Aim: to maintain and strengthen margins. We constantly monitor operating margins and manage operating costs to keep the business efficient and cost effective. This means:

• Focus on adding value and applying innovation
• Increasing economies of scale
• Unremitting focus on our cost base
• Offshoring back office activities to India
• Increasing the utilisation of our business centres
• Better use of technology.
  

In 2006, we have continued our long term trend of improving operating margins (after share based payment charge).