MERLIN Properties Annual Report 2017 / English

ı 91 ı Annual Report 2017 MERLIN knows that its professionals value being part of an organisation aware of the problems and needs of the communities where its activities are developed and uses available tools and resources to help improve it. In 2017, different programmes were implemented to strengthen the involvement with society by the Company and its employees. Voluntary training from MERLIN professionals 135 training hours Twenty MERLIN professionals, including the CEO, have voluntarily delievered training as part of the university degree “Intensificación en Planificación y Gestión Inmobiliaria” of the Quantity Surveyor’s School in Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, donating the associated course fees to academic grants for the course’s best students. Approval of MERLIN’s Corporate Social Responsibility plan 38 foundations benefited 10% employees involved >€ 220k in donations The 2017 Annual General Meeting approved MERLIN’s Corporate Social Responsibility Plan as a framework through which the Company undertakes to earmark a percentage of revenue (0.1% of GRI) for social projects and programmes. In 2017, the Company donated over €185,000 to 12 foundations. In addition to corporate contributions, under the CSR Plan, MERLIN will match twice the contributions to social projects or programmes made by employees, executives or directors. These contributions may be either financial or volunteer time; MERLIN calculates the value of the hours devoted to social work and makes a donation of twice that amount. The programme was welcomed by the employees in the first year. 10% of the employees were involved, raising over €17,000 in donations which the Company matched twice. Donations by employees under the CSR matching plan were made to 26 foundations. Employee involvement with the community