Impact

Creat­ing living spaces

Swiss Prime Site AG is the leading listed real estate company in Switzerland. Its high-quality real estate portfolio is worth approximately CHF 12 billion and consists of properties with good value retention in prime locations, which predominantly comprise office and retail floor space. Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG invests in high-quality buildings and land, which together with conversion and development of entire areas form the company’s core business. In doing this, the Group creates market-compliant, sustainable living spaces for customers and society as a whole. The Services business segment comprises the real estate-related Group companies Swiss Prime Site Solutions, Wincasa and Jelmoli. This gives Swiss Prime Site a unique positioning to meet customers' needs in the long term, increase their satisfaction and strengthen their loyalty. In addition, the company invests in innovation across the Group and wherever possible at all levels of the value chain in order to sustainably reduce the consumption of resources and ensure the long-term increase of financial success.
 

Strategy and business model

Real Estate segment

Services segment

The Swiss Prime Site Group is pursuing its vision of creating sustainable living spaces for society as a whole and for its customers. With its first-class property portfolio worth CHF 12.3 billion and a comprehensive range of services along the real estate life cycle, the company is uniquely positioned to turn this vision into reality, thereby meeting the needs of its customers and society in the long term.

Business model

Swiss Prime Site’s business model is based on the vision of creat­ing innovative and sustainable living spaces. It covers the entire value chain along the real estate life cycle. This includes successfully investing in or acquiring a property or site, project development and project realisation, portfolio and asset management, property management and, if necessary or beneficial, divesting properties, sites or parts thereof. Swiss Prime Site works to the highest quality standards and systematically focuses on current and future market needs. Its goal is to ensure long-term, multi- dimensional value generation.

Swiss Prime Site’s integrated business model

Swiss Prime Site Immobilien is a real estate investment company focusing on Swiss property. As at the end of 2020, the portfolio had a total value of CHF 12.3 billion. It consists of prime properties, mainly occupied by commercial tenants.

Business model

Swiss Prime Site Immobilien initiates the group’s value-generation process by acquiring commercial properties, sites or real estate. Swiss Prime Site Immobilien’s primary business focus is portfolio and asset management. Developing and realising real estate projects and converting and modernising entire sites are also very important ways of creating value. The prime property portfolio is strategically optimised on a continuous basis.

Swiss Prime Site Immobilien value-generation processes

Property portfolio

Swiss Prime Site’s property portfolio contains high-quality property and locations. The portfolio as a whole also has a good sustainability balance sheet. To optimise this further, targeted measures are being taken and investments made as part of Swiss Prime Site’s CO2 reduction pathway. The aim is to continuously improve resource consumption and achieve climate neutrality in the property portfolio by 2040 (see CO2 reduction pathway).

As at the end of 2020, the portfolio comprised 185 properties in total. Total floor space increased to 1 673 005 m², while the vacancy rate was kept at 5.1% through proactive management despite the difficult environment.

Geographic allocation

According to Wüest Partner, roughly 80% of the group’s properties rank in the quadrants with the highest quality based on the overall market. The majority of properties (76%) are located in German-speaking Switzerland. In this context, the canton of Zurich and particularly Zurich City account for the main share in this region with 44%. Another important region is the Lake Geneva basin with a share of 22%.

Utilisation

Swiss Prime Site has mainly geared its portfolio to the needs of commercial and services businesses. Currently 44% is let as offices and 26% as retail units. The property portfolio’s maturity profile is long-term and thus attractive. Roughly 21% of net rental income is generated with rental agreements with a term of ten years or more. Another 34% of the portfolio is due for renewed leasing at terms of between four and nine years.

Highlights from the reporting year

In 2020, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien continued with the targeted growth of its portfolio. Major milestones were reached at Stücki Park in Basel, where the company is expanding floor area by more than 70 000 m² (laboratories and offices) by 2023. Tenants have moved into the first units. The multiplex cinema, which was completed in autumn 2020, did not open its doors until 2021 because of the pandemic. The «West-Log» project in Zurich-Altstetten and JED (existing building) in Schlieren are close to completion in early 2021. Elektro-Material moved into the «West-Log» logistics building as an anchor tenant. The two anchor tenants in JED, Halter and Zühlke, also moved into their rental space. As the buildings are flexible and can be used for a wide variety of office and commercial purposes, the new and future tenants will be able to structure the space perfectly for their activities. The Schönburg project in Berne and the YOND project in Zurich were awarded international architectural prizes in the reporting year.

As part of the further development of its portfolio, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien placed great emphasis in the reporting year on reducing heat and electricity consumption. To increase its own production of renewable electricity, it identified 18 properties in which additional photovoltaic systems could be installed. Of these, four facilities with a total installed capacity of around 380 kWp were put into operation in the reporting year. More projects will be completed in 2021. More information on reducing the ecological footprint can be found in the CO2 reduction pathway.

Portfolio split by region

Basis: Fair value as at 31.12.2020

Portfolio split by type of use1

Basis: Net rental income as at 31.12.2020

1 Real Estate segment

Project pipeline

One of Swiss Prime Site Immobilien’s strengths is its ability to develop its own projects. This means the company can operate with a high degree of autonomy from market cycles while at the same time improving the level of sustainability within the portfolio.

