Accountability and sustainability

Acting sustainably

Environmental sustainability

The most important space at Stor-Age is the environment that surrounds us and that is why we continue to address sustainable practices in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and storm water management and conservation. We strive to improve these aspects of our properties both as a commercial property owner and self storage operator in line with the changing environmental legislation and our own commercial objectives.

Operational store energy consumption

Typical energy consumption at our properties is predominantly grid electricity for lighting, lifts, general power, heating, cooling and ventilation. These all result in ’indirect’ off-site power station carbon emissions.

Store electricity consumption has been reduced at our properties by the introduction of the following:

• Motion sensor lighting is installed in all properties with light fittings spaced at optimum distances to both reduce the number of fittings used and the energy consumed, taking cognisance of operating standards and requirements.
• LED light fittings are installed as a standard feature in all new properties both internally and externally. LED light fittings save up to 60% of consumption versus standard fittings. We recently embarked on a process to retrofit these installations at all existing properties and this process is substantially complete.
• Solar panelled hot water cylinders are installed for the generation of hot water in both the retail store and security office.
• Each month a detailed analysis is prepared and reviewed to assess consumption at all properties in the portfolio, with exceptions dealt with timeously through active management. We aim to incorporate utility consumption into our Operations Store Manager KPI targets each month to ensure accountability at a property level.
• Stor-Age Durbanville was the first self storage property in South Africa to be fitted complete with a solar photovoltaic system for the generation of its 3 phase power requirements. The technology went live in September 2013 and in late 2015, after the introduction of net metering by the City of Cape Town, the property was enrolled in the city’s programme. Net metering allows consumers to over-generate power on site in excess of demand which in turn is pushed back into the grid. Net metering effectively rolls over a net kilowatt credit to be used either at night, at times of low self-generation or in the following month (due to the system having no storage capacity). The results of the installation have proven to enhance consumption savings by almost 80% on a like-for-like property basis. Given the effectiveness of the installation, we plan to integrate the system into further properties over the medium term.

Storm water management and conservation

At a number of our recently developed properties, permeable paving has been incorporated into our external civil engineering design.

Permeable paving is qualitatively different from traditional paving methods in that water is treated on site before being discharged into both the natural ground water table and storm water system.

Social Sustainability

At Stor-Age we strive to make a sustainable difference and recognising our role as a responsible member of the broader community and in line with our Core Value of Relevance, we aim to be relevant not just in the lives of our customers and staff, but also within the local community in which we operate.

Our medium term objective is to continue to focus our resources on fewer but larger projects. We recognise the importance of being an active member and contributing within our local communities and we encourage our staff at the property level to develop close links with charities, schools, sports clubs and local interest groups.

In the 2016 financial year we supported many initiatives selected by our store and head office teams resulting in an annualised contribution exceeding R500 000. Highlights of these initiatives include:

Santa Shoebox Project

The partnership with Santa Shoebox has developed steadily. As one of the main sponsors we not only provide drop-and-go points for donors but also provide more than 8 000 shoeboxes to the public in order to facilitate the completion of shoebox donations. Our contribution to the 100 000 donation target was approximately 11 000 completed shoeboxes, up from 8 000 in the previous year. Stor-Age has become a fundamental contributor by providing convenient locations for donors, complementary shoeboxes, storage space, labour and transportation solutions as well as supporting the social media efforts of the non-profit organisation.

In addition to this, Stor-Age also provides year-round storage space to volunteers to collect, store and organise the large scale national event. Staff have enjoyed the partnership and taken the project to heart by volunteering their time for the main collection days.

The Kids to Kids Trust

The custodian of the Santa Shoebox Project houses their operation at Stor-Age Claremont in Cape Town. Stor-Age donated space worth approximately R50 000 this year to the trust for the storage and arrangement of their operational requirements, which includes Kidz2Kidz Projects as well as the Santa Shoebox Project. The NPO is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation with the South African Revenue Service and is a level four B-BBEE contributor.

Debbie Zelezniak

Santa Shoebox, National Co-ordinator

MEET Dephine

Human sustainability

Stor-Age is committed to the development of all its employees through effective learning, development and training opportunities. Our Learning and Development framework identifies the 15 key capabilities required across all aspects of the business to support succession-plans and prepare staff for future roles and responsibilities.

Stor-Age has developed a range of training courses. Our bespoke Operations Training Programme, which includes both on-the-job training at the properties, as well as a dedicated Operations Training Week, forms the foundation for new joiners at Stor-Age. Our core training programme is complemented by management and leadership development programmes which are delivered both in-house and by external service providers. All store based staff are provided with accredited Health and Safety, First Aid and Fire Fighting training, while our broader programme covers a range of ’soft’ and technical self storage specific skills.

Comprehensive job descriptions clearly set out the purpose of each person’s role within the business, the KPAs, the activities and responsibilities within each KPA and the competencies required to deliver value in their role. Our Annual Performance Review and Personal Development Plan process provides a clearly defined platform for facilitating formal assessment and feedback to all staff, with a key outcome being the individuals’ primary training, learning and development needs.

Stor-Age has a formal Employment Equity Plan in place with clearly established targets to reduce both gender and race related under-representation by 2020. The first 5 year plan is for the period 1 December 2015 to 30 September 2020 and the first report against progress towards delivering on this plan will be in September 2016. We provide fully funded life, disability and funeral assistance cover through an insurance policy to all our store based staff, while our internally facilitated Medical Aid Scheme (Momentum Health) and our Group Retirement Annuity (Allan Gray) has steadily grown in participation.

In addition, the annual Stor-Age staff conference provides an ideal opportunity for the development and enhancement of the business culture. By bringing together all staff, from all levels and from across the country in a single location, everyone is able to truly experience and share the collective experience of Stor-Age as a business in a relaxed and informal setting. Coupled with fostering new partnerships and sharing best practices, the annual conference continues to be a key contributor to the ethos and personality of the business as a whole. A common theme amongst staff following the conference is that it provides a source for renewed motivation for the financial year ahead.

Customer surveys are an integral contributor to the sustainability of the social and ethical aspects of business practices. During the year, over 3 700 surveys were completed with a 95% satisfaction rate. The surveys in question are a key driver of the learning and development programmes that are administered to staff. They are also a key factor when determining best practices within the business. Engagement with customers through this medium has allowed this crucial stakeholder group to have a direct and meaningful influence on the business practices and processes at Stor-Age.

With the challenges of modern day time constraints on the working population, we introduced a flexible work-hours approach at Head Office. This has served to not only increase the productivity of our employees but has seen a significant contribution to a positive work environment.

In order to manage our risk it is important that stringent guidelines (which include courtesy procedures) are implemented and managed to ensure that high levels of Health and Safety, as well as Stor-Age’s own standards, are maintained.

Stor-Age Staff Conference 2016

MEET Tim