Benchmarking

The 2004 corporate responsibility assurance report by Ernst & Young highlighted a weakness in measuring the impact of our community projects. In response we developed a database to record and value our activities using software based on the London Benchmarking Group model. We have also worked with the Charities Aid Foundation to produce a grant monitoring procedure, with third party assessment, that will apply to any project worth over £5,000.

The London Benchmarking Group Model

1. Intermittent support to a wide range of good causes in response to the needs and appeals of charitable and community organisations, increasingly through partnerships between the company, its employees, customers and suppliers.

2. Long-term strategic involvement in community partnerships to address a limited range of social issues chosen by the company in order to protect its long-term corporate interests and to enhance its reputation.

3. Activities in the community, usually by commercial departments, to support directly the success of the company by promoting its corporate brand identities and other policies, in partnership with charities and community-based organisations.

4. The core business activities in meeting society's needs for cost-effective goods and services in a manner which is etchically, socially and environmnetally responsible.