Development projects are based on the group’s strategic targets of boosting organic growth and increasing corporate profitability and renewing the portfolio through sustainable building materials and structures. Earnings from completed projects accrue in the form of revaluation gains, rising rental income and sales proceeds. New projects developed by Swiss Prime Site Immobilien generally exhibit above-average net yields compared to both the market and the existing portfolio and the highest sustainability standards.

The investment volume of Swiss Prime Site Immobilien’s project pipeline amounted to around CHF 2 billion as at the end of 2020.

Projects under construction

The construction projects have an investment volume (including land) of around CHF 1 080 million. With a volume of CHF 300 million, the largest single project is Alto Pont-Rouge in Lancy. The project plays a significant role for the Geneva region due to its character and location, since another transportation juncture and economic hub will be created for the city as a result. Shortly after construction began in the second half of 2017, two of the five properties to be built at the large Espace Tourbillon development in Plan-les-Ouates were sold. Two other buildings are in the process of being sold, one of them in condominium owership. The fifth building (CHF 85 million investment) will be added to the existing portfolio. Projects under construction exhibit an average net yield that exceeds the current portfolio average.

Projects in planning

At the end of 2020, projects in the planning phase had an estimated investment volume (including land) of around CHF 640 million. With a volume of CHF 222 million, the largest single project is Müllerstrasse in Zurich. This involves the large-scale modernisation of the existing office building. Four projects for the construction of new residential and geriatric care centres (Monthey, Olten and Richterswil) and a residence (Paradiso) for Tertianum are currently also in the planning stage or already under construction. In addition, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien has land reserves and considerable reserves of usable floor space in its stock.

Highlights from the reporting year

Swiss Prime Site also believes in the importance of having development projects that are sustainable. Since 2019, the company has been guided by the Swiss Sustainable Building Standards (SNBS) criteria and is also moving into new territory with regard to the topic of the circular economy. In what is a first, the Company is using circular concrete produced by the company Eberhard for the new JED building in Schlieren. This means it can massively reduce the primary resources of sand and grit and also store CO2 in the granulate of the secondary building material over a long period.

Projects under construction

Value in CHF

Projects in planning

Value in CHF

With its group companies Swiss Prime Site Solutions, Wincasa and Jelmoli, the company has strong providers of services that are in high demand within the environment of its real estate core business, the group as well as third-party customers and that strengthen its business model.

Swiss Prime Site Solutions

Swiss Prime Site Solutions provides comprehensive services at portfolio and asset management level throughout the full real estate life cycle. The services offered in portfolio and asset management, capital procurement, development & construction and acquisition & sales include preparing acquisitions and sales strategies, potential analyses within the existing portfolio, managing and monitoring real estate developments, carrying out capital increases and developing customer-specific strategies to increase efficiency and market penetration. From 2021, Swiss Prime Site Solutions will expand its value creation with services in the area of fund products. This will significantly increase the growth of assets under management and the profits from the group company.

Wincasa

Wincasa’s business model is based on the two central value-added pillars of property management and centre & mixed-use site management and construction & facility management. The services offered to corporate customers range from management, owner representation and construction management through to revitalisation and re-letting of properties and strategic consulting.

Jelmoli

Jelmoli offers customers an innovative gastronomy and event experience in addition to a varied brand mix. By letting floorspace to third parties, Jelmoli has also been able to further optimise its value chain. To that end, Jelmoli also uses a first-class property from Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, located directly on Bahnhofstrasse in the centre of Zurich.

Services segment value-generation processes

Engagement and responsibility

Sustainability is an integral element of Swiss Prime Site’s corporate strategy. As part of their business activities, the Company is committed to the transformation into an economy and society that builds on the partnerships between different stakeholders and in which commercial success, human well-being and a careful use of natural resources go hand in hand.
 

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«The integration of key sustainability aspects in the business model not only makes commercial sense, it also reflects Swiss Prime Site’s understanding when it comes to recognising the cross- generational responsibil­ity to create and design sustainable living spaces!»

Martin Pfenninger
Head Group Sustainabilty Swiss Prime Site

Read more about the
living spaces of tomorrow.

Read story

Sustainability is an integral element of Swiss Prime Site’s corporate strategy. As part of their business activities, the Company is committed to the transformation into an economy and society that builds on the partnerships between different stakeholders and in which commercial success, human well-being and a careful use of natural resources go hand in hand.

Long-term alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Swiss Prime Site sets itself long-term goals based on the Swiss government’s Energy Strategy 2050, the Paris Climate Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Swiss Prime Site uses the 17 SDGs as a system of reference in which to embed their engagement in the context of global sustainable development. The focus is on seven key objectives to which Swiss Prime Site can contribute by fulfilling its responsibilities in the core business: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The relevant Sustainable Development Goals are also reflected in the material issues defined by Swiss Prime Site that form the basis for the integrated management of financial and non-financial aspects as well as integrated reporting.

Assuming responsibility for safe, resilient and sustainable cities and settlements

Swiss Prime Site considers SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) as an appropriate guiding principle for their commercial responsibilities and is committed to safe, resilient and sustainable cities and settlements. This reflects the corporate vision of creating sustainable living spaces, as well as integrating several trends that have a significant impact on the core business. Among others, these include urbanisation, intergenerationality and climate-adapted design of living spaces.

