Managing performance

O2's approach to corporate responsibility is co-ordinated by O2's Corporate Responsibility Forum (CR Forum). This monthly forum includes representatives from O2's operating businesses and headquarters. It is chaired by Richard Poston, Corporate Affairs Director, a member of the O2 plc Executive Committee.

Recognition

  • O2 plc - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants: Sustainability Reporting award for 'Innovative Reporting' 2005;
  • O2 plc - European Strategic Risk Awards 2005 'Best Corporate Social  Responsibility Programme of the Year';
  • O2 plc - Charities Aid Foundation 'Corporates and Communities Award for Online Reporting' 2004;
  • Government league table of the best performers in corporate governance, O2 plc included in the top six
  • O2 plc - Ethical Consumer: Best Corporate Environmental Reporting 2005 - O2 plc included in the top 15;
  • O2 Ireland - Chamber of Commerce of Ireland: CSR Awards 2004 citation for sustained success in implementing good corporate responsibility practice across all aspects of O2 Ireland's activities.

This newly established CR Forum replaces O2's Corporate Responsibility Advisory Council. One of its most important jobs is to make sure that the active management of social, environmental and ethical matters - our corporate responsibility approach - is part of our daily operations. The CR Forum has also been overseeing the transfer of corporate responsibility management from headquarters to our operating businesses and aims to ensure that our approach to corporate responsibility is consistent across the whole Group.

Significant issues, such as environmental protection, health and safety, and child protection are reported to and discussed by our Executive Committee and the plc Board at least every six months.
 
In addition, ethical procurement, employment issues and general corporate responsibility updates are reported on quarterly to the Executive Committee and every six months to the Board. An Executive Director or senior manager champions various subject areas and reports regularly to the Group Board. Their remuneration is linked to our success in meeting key performance targets in employee engagement and customer satisfaction. We developed a list of specific key performance indicators for corporate responsibility last year. A summary has been included on our website.

The Board has an annual conference to discuss the vision and strategic direction of the Company as well as receiving updates in corporate responsibility issues. Additional training for Board Directors is provided on request. During the year, the Board was briefed on a range of issues from community investment, health and safety, mast siting and environmental management, to adult content, child protection, diversity and general employment affairs.

Our social, environmental and ethical processes and controls will be reviewed this year by a new third party as part of our risk management programme. All of O2's operating businesses have environmental management systems certified to ISO 14001. In addition, O2 UK and O2 Ireland have a health-and-safety management system certified to OHSAS18001. Our products and services are registered to ISO9001:2000 standards. We also use the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model to measure ourselves against the best performers in Europe.