Capita is committed to managing its business in a responsible manner and making a positive contribution to the wider community. A focus on corporate responsibility flows throughout our business in the manner in which we operate in our marketplace, treat our people, support our local communities and minimise our impact on the environment.
An integral approach
As corporate reponsibility (CR) is integral to our business we have touched upon it throughout this report and full details of our approach, targets and progress can be found in our CR report at www.capita.co.uk/society.
Integrating CR into decision making
CR issues arise in the normal, day to day management and growth of our business. As a result, we treat corporate responsibility alongside other key business issues and integrate it into our operational and governance processes.
Corporate responsibility is championed from the top, with Group Board members being responsible for each of our 4 impact areas. We also have a Group wide Statement of Business Principles and a number of CR related policies all of which are supported by the Group Board.
| Impact area |
Board-level responsibility |
|
Quality of service
- clients
- suppliers
|
Simon Pilling Joint Chief Operating Officer
Gordon Hurst Group Finance Director
|
Our people
|
Paddy Doyle Joint Chief Operating Officer
|
Our communities
|
Paul Pindar Chief Executive
|
Environment
|
Gordon Hurst Group Finance Director
|
In 2006, a sustainability working group was established comprising Gordon Hurst, Group Finance Director with the heads of safety, health & environment, risk, procurement, property and facilities management to ensure that the Group is meeting requirements and operating in an effective and responsible manner. We undertake bi-annual site audits and regularly refresh Group standards to ensure ongoing improvement. This is a constantly evolving programme as we have a large number of new sites joining the Group each year, as a result of new contracts and acquisitions.
Ensuring quality of service
Helping our clients transform the way they do business is not a short term project. When we engage with a client we hope to enter into a long term relationship that supports their business and values. Through building strong, productive partnerships that consistently meet client expectations, we have created a successful and sustainable business of our own.
Capita helps to change the way front line services are delivered. We are not involved in creating or influencing client policies or objectives and we do not make political donations. But helping our clients adapt to change means they make better use of taxpayer and shareholder funds.
A clear reporting schedule with key performance indicators is written into major contracts and regularly reviewed with the client. Where changing circumstances require, we will also review how we deliver services in order to provide even better service to our clients and their customers.
Supporting our people
We would not have achieved such high levels of sustained growth without a dedicated and competent workforce. Being able to attract, retain and develop talented and ambitious people means we will have the resources we need to help our clients and grow our business.
Reducing our environmental impacts
Due to the nature of our business, Capita does not have a major impact on the environment. This is confirmed by our FTSE 4 Good environmental impact rating of ‘low’. We none the less recognize the value of taking a proactive approach to environmental management. Key measurements of environmental impacts have now been embedded into our management reporting process, focusing on 3 key areas:
- Waste and resource management – in 2004 we under took a survey of waste management at key sites across the Group. This helped to develop more effective waste management policies and future targets.
- Carbon emissions - on the basis of a Carbon Survey undertaken in 2005, we identified energy use and transport as 2 of Capita’s most significant environmental impacts. This has informed a number of initiatives including an agreement to purchase green energy for all our sites and switching our fleet vehicles to diesel engines.
- Supply chain – we monitor our suppliers’ statements of compliance with our Supplier Environmental Code of Practice. We are also working with suppliers to extend the range of recyclable products used by the Group and to implement the EU WEEE Directive with a strong focus on recycling.
Benefiting our communities
We are actively engaged with the communities in which we work, focusing on support and regeneration. Our interest in corporate responsibility arises from a recognition of the impact our business operations have on society.
We have created a community investment and engagement strategy that focuses on how businesses and employees can make appositive impact on the communities in which they operate. We implement this community strategy through:
- Local community partnerships – through our regional partnerships we have helped to increase job creation, local purchasing and investment in community initiatives. Our regional business centre strategy for creating greenfield sites also helps to channel job creation opportunities to deprived areas. Our businesses are also encouraged to invest in and support local initiatives that add social or environmental value.
- Charitable initiatives – at a corporate level our charitable strategy is to support initiatives that address social and educational exclusion whether due to disability, economic or social circumstances. Our current charitable partnerships are with the NSPCC and The Prince’s Trust and a third charity voted for annually by employees which was Cancer Research UK in 2006. Fundraising events are arranged centrally and locally and a volunteering scheme is in place to support The Prince’s Trust young people programmes.