Swiss Prime Site appreciates that a meaningful contribution to SDG 11 can only be made if the Company builds on its strengths. This includes having a clear focus on clients’ needs, supporting employees, encouraging an innovative work culture and making investments that increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Based on these pillars, Swiss Prime Site has developed group-wide, strategic objectives that will be further operationalised within the group companies, leading the way to a successful, sustainable future.

SDGUN goal descriptionCapitalMaterial issues Swiss Prime Site
Ensure inclusive, fair and high-quality education and promote opportunities for lifelong learning for allEmployees
  • Employee development and satisfaction
  • Health, safety and well-being
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for allFinance
  • Risk management and responsible governance
  • Earnings growth and attractive share
Build resilient infrastructure, promote
sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
Innovation
  • Corporate culture, reputation and image
  • Market orientation
  • Innovation culture and partnerships
  • Data use & data protection
Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainableInfrastructure
  • Contribution to sustainable urban development
  • Optimum connection of properties
  • Process optimisation and cost reduction
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patternsEcology
  • Sustainable procurement / supply chains
  • Circular economy
Develop measures to combat climate change and its effects as a matter of urgencyEcology
  • Resource consumption and CO2 emissions
  • Building certifications and climate-adapted construction
Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable developmentStakeholders
  • Customer orientation
  • Investor relations management

Traineeship: Real Passion 4 Real Estate

The traineeship programme by Swiss Prime Site, established in 2017, gives talented young people an opportunity to experience the exciting world of real estate first-hand. Over the course of the programme, which lasts between 18 months and two years, a small group of promising talents gains in-depth insights into the various aspects of a company whose stated purpose is to create new living spaces for society. Twelve of some 50 applicants were invited to Zurich in the spring of 2019 to attend an extensive assessment day. Four of them secured themselves one of the sought-after spaces on the programme.

Swiss Prime Site Employees

Swiss Prime Site and its group companies, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, Wincasa, Tertianum, Immoveris and Swiss Prime Site Solutions, are specialised players in the real estate industry. Petra Weigert, Head Group of Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site, explained: «We are very keen to recruit suitable employees, help them become experts in their fields, and retain them in our company.» The Swiss labour market for real estate experts is quite compact. Filling vacancies with well-qualified specialists is an increasingly challenging task.

In 2017, the management of Swiss Prime Site made a strategic decision to prioritise employer branding. It reviewed its staff development measures, regulations and structures and launched a specially designed traineeship programme.

We need experts!

The traineeship programme was initiated to facilitate the active recruitment of talented young people and counteract the impact of the weak labour market. At the same time, its originators hope to boost the reputation of Swiss Prime Site and its group companies as an attractive employer within and beyond the real estate industry. Candidates for a traineeship must have a bachelor's or master’s degree and an interest in gaining their first professional experience and establishing a professional network. Over the course of the traineeship, which lasts between 18 and 24 months, Swiss Prime Site organises an interesting and versatile programme of activities for the budding property professionals, who get to gain exclusive insights into one or multiple renowned companies in the real estate industry.

The programme has a modular structure that honours current trends and the diversity of the group as well as the versatile tasks the trainees will learn. In three to four blocks with a duration of six months each, they experience multiple business segments first-hand. They can choose from the following: Development & Construction, Acquisition & Sales, Portfolio Management, Letting Advisory, Strategic Facility Management and Centre Management.

«Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019»

Petra Weigert, Head Group Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site

Four out of fifty

Petra Weigert described the recruitment process as follows: «We used a range of recruitment methods and channels to reach out to suitable candidates, taking advantage of traditional advertisements, digital and social media platforms.» It attracted considerable interest. «Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019.» An internal committee composed of members of the involved group companies reviewed the applications and invited twelve suitable candidates to the assessment day in Zurich that was held at the end of March 2019. «We wanted to meet the participants and observe how they conduct themselves on their own and as members of a group. It was important to us to experience their assertiveness and their capacity for teamwork. The event allowed us to get to know the candidates in some depth,» the Head Group of Human Resources explained.

In the morning, all participants introduced themselves to the committee individually. They were then divided into teams. Each team was given the task of analysing concrete challenges facing a specific group company and developing potential solutions. After a shared lunch break, they presented their ideas to the group. Petra Weigert was impressed by the level-headed approach of the candidates. Having been put in the position of strategic consultants, the participants explained their solutions to the committee in a highly professional manner. Petra Weigert commented: «The quality of the presentations was high.»

Our new trainees

Mirror, mirror on the wall

In the meantime, the selection committee reconvened to discuss the impressions they gathered during the one-on-one interviews with the candidates and the group presentations. Out of around 50 applicants, four motivated and ambitious young people (two women and two men) received an offer for a traineeship with the Swiss Prime Site Group. All of them accepted the offer. Their expertise in customer service, financial analysis, marketing and facility management will make them valuable assets for Swiss Prime Site and its group companies.

Ready, steady, go

The four new trainees will start their courses in September 2019, taking on a new role every six months. A mentor will support them in their everyday work and beyond. «We want to make sure that all our trainees complete the programme just as motivated as they started it. Our goal is to recruit them as permanent employees afterwards,» Petra Weigert commented. She is fully satisfied with this year's selection process.

Working at Swiss Prime Site

More about our trainee programme and the career opportunities at Swiss Prime Site.

