GO-AHEAD GROUP Go-Ahead has achieved a four star rating in Business in the Community's annual benchmark of responsible business, the Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index).
Go-Ahead celebrates Responsible Business Week (20-26 April 2015), an annual initiative to increase awareness of the positive contribution of business in society, with an impressive 96% score. The company has been praised for developing a methodology for calculating the financial value sustainability activities bring to the business as well as being recognised for its transparent and overall good reporting.
The CR Index is a robust benchmarking tool which has helped hundreds of companies measure and manage the progress they are making to integrate responsible business practice into their mainstream business at all levels. It is a rigorous process which assesses companies against a diverse range of factors, from how engaged their board and senior managers are with responsible business issues to the link between remuneration and CR performance.
Analysis of the 2015 CR Index data suggests that significant progress is being made to shift responsible business up the corporate agenda with an increase in companies taking social and environmental issues into account when developing new products and making investments. The overall average score of the CR Index has also increased from 85% in 2014, to 91% today, demonstrating the increased relevance of corporate responsibility to business operations.
Commenting on the results, Sarah Boundy, corporate communications director at Go-Ahead, said: "We recognise the importance of transparency and accountability in our sustainability reporting and are committed to providing meaningful information on the management and performance of our businesses."
She added: "All our Group operating companies have developed strong collaborative stakeholder partnerships with local organisations, assisting us to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve".
Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: "The 2015 CR Index shows us that we are moving in the right direction and companies are now increasingly integrating responsible business practice into decision making right across the business. To truly change business culture, companies need to engage their people to embrace a different way of doing business with responsible values at the core. So it is especially encouraging this year that we have seen a significant increase in the representation of corporate responsibility, both at board level and amongst the generation of future leaders that will shape the businesses of tomorrow.
"I congratulate Go-Ahead for achieving its ranking and look forward to working together to create a fairer society and a more sustainable future."
For further information about the 2015 CR Index including the full list of 2015 ranked companies, visit www.bitc.org.uk/crindex
Ends
For further information please contact:
Sarah Boundy, Group Corporate Communications Director | +44 (0) 78 0856 8667 |
Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. Employing around 26,000 people across the country, over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year. We are committed to operating our companies in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way and are proud to have been accredited with triple Carbon Trust Standard for reductions in carbon, water and waste. In addition to the travelling public, our customers include the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities.
Go-Ahead Bus
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a fleet of around 4,700 buses, we carry nearly two million passengers every day. Our operations are focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong presence in London, with around 24 per cent market share, where we provide regulated services for TfL. We operate deregulated services in Oxford, East Anglia, the south east, southern and north east England.
Go-Ahead Rail
The rail operation, Govia, is 65 per cent owned by Go-Ahead and 35 per cent by Keolis. It is the busiest rail operation in the UK, currently responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all UK passenger rail journeys through its four rail franchises: GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway), Southern (which includes the Gatwick Express), Southeastern and London Midland.
About the CR Index
Business in the Community's CR Index is the UK's leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility. It has been run by Business in the Community since 2002, providing businesses with a robust framework to systematically measure, manage and integrate responsible business practice into mainstream business strategy and operations. It also allows businesses to benchmark against competitors and to transparently communicate progress to stakeholders.
The CR Index takes the form of an online survey where companies follow a self-assessment process intended to help them identify both the strengths in their management and performance, and the gaps where future progress can be made. The CR Index is evidence based where participants are asked to provide relevant evidence as part of their submission which is validated by Business in the Community's expert reviewers.
The 2015 CR Index scores participating companies against the following areas of responsible business, Corporate Strategy, Integration, Management, Performance and Impact. This year 68 companies participated publicly www.bitc.org.uk/crindex
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community is the Prince's Responsible Business Network. Our members work together to tackle a wide range of issues that are essential to building a fairer society and a more sustainable future.
We are a business-led, issue focused charity with more than 30 years' experience of mobilising business. We engage thousands of businesses through our programmes driven by our core membership of over 800 organisations from small enterprises to global corporations www.bitc.org.uk
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