Riverbank Primary School continued to demonstrate practical delivery of low embodied carbon and net zero design while the Mynydd Isa Campus, one of the most energy-efficient in Wales, shows net zero in operation.

The commitment to resource efficiency also remained strong, with more than 99% of construction waste diverted from landfill. Energy use per £100k of project spend has reduced by more than half over five years, while construction water use has fallen by around two-thirds, reflecting continued progress in managing resources efficiently across all projects.

This year’s report also highlights the growth of collaborative partnerships across the UK, with Robertson working alongside customers, suppliers, and local organisations to create long-term community benefit and drive innovation in low-carbon delivery.

Elliot Robertson, chief executive officer, Robertson Group, said: “When we published our first ESG report, I spoke about our commitment to being a responsible business – holding ourselves accountable for the impact we have on the environment, communities, and our teams. That commitment remains steadfast.

“Over the last 12 months, we have continued to take significant steps forward: further reducing our carbon intensity, delivering projects that set new benchmarks for sustainability, and expanding our social programmes to support more people than ever before.

“We continue to work closely with our customers to help deliver against their net zero targets and to support our supply chain partners in reducing their carbon footprint. We remain committed to delivering against our vision, to assure a sustainable future.”