MainStreet Partners invested in the Ethical Property Company (“EPC”) in 2015 and has been delighted with the company’s progress and social performance ever since. As part of our ongoing monitoring of our investments, on Thursday 14th September MainStreet participated in a shareholders’ meeting in London. The management team, including Susan Ralphs (Managing Director) and Penny Gardner (Finance Director), presented EPC’s recent results and future plans.

The meeting was held at The Foundry, one of EPC’s leading sustainable buildings and a winner of a 2015 RIBA London Building of the Year Award. The Foundry was redeveloped by EPC as a Green building which is now home to almost 20 tenants which are all social justice and human rights focused groups. Enrico Lo Giudice (Research Associate) and James Hay (Investment Analyst) were given a tour of the building to view The Foundry’s community learning environment and had the opportunity to meet one of the tenants, ADD International, a NGO which supports disability activism globally.

EPC is committed to sustainable business practices and can boast the following statistics:
• 100% of employees are paid a living wage, which is higher than the statutory minimum wage.
• Total energy use decreased by 4.9% between 2015 and 2016 on a per m2 basis
• Space provided to almost 100 charities and social organisations.
• A portfolio of 23 centres across 9 cities in the UK.

EPC is particularly excited about the upcoming opening of The Green House in Bethnal Green, which will be its newest property as well as its pipeline of projects around the country.