Read more

Material issues

In 2019, as part of a comprehensive materiality analysis, Swiss Prime Site determined for the second time since 2017 which issues are particularly important for the further development of integrated management. This enabled the Company to create the basis for the integration of important financial and non-financial issues into the management of the group and defined the strategic focus of integrated reporting (GRI 102-49).
 

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«JED has been designed according to our current and future requirements: workstations, work lounges and creative zones. Between the workstations, we install breakout areas and facilities that can be used spontaneously. All the large conference rooms will be located in «The Branch», our co- working space that outside companies will also be able to book.»

Andreas Hänsenberger
Concept Developer, Halter AG

Read more about the
office spaces of the future.

Read story

In 2019, as part of a comprehensive materiality analysis, Swiss Prime Site determined for the second time since 2017 which issues are particularly important for the further development of integrated management. This enabled the Company to create the basis for the integration of important financial and non-financial issues into the management of the group and defined the strategic focus of integrated reporting (GRI 102-49).

Process for determining the material issues

In the materiality analysis, the aim was to assess how important the particular issue is to the different stakeholders, and to the business success of Swiss Prime Site, and also how important the issue is with regard to the Company’s impact on sustainable development. Assessing business relevance as the third dimension ensures that the material issues are closely related to the core business and can be integrated into strategic management.

Swiss Prime Site arranged the issues in order of materiality according to the six capitals of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). Adopting the capital-based approach reflects the Company’s wide-ranging aspiration to create sustainable value for the various stakeholder groups from a wide range of resources.

Integration of internal and external stakeholders

In particular, Swiss Prime Site used the materiality analysis to enter into an ongoing dialogue with different internal and external stakeholders. In addition to management representatives, business partners and clients were also consulted about their priorities. Swiss Prime Site also took into account the findings of the 2019 Stakeholder Panel. The next materiality review is scheduled for 2021 (GRI 102-46).

Inclusion of material issues in goal-setting

The materiality analysis serves as a starting point for Swiss Prime Site to make further improvements to the integrated manage- ment of financial and non-financial aspects. In the reporting year, the Company – drawing on the material issues amongst others – defined overall corporate goals, from which they derived measures for the group companies (see Strategy/Sustainability goals). The materiality analysis also defines the focus of this integrated reporting.

Results of the materiality analysis¹

Traineeship: Real Passion 4 Real Estate

The traineeship programme by Swiss Prime Site, established in 2017, gives talented young people an opportunity to experience the exciting world of real estate first-hand. Over the course of the programme, which lasts between 18 months and two years, a small group of promising talents gains in-depth insights into the various aspects of a company whose stated purpose is to create new living spaces for society. Twelve of some 50 applicants were invited to Zurich in the spring of 2019 to attend an extensive assessment day. Four of them secured themselves one of the sought-after spaces on the programme.

Swiss Prime Site Employees

Swiss Prime Site and its group companies, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, Wincasa, Tertianum, Immoveris and Swiss Prime Site Solutions, are specialised players in the real estate industry. Petra Weigert, Head Group of Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site, explained: «We are very keen to recruit suitable employees, help them become experts in their fields, and retain them in our company.» The Swiss labour market for real estate experts is quite compact. Filling vacancies with well-qualified specialists is an increasingly challenging task.

In 2017, the management of Swiss Prime Site made a strategic decision to prioritise employer branding. It reviewed its staff development measures, regulations and structures and launched a specially designed traineeship programme.

We need experts!

The traineeship programme was initiated to facilitate the active recruitment of talented young people and counteract the impact of the weak labour market. At the same time, its originators hope to boost the reputation of Swiss Prime Site and its group companies as an attractive employer within and beyond the real estate industry. Candidates for a traineeship must have a bachelor's or master’s degree and an interest in gaining their first professional experience and establishing a professional network. Over the course of the traineeship, which lasts between 18 and 24 months, Swiss Prime Site organises an interesting and versatile programme of activities for the budding property professionals, who get to gain exclusive insights into one or multiple renowned companies in the real estate industry.

The programme has a modular structure that honours current trends and the diversity of the group as well as the versatile tasks the trainees will learn. In three to four blocks with a duration of six months each, they experience multiple business segments first-hand. They can choose from the following: Development & Construction, Acquisition & Sales, Portfolio Management, Letting Advisory, Strategic Facility Management and Centre Management.

«Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019»

Petra Weigert, Head Group Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site

Four out of fifty

Petra Weigert described the recruitment process as follows: «We used a range of recruitment methods and channels to reach out to suitable candidates, taking advantage of traditional advertisements, digital and social media platforms.» It attracted considerable interest. «Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019.» An internal committee composed of members of the involved group companies reviewed the applications and invited twelve suitable candidates to the assessment day in Zurich that was held at the end of March 2019. «We wanted to meet the participants and observe how they conduct themselves on their own and as members of a group. It was important to us to experience their assertiveness and their capacity for teamwork. The event allowed us to get to know the candidates in some depth,» the Head Group of Human Resources explained.

In the morning, all participants introduced themselves to the committee individually. They were then divided into teams. Each team was given the task of analysing concrete challenges facing a specific group company and developing potential solutions. After a shared lunch break, they presented their ideas to the group. Petra Weigert was impressed by the level-headed approach of the candidates. Having been put in the position of strategic consultants, the participants explained their solutions to the committee in a highly professional manner. Petra Weigert commented: «The quality of the presentations was high.»

