| Strategic objective | Action / Targets | Progress 2008 & future actions |
|---|
| To strive for continuous health & safety improvement and promote social and ethical “best practice”. |
Achieve “Investor in People” certification and continue staff training. |
Group certified since 2000. Re-certification achieved in November 2007. Our next audit will take place in 2010. |
| Monitor compliance with Social and Ethical Policy. |
We continue to align our ESE Objectives and practices with those identified and adopted by listed companies, our peer group and where added value can be achieved. Examples of this include our alignment to the FTSE4Good metrics and requiring our supply chain to adopt and report against our procurement policy and checklist, which has resulted in some 80% of timber procured having a chain of custody. In addition, we have bought only Fairtrade teas and coffees for staff refreshment, recycled mobile phones and toner cartridges and have bought 100% of paper (2007: 100%) and approximately 78% of stationery products (2007: 48%) from sustainable sources. |
| Target Health & Safety incident rates to be below national average year-on-year. |
The Group's Accident Incident Rate (AIR) averaged at 829 reportable injury incidents per 100,000 persons employed (869* in 2007), compared with the National AIR of 865 (942 in 2007). We intend to maintain our Accident Incident Rate below the National AIR. * Correction |
| Continually measure performance against Training and Development Policy. |
During the reporting period, the Group invested £881,323 (2007 - £1,013,259) in employee development and training, including our Graduate Management Training Programme, which averaged, per employee, £1,098 (2007 - £1,249) or 2.8 (3.2) training days – all of which compare favourably with our peer group. |
| Continue Induction Training and internal communication. |
Induction training for new employees has continued throughout the reporting period, however given current trading conditions, we expect that we will not need to hold Induction training during 2009. Nevertheless, we are committed to high levels of internal communications for all staff. The Group’s intranet is comprehensive and a staff magazine and email newsletters are regularly produced. In addition, Senior Directors give regular presentations to staff outlining strategy and trading updates. |
| Monitor compliance with Equal Opportunities Policy. |
As reported previously, this is reviewed and continuously monitored through the Chief Executive's Advisory Group (CEAG); this Group develops and implements strategy, operational plans, policies, and procedures and monitors operating and ESE performance. |