Our work in community regeneration is focused on the key topics of local employment, education, skills development and investment through cash, time or in-kind donations.

Since the launch of The Oracle, Reading 1999 we have developed the education and training programmes we run for people living in the vicinity of our shopping centres. Historically focused on new developments, these programmes have provided retail skills training for over 3,000 people. In 2009, ‘Jobs for U’, a programme to support the opening of Union Square shopping centre in Aberdeen, saw Hammerson work in partnership with Aberdeen Works, a consortium of public and third sector organisations, to provide employment and skills training for local people. Around 56% of the 1,200 new jobs created were awarded to people who had been previously unemployed, a significant achievement in a city with around 2% unemployment.

However, recognising that UK development would be a lesser focus in 2009 and 2010, we turned our attentions to ongoing support for retailers and local communities through skills training at our investment properties. As a founding member of the National Skills Academy for Retail (NSA) we have set up retail skills shops in three cities where Hammerson owns shopping centres: Birmingham, Bristol; and Leicester. Retail Skills Shops aim to offer retailers and existing retail employees access to a range of training opportunities to increase their skills and qualifications. The Skills Shops provide advice on careers in retail to people outside the sector. During 2010, we will set up Skills Shops in Reading, Brent Cross, Aberdeen and Southampton.

Around our shopping centre portfolio the management teams have worked with their Local Education Business Partnership (EBP) on a range of programmes to enrich the national curriculum at local schools. At Highcross, Leicester an educational trail was developed for primary school children to learn about the world of work and different types of careers. 279 school children visited the centre between July and November and we worked with our retailers to ensure that the children gained an insight into the types of skills used in a retail environment.

We work with a number of charitable organisations at both a national and local level, donating cash and in-kind contributions, such as available space in shopping centres and retail parks, to maximise fundraising opportunities. In the case of our main corporate charity, Save the Children, we supplement our financial donation with meeting room space and hosted fundraising evenings at our headquarters in London. At a project level, our Community Bursary Scheme in Aberdeen saw Hammerson allocate £20,000 between 13 community projects run by local charities including Aberdeen Mental Health; the Forget-Me-Not Club, a charity for people with dementia; and the Hip Hop School, who also took part in shopping centre opening activities. We also organised a second Community Day for Hammerson staff based in London (see case study), with 151 staff taking part in a total of 12 community projects.