Our new trainees

Mirror, mirror on the wall

In the meantime, the selection committee reconvened to discuss the impressions they gathered during the one-on-one interviews with the candidates and the group presentations. Out of around 50 applicants, four motivated and ambitious young people (two women and two men) received an offer for a traineeship with the Swiss Prime Site Group. All of them accepted the offer. Their expertise in customer service, financial analysis, marketing and facility management will make them valuable assets for Swiss Prime Site and its group companies.

Ready, steady, go

The four new trainees will start their courses in September 2019, taking on a new role every six months. A mentor will support them in their everyday work and beyond. «We want to make sure that all our trainees complete the programme just as motivated as they started it. Our goal is to recruit them as permanent employees afterwards,» Petra Weigert commented. She is fully satisfied with this year's selection process.

Working at Swiss Prime Site

More about our trainee programme and the career opportunities at Swiss Prime Site.

Read more

Group objectives and roadmap

Swiss Prime Site sets targets that are phased in over time and focused on different levels. These targets and measures are based on the question of how the company can create value for different stakeholders. Moreover, which issues are particularly important for them and for the short, medium and long-term business success. Using materiality analysis, the financial and non-financial topics that will have a significant impact on general economic, social and environmental developments are evaluated and defined. On this basis, the goals are developed and put down into a roadmap – structured according to the capitals of the «integrated reporting» approach. This procedure reflects a sustainable business management and provides the basis for the integrated reporting.
 

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«Sustainable success is based on medium- and long-term objectives being systematically rooted in the business plan and reflected as measurable indicators in the ­management’s annual objectives.»

René Zahnd
CEO Swiss Prime Site

Read more about
Swiss Prime Site’s attitude and
goals regarding sustainability.

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Swiss Prime Site sets targets that are phased in over time and focused on different levels. These targets and measures are based on the question of how the company can create value for different stakeholders. Moreover, which issues are particularly important for them and for the short, medium and long-term business success. Using materiality analysis, the financial and non-financial topics that will have a significant impact on general economic, social and environmental developments are evaluated and defined. On this basis, the goals are developed and put down into a roadmap – structured according to the capitals of the «integrated reporting» approach. This procedure reflects a sustainable business management and provides the basis for the integrated reporting.

Our achievements in 2020

In addition to the corporate objectives communicated in last year’s Annual Report, other objectives were added during the year due to COVID-19.

The Swiss Prime Site Immobilien asset management team received more than 500 tenant requests; these needed to be processed and concluded before the end of the year. More than 2 000 additional tenant requests were processed and concluded by Wincasa on behalf of third-party customers.

Despite the challenging year, it is important not to lose sight of the objectives set out in the 2019 Integrated Report. The first GRESB submission for the existing and development properties portfolio and the launch of the first green bond in accordance with the criteria of the framework drawn up for that purpose enabled two key milestones to be reached in environmental terms.

Despite all efforts, only the objectives relating to the fluctuation of employees, particular in the group companies Wincasa and Jelmoli, with high numbers of employees, were once again missed by a clear margin. It is therefore imperative that there is renewed intensification of measures in this area.

Group objectives in more detail

Under the supervision of the Sustainability Board, set up in 2019, Swiss Prime Site enhanced its long-term, strategic sustainability objectives in the reporting year. Leadership ambitions for targets and action programmes are based on three areas which are key for the whole Swiss Prime Site Group, derived from the vision and mission, material issues and the six capitals: customers, employees and environment. Innovative development of the business model, the provision of infrastructure that is fit for the future and sustainable financial success are part of the integrated range of objectives.

While the formulation of objectives regarding climate neutrality and the related CO2 reduction pathway are already well established and embedded in the strategy, objectives and measures relating to customers and employees need to be further specified for the group companies in question.

CategoryGroup objectivesAssociated issuesLead KPIs
StakeholdersFocus on the satisfaction and wellbeing of our customers.Ensure customer satisfaction and safety and promote wellbeing
  • Investment in customer health and safety
Customer satisfaction and retention
  • Evaluation of customer surveys
  • Net promoter score
Finance

Create sustainable value.

Financing strategy
Dividend policy
  • Equity ratio
  • Dividends
Infrastructure

Investment in socially acceptable and environmentally friendly properties and infrastructure in prime locations.

 

Sustainable property and asset management
  • GRESB performance score
  • Vacancy rate
Future-oriented new builds and renovation projects in line with market requirements
  • GRESB development score
  • Yield
InnovationFurther development of the business model and promotion of an innovative corporate culture.Market orientation
  • Re-letting
  • Innovative energy perceived by customers
Innovative corporate culture
  • Innovative energy perceived by employees
EcologyOngoing optimisation of resource use and long-term objective of climate neutrality.2-degree objective (science-based targets)
  • Level of objective attainment CO2 reduction pathway
Sustainable procurement
  • Level of implementation: sustainability criteria and exclusion criteria in procurement
EmployeesStrengthening the employer brand and encouraging the customer focus of our employees.Employee development and retention
  • Fluctuation rate
  • Employee satisfaction
  • Investment in training and development
Responsibility, customer focus and service approach
  • Evaluation of employee surveys
  • Internal training based on customer feedback

Implementation in the group companies

As part of the business plan and budgeting processes, the group objectives need to be broken down to the individual group companies. The group companies can then define additional objectives and measures and assign them to the relevant capitals. It is important that at least one objective per capital contributes to the achievement of the overall group objectives.

