Hillcrest Retains Top ESG Rating as Sustainability Progress Accelerates

We are delighted to have retained the ‘Exemplary’ ESG rating after an independent assessment of our 2025/26 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.

We’ve been recognised not only for our progress towards net zero but for supporting thousands of people across our areas of operation in Scotland, by delivering millions of pounds in financial benefits to tenants and investing almost £300,000 in communities through grants from the Hillcrest Foundation.

The assessment, carried out by European consultancy Ritterwald, awarded our report its highest grading for the second consecutive year. The report highlights significant progress across our environmental, social and governance commitments, including the launch of our Net Zero and Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030, major investment in energy efficiency, community support initiatives and the delivery of hundreds of new affordable homes.

Ad Hereijgers, Director at Ritterwald praised the report, saying: “Hillcrest show leadership and a high level of transparency by voluntarily having a third party assess the quality of their ESG credentials. We congratulate them for their high-quality report, demonstrating tangible improvements over the last three years.

John Alexander, Chief Executive, said: “Retaining our Exemplary ESG rating is a significant achievement and reflects the dedication of colleagues across Hillcrest to creating positive outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment.”

Some of the key achievements noted in the report are:

• Delivery of 223 new affordable homes across Scotland, incorporating low-carbon technologies and high energy-efficiency standards.
• More than 95% of homes now achieving EPC Band C or above
• £4.6 million of financial gains secured for tenants and people supported through our specialist services.
• The securing of our first £15 million Green Loan to support decarbonisation projects and our transition to net zero.
• Investment in renewable energy through 154 kW of new solar photovoltaic installations at our offices in Dundee.
• Almost £300,000 distributed through the Hillcrest Foundation to charities and community groups tackling poverty, inequality and social isolation.

Hillcrest’s Chairperson Dave Boyle said “Sustainability is central to how we deliver homes, provide care and support services, invest in communities and make decisions for the future. While we are proud of what has been achieved so far, we recognise that the journey to net zero is a long-term commitment. We remain focused on reducing our environmental impact, building climate resilience and ensuring the transition to a more sustainable future is fair and inclusive for the people and communities we serve.”

Our Net Zero and Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 sets out a clear roadmap for the organisation to become net zero by 2045, including improving the energy efficiency of existing homes, investing in renewable technologies and embedding sustainability throughout its operations.

Head of Sustainability for Housing, Danielle Hughes, also endorsed the report, saying “Hillcrest continues to be a true sustainability leader in Scotland’s social housing sector, as demonstrated by the association’s many ESG achievements in 2025/26. It’s clear that Hillcrest’s dedication to environmental and social wellbeing is a core component of its organisational strategy. Sustainability for Housing is delighted to see Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) Adopters like Hillcrest paving the way for a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future for social housing tenants across the UK.”

The full ESG Report can be viewed here.