What did the client need?

As part of Grosvenor's global carbon commitment to reduce emissions in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, Grosvenor Rural Estates (GRE) is preparing for an assurance cycle on their data that will later be used in their organisation-wide reporting. Ahead of this, they wanted to understand how they would stand in an assurance process, so they asked Verco to perform a pre-assurance check. This check would evaluate whether their methodologies and processes aligned with best practice. They also required guidance on any areas that needed strengthening ahead of a formal assurance cycle.

The objective was to identify if processes and methods were robustly documented and outputs were accurately calculated to ensure a positive outcome from the first assurance cycle.

How did Verco support the client?

Verco reviewed Grosvenor’s methodologies and procedures to ensure that they were adequately documented, whilst engaging with data collectors and inventory preparers to identify and address any foreseeable risks that would have a material effect on the formal assurance process. We performed a range of checks against the methodologies, processes, data and modelling outputs and compiled findings and recommendations into a summary report.

Within the summary report, findings and recommendations were provided on the below key areas:

• Alignment of the reporting boundary and consolidation approach against best practice.
• Documented methods and processes and how they compared to actual practice.
• Where differences in approaches were identified, guidance on which approaches followed best practice was given.
• A small sample dataset undertook a ‘mock assurance test’ to ensure that the evidence trail was clear, accurate and documented.

What was the result?

The output was a thorough and conclusive findings and recommendations report, providing Grosvenor with actions to take in order to prepare for a positive assurance cycle.