This will help to streamline the group companies’ roadmaps, which to date have been created bottom-up. In addition, the KPIs, which are set top-down, will further improve the measurability of progress toward the objectives across the group.

Medium-term objectives

   
StakeholdersContinuous increase in customer satisfaction
FinanceIncrease of eligible properties according to Green Bond Framework
InfrastructureGRESB Score > peer average
InnovationTargeted investments in start-ups
EcologyClimate-neutral property portfolio by 2040
EmployeesContinuous increase in employee satisfaction

Stakeholders

For Swiss Prime Site, regular dialogue with all stakeholders is a key element of sustainable leadership. The Company seeks to identify needs and expectations in dialogue and focus business activities towards meeting these in harmony with the corporate strategy. This particularly applies to the needs and issues of customers. All group companies are in constant communication with them, whether as part of daily business interaction, through dedicated feedback conversations or the usual information channels.

 

«Nearly all of us are currently working from home. However, despite digitalisation and remote working, it is clear that innovation and good ideas also come from personal and physical interaction in teams. JED offers the perfect conditions for developing new ideas through to market success with our customers.»

Nicolas Durville
CEO and Partner Zühlke Group

www.jed.swiss

Read more about the
innovative «YOND» project.

Read story

Traineeship: Real Passion 4 Real Estate

The traineeship programme by Swiss Prime Site, established in 2017, gives talented young people an opportunity to experience the exciting world of real estate first-hand. Over the course of the programme, which lasts between 18 months and two years, a small group of promising talents gains in-depth insights into the various aspects of a company whose stated purpose is to create new living spaces for society. Twelve of some 50 applicants were invited to Zurich in the spring of 2019 to attend an extensive assessment day. Four of them secured themselves one of the sought-after spaces on the programme.

Swiss Prime Site Employees

Swiss Prime Site and its group companies, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, Wincasa, Tertianum, Immoveris and Swiss Prime Site Solutions, are specialised players in the real estate industry. Petra Weigert, Head Group of Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site, explained: «We are very keen to recruit suitable employees, help them become experts in their fields, and retain them in our company.» The Swiss labour market for real estate experts is quite compact. Filling vacancies with well-qualified specialists is an increasingly challenging task.

In 2017, the management of Swiss Prime Site made a strategic decision to prioritise employer branding. It reviewed its staff development measures, regulations and structures and launched a specially designed traineeship programme.

We need experts!

The traineeship programme was initiated to facilitate the active recruitment of talented young people and counteract the impact of the weak labour market. At the same time, its originators hope to boost the reputation of Swiss Prime Site and its group companies as an attractive employer within and beyond the real estate industry. Candidates for a traineeship must have a bachelor's or master’s degree and an interest in gaining their first professional experience and establishing a professional network. Over the course of the traineeship, which lasts between 18 and 24 months, Swiss Prime Site organises an interesting and versatile programme of activities for the budding property professionals, who get to gain exclusive insights into one or multiple renowned companies in the real estate industry.

The programme has a modular structure that honours current trends and the diversity of the group as well as the versatile tasks the trainees will learn. In three to four blocks with a duration of six months each, they experience multiple business segments first-hand. They can choose from the following: Development & Construction, Acquisition & Sales, Portfolio Management, Letting Advisory, Strategic Facility Management and Centre Management.

«Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019»

Petra Weigert, Head Group Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site

Four out of fifty

Petra Weigert described the recruitment process as follows: «We used a range of recruitment methods and channels to reach out to suitable candidates, taking advantage of traditional advertisements, digital and social media platforms.» It attracted considerable interest. «Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019.» An internal committee composed of members of the involved group companies reviewed the applications and invited twelve suitable candidates to the assessment day in Zurich that was held at the end of March 2019. «We wanted to meet the participants and observe how they conduct themselves on their own and as members of a group. It was important to us to experience their assertiveness and their capacity for teamwork. The event allowed us to get to know the candidates in some depth,» the Head Group of Human Resources explained.

In the morning, all participants introduced themselves to the committee individually. They were then divided into teams. Each team was given the task of analysing concrete challenges facing a specific group company and developing potential solutions. After a shared lunch break, they presented their ideas to the group. Petra Weigert was impressed by the level-headed approach of the candidates. Having been put in the position of strategic consultants, the participants explained their solutions to the committee in a highly professional manner. Petra Weigert commented: «The quality of the presentations was high.»

Our new trainees

Mirror, mirror on the wall

In the meantime, the selection committee reconvened to discuss the impressions they gathered during the one-on-one interviews with the candidates and the group presentations. Out of around 50 applicants, four motivated and ambitious young people (two women and two men) received an offer for a traineeship with the Swiss Prime Site Group. All of them accepted the offer. Their expertise in customer service, financial analysis, marketing and facility management will make them valuable assets for Swiss Prime Site and its group companies.

Ready, steady, go

The four new trainees will start their courses in September 2019, taking on a new role every six months. A mentor will support them in their everyday work and beyond. «We want to make sure that all our trainees complete the programme just as motivated as they started it. Our goal is to recruit them as permanent employees afterwards,» Petra Weigert commented. She is fully satisfied with this year's selection process.

Working at Swiss Prime Site

More about our trainee programme and the career opportunities at Swiss Prime Site.

