The wait is coming to an end. The renowned Iberian Property Investment Awards, organised by Iberian Property, have unveiled the finalists in one of their most eagerly awaited categories: "Social Impact Initiative of the Year", the winner of which will be announced on 19 September at the awards ceremony in Estoril, Portugal.
These awards honour the most outstanding players in the Iberian real estate sector, and this category in particular honours those players who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to social impact.
CBRE IBERIA - Caring For Communities
Asset Manager: CBRE Iberia
Sectors: Retail (fashion), offices and healthcare
Location: Spain & Portugal
CBRE Iberia, a leading property management firm in the Iberian Peninsula, is recognised for its exceptional contribution in the "Social Impact Initiative of the Year" category at the Iberian Property Investment Awards. CBRE Iberia's Property Management platform currently manages more than 12 million square metres, influencing more than 280 million people. Aware of their reach, they are committed to generating a positive social impact in the communities where they operate, becoming a driver of social change. For CBRE, the assets that generate long-term value are those that prioritise people in their strategy.
Under this commitment, the "Caring for Communities" programme was born, which seeks to personalise and work strategically on the "S" component of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), generating a positive and tangible impact on the local communities where its assets are located, through a cross-cutting programme of initiatives.
In 2022, CBRE carried out more than 743 actions in the assets under its management in iberia and contributed 593,595 euros to social causes, 65% in donations of space and 35% in monetary donations. In addition, they registered more than 6.5 million euros in Advertising Equivalent Value (AVE), which measures the media impact of the actions carried out, standing out with two campaigns: "Imagínate quedarte en blanco" about Alzheimer's (180,000 euros AVE) and "Puntos Violeta" (100,000 euros AVE).
Among CBRE's notable campaigns, two stand out:
- Re-fashion: This initiative promotes the circular economy and educates about the importance of giving clothes a second life, promoting the idea of 'slow fashion'. They managed to collect more than 73,000 garments and transform 120, with the participation of 31 CBRE assets.
- Alzheimer's campaign: On World Alzheimer's Day, CBRE launched a campaign that invited people to reflect on the sensation of going blank in everyday situations, emulating the effects of Alzheimer's disease. This campaign reached more than 5.6 million people, with the participation of 61 CBRE assets, and had an impact on 13 offices.
CBRE Iberia, through its outstanding actions and programmes, has demonstrated its solid commitment to the communities in which it operates, consolidating its position as a benchmark in the Real Estate investment scene in the Iberian Peninsula.
Lar España - Kilometres of solidarity
Socimi: Lar España
Sector: Healthcare (hospitals)
Location: Alicante
The hospital environment is often perceived as unwelcoming, especially for patients going through difficult times in their lives. Lar España set out to improve the stay of patients, especially vulnerable groups such as children and mental health patients, by transforming the environment.
Lar España, through its role as a socimi, saw sport as a motivational tool to mobilise people, with a focus on solidarity. Thus, in 2020, the "Kilometres of Solidarity" project was born, which sought to accumulate 20,000 kilometres among runners willing to participate in order to improve the experience of patients at the Dénia Hospital, creating a more welcoming environment.
Each year, new challenges were set. In 2021, Lar España doubled the goal, proposing to reach 40,000 km. In 2022, they kept the goal and allowed to add up kilometres with the Strava app, either walking, running or cycling.
In the 2022 edition, 1,447 people joined the challenge, accumulating more than 100,000 km and reaching 133,043 users. The campaign generated 3,797 interactions, 39,559 reproductions and publicity valued at 10,555 euros.
This achievement would not have been possible without the collaboration of the local community, in particular the residents of the Marina Alta. Lar España, through "Kilómetros Solidarios", has not only mobilised the community around sport and health, but has also provided hope and a more welcoming environment for those who need it most in hospitals.
Westport International - Impact Partnerships for Dignified Housing
Asset Manager: Westport International
Sector: Residential (refurbishment)
Location: Lisbon, Mafra and Tondela
The right to decent housing is fundamental, and Westport International, in partnership with Just a Change since 2021, has worked hard to address housing poverty by promoting rehabilitation and value creation in cities.
By aligning its initiatives with its core business, Westport seeks to ensure long-term positive impact. Its employees actively participate in voluntary action, making a tangible contribution to providing a decent home to those who need it most.
Key points of this collaboration include:
- Corporate volunteering: Westport employees participate in Just a Change volunteering actions, improving the living conditions of disadvantaged communities and developing solutions aligned with the demands of society.
- Stakeholder engagement: These initiatives have involved not only employees, but also their families, customers and partners, amplifying the impact on stakeholders and engaging them in purposeful initiatives.
- Direct social investment: Westport International invests in the growth of Just a Change, linking this investment to new developments based on a fixed percentage. This ensures that each project generates a measurable positive impact.
In 2022, Westport highlighted two main actions: the transformation of Mr Jorge's house and the rehabilitation of the institution in Mafra, known as "Casa-Mãe do Gradil". These actions benefited 70 individuals in the rehabilitated institution and 8 individuals in private homes, with the participation of 40 people.
With initiatives such as these, Westport International reinforces its commitment to society and demonstrates that real estate can, and should, have a positive impact beyond its commercial operations.
Iberian Property Investment Awards: beyond CSR
These firms are not only redefining what corporate responsibility means in real estate, they are setting higher standards for genuine and lasting social impact. As the sector evolves, it is vital to recognise and applaud those who put communities and people at the heart of their strategy.
The winner will be revealed at the next award ceremony, which will be held on 19 September in the Portuguese city of Estoril. Read here the news about the other categories and their finalists:
Green Asset Initiative of the Year
Investor Reporting of the Year