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Ecology

Swiss Prime Site is aware of its responsibility when it comes to climate protection and has been committed for some time to contributing towards the 2-degree goal of the Paris Climate Accord and the Swiss Federal Council’s climate neutrality goal. Taking both these targets into account, in 2019 the Company developed a CO2 reduction pathway for the whole property portfolio. Swiss Prime Site plans to invest around CHF 650 million by 2050 to ensure that the group can also reach the long-term objective of climate neutrality.
 

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«Our proprietary ESG analysis indicates Swiss Prime Site as one of the favoured companies in the future, as the company makes big efforts to reduce its ecological footprint. The planned strategic steps will help further to im­prove the sustainability of the portfolio and avoid potential future costs (e.g. CO2 taxes).»

Pascal Boll
Equity Research Analyst Stifel Schweiz

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key strengths here.

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Swiss Prime Site is aware of its responsibility when it comes to climate protection and has been committed for some time to contributing towards the 2-degree goal of the Paris Climate Accord and the Swiss Federal Council’s climate neutrality goal. Taking both these targets into account, in 2019 the Company developed a CO2 reduction pathway for the whole property portfolio. Swiss Prime Site plans to invest around CHF 650 million by 2050 to ensure that the group can also reach the long-term objective of climate neutrality.

More information on group-wide procedures can be found in the Environmental Policy.

Property portfolio focus

The focus of the CO2 reduction pathway lies on the energy consumption of the property portfolio. By comparison, the CO2 emissions from the Services segment are negligible (8.8% of total emissions in the reporting year). As Swiss Prime Site’s property portfolio is comparatively young and technologically advanced, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are already relatively low.

In the reporting year, Swiss Prime Site’s Sustainability Board further tightened the reduction target for the property portfolio. The aim is now to achieve climate neutrality in the operation of the portfolio by 2040. The current CO2 reduction pathway (plan as at 31.12.2020) factors in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and is based on investment costs of around CHF 610 million for cladding renovations and CHF 40 million for heating replacement measures. As the illustration below shows, Swiss Prime Site is thus significantly exceeding sector-specific reduction scenarios and is making a significant contribution to achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. However, the reduction pathway shows that the climate neutrality target will require further measures. The efforts intensified in the reporting year form the basis on which to move the plan further in the direction of climate neutrality. The plan will be regularly updated and published as part of annual reporting.

The standards for development projects and full renovations of existing properties necessary to achieve the current CO2 pathway have applied since the reporting year and are set out in detail in the Integrated Report 2019. Detailed information on the calculation methodology can be found in the CO2 accounting concept.

CO2 reduction pathway property portfolio and climate goal 2040

Measures in the reporting year

In order to plan the measures covering the three action areas – energy, heat and cladding renovation – holistically and co-ordinate them with each other, in the reporting year Swiss Prime Site integrated the requirements of the CO2 reduction pathway into the property strategies for each individual property in the portfolio. This puts the evaluation of the measures required for the reduction in the context of other key aspects of the property strategy (e.g. market potential, structural condition, renovation cycle) and ensures a holistic perspective on the further development and optimisation of the portfolio. This enables Swiss Prime Site to plan upcoming investments with a long-term focus and in a targeted manner. However, this means that the requirements in all affected business areas have to be taken into account and all those involved along the process chain – from acquisition to development and construction and through to portfolio and asset management – need to be made aware of them. Accordingly, in the reporting year the employees of Swiss Prime Site Immobilien and representatives of Wincasa received training informing them about the relevant process requirements.

In addition to the major strategic CO2 reduction pathway project, the other group companies are also endeavouring to reduce their own ecological footprint.

More information on this can be found in the GRI Report.

Employees

The success of the Swiss Prime Site Group is founded on highly competent and committed employees. They contribute their knowledge and ability to develop sustainable living spaces and render high-quality services. Swiss Prime Site entrusts them with important responsibilities and offers an attractive working environment characterised by flexible working-time models and comprehensive training and development opportunities. In doing so, Swiss Prime Site hopes to strengthen employee loyalty and ensure a strong customer focus across all processes.
 

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«After several years at Wincasa, I can now contribute my knowledge to facility management at Swiss Prime Site and in turn I can learn from my colleagues every day. Learning and developing within the Swiss Prime Site Group offer exciting prospects.»

Michael Strebel
Asset Manager Swiss Prime Site Immobilien

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for employees at Swiss Prime Site

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The success of the Swiss Prime Site Group is founded on highly competent and committed employees. They contribute their knowledge and ability to develop sustainable living spaces and render high-quality services. Swiss Prime Site entrusts them with important responsibilities and offers an attractive working environment characterised by flexible working-time models and comprehensive training and development opportunities. In doing so, Swiss Prime Site hopes to strengthen employee loyalty and ensure a strong customer focus across all processes.

More information on group-wide procedures can be found in the Code of Conduct for employees.

Leadership programme

The leadership programme is an important pillar of the group-wide roadmap to achieve these objectives. The programme has been running since 2017 for all employees in management roles in the Swiss Prime Site Group. It gives talent in all group companies and roles the opportunity to develop into leaders or to develop further as leaders. The programme establishes a common understanding of leadership and encourages mutual dialogue beyond the boundaries of the individual group companies. The Company also uses cross-group events, job rotations and interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen knowledge transfer, networking, team-building and an understanding of changing customer requirements. In the future, Swiss Prime Site will strive to gather customer feedback more systematically and use it to develop training and development packages.

Real Passion 4 Real Estate

In addition to supporting employees with high potential, Swiss Prime Site prioritises helping young talent to enter the real estate business. As part of the traineeship programme «Real Passion 4 Real Estate», every year four graduates gain a detailed insight into the exciting world of real estate. Over 18 months at Swiss Prime Site, they learn about the different facets throughout the whole real estate life cycle. The aim is for the participants to gain experience, enhance their skills and establish the foundation for a successful professional or leadership career in the real estate industry. The programme enables Swiss Prime Site to obtain direct access to new young talent.

In addition to the group-wide programme, the group companies of the Swiss Prime Site Group are continuously investing to improve employee development and retention.

More information can be found in the GRI Report.

Traineeship: Real Passion 4 Real Estate

The traineeship programme by Swiss Prime Site, established in 2017, gives talented young people an opportunity to experience the exciting world of real estate first-hand. Over the course of the programme, which lasts between 18 months and two years, a small group of promising talents gains in-depth insights into the various aspects of a company whose stated purpose is to create new living spaces for society. Twelve of some 50 applicants were invited to Zurich in the spring of 2019 to attend an extensive assessment day. Four of them secured themselves one of the sought-after spaces on the programme.

Swiss Prime Site Employees

Swiss Prime Site and its group companies, Swiss Prime Site Immobilien, Wincasa, Tertianum, Immoveris and Swiss Prime Site Solutions, are specialised players in the real estate industry. Petra Weigert, Head Group of Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site, explained: «We are very keen to recruit suitable employees, help them become experts in their fields, and retain them in our company.» The Swiss labour market for real estate experts is quite compact. Filling vacancies with well-qualified specialists is an increasingly challenging task.

In 2017, the management of Swiss Prime Site made a strategic decision to prioritise employer branding. It reviewed its staff development measures, regulations and structures and launched a specially designed traineeship programme.

We need experts!

The traineeship programme was initiated to facilitate the active recruitment of talented young people and counteract the impact of the weak labour market. At the same time, its originators hope to boost the reputation of Swiss Prime Site and its group companies as an attractive employer within and beyond the real estate industry. Candidates for a traineeship must have a bachelor's or master’s degree and an interest in gaining their first professional experience and establishing a professional network. Over the course of the traineeship, which lasts between 18 and 24 months, Swiss Prime Site organises an interesting and versatile programme of activities for the budding property professionals, who get to gain exclusive insights into one or multiple renowned companies in the real estate industry.

The programme has a modular structure that honours current trends and the diversity of the group as well as the versatile tasks the trainees will learn. In three to four blocks with a duration of six months each, they experience multiple business segments first-hand. They can choose from the following: Development & Construction, Acquisition & Sales, Portfolio Management, Letting Advisory, Strategic Facility Management and Centre Management.

«Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019»

Petra Weigert, Head Group Human Resources at Swiss Prime Site

Four out of fifty

Petra Weigert described the recruitment process as follows: «We used a range of recruitment methods and channels to reach out to suitable candidates, taking advantage of traditional advertisements, digital and social media platforms.» It attracted considerable interest. «Around 50 people applied to the course starting in the summer of 2019.» An internal committee composed of members of the involved group companies reviewed the applications and invited twelve suitable candidates to the assessment day in Zurich that was held at the end of March 2019. «We wanted to meet the participants and observe how they conduct themselves on their own and as members of a group. It was important to us to experience their assertiveness and their capacity for teamwork. The event allowed us to get to know the candidates in some depth,» the Head Group of Human Resources explained.

In the morning, all participants introduced themselves to the committee individually. They were then divided into teams. Each team was given the task of analysing concrete challenges facing a specific group company and developing potential solutions. After a shared lunch break, they presented their ideas to the group. Petra Weigert was impressed by the level-headed approach of the candidates. Having been put in the position of strategic consultants, the participants explained their solutions to the committee in a highly professional manner. Petra Weigert commented: «The quality of the presentations was high.»

Our new trainees

Mirror, mirror on the wall

In the meantime, the selection committee reconvened to discuss the impressions they gathered during the one-on-one interviews with the candidates and the group presentations. Out of around 50 applicants, four motivated and ambitious young people (two women and two men) received an offer for a traineeship with the Swiss Prime Site Group. All of them accepted the offer. Their expertise in customer service, financial analysis, marketing and facility management will make them valuable assets for Swiss Prime Site and its group companies.

Ready, steady, go

The four new trainees will start their courses in September 2019, taking on a new role every six months. A mentor will support them in their everyday work and beyond. «We want to make sure that all our trainees complete the programme just as motivated as they started it. Our goal is to recruit them as permanent employees afterwards,» Petra Weigert commented. She is fully satisfied with this year's selection process.

Working at Swiss Prime Site

More about our trainee programme and the career opportunities at Swiss Prime Site.

Read more

Previous
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Living spaces

1/2 We create living spaces – sustainably, innovatively and passionately.

Urbanity

1/2 We have an impact on the cities in which people like to work, stay and live.

Ecology

1/2 Our real estate portfolio will become climate-neutral until 2040.

Society

1/2 We encourage communities and connect tenants and employees in our properties.