Press release

O2 unveils the winners of its community awards 2006

Research for O2 conducted by Ipsos MORI revealed that nearly half of experts interviewed (48%) believed most UK companies were not serious about corporate responsibility. O2 released the findings of a survey, which sought the views of influential non-Government organisations and other parties, as it unveiled the winners of the O2 Community Awards 2006, now in its third year.

The survey also showed that the majority of respondents (58%) felt that there should be more legislation to force companies to behave responsibly with most citing the tobacco, food manufacturing, oil and pharmaceutical industries as needing to do much more to satisfy their expectations in this field. 28% of respondents said the mobile communications sector need to do much more and the key issues highlighted were mobile phone and mast health concerns, the impact on the environment and child protection from inappropriate content.

Speaking at the awards, Peter Erskine, chairman and chief executive officer, O2, said: “The Ipsos MORI survey highlights the need for CR to be deeply embedded into the fabric of how we do business and the need to raise the profile of a company’s activities and voluntary codes of practice supported by the mobile industry.

“With this in mind, our community programmes seek to make a lasting difference to society – an ethos shared by today’s winners of the O2 Community Awards, all of whom embody a passion and commitment to genuinely improve the lives of those less fortunate than themselves, both locally and globally. We are also committed to providing the best information possible on health matters as well as safety and security of children. In addition, we are looking at environmental protection initiatives, have worked with the UK Government’s Carbon Trust and have a plan to achieve carbon neutrality.”

The awards recognise employees, across all O2 territories, including the UK, Isle of Man, Germany, Ireland and Czech Republic, who generously give their time and effort to work on projects both in their local communities and further a field.

Gold-medal winning athlete, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, and Catherine Millan, a Weston Spirit mentee, were among the guest speakers. In addition, the O2 Community Awards were attended by representatives from O2’s charity partners and other organisations that it works with, including ChildNet International, Business in the Community, Community Actions Network, Westgate School and Herschel Grammar School, Weston Spirit, British Lung Foundation, Irish Autism Action, UPJ and Haus der Familie Tenever.

The awards were divided into three categories with each person short-listed receiving £1000 for their community partner or cause, whilst the winner of each award category received a further £5000 and £1000 in holiday vouchers for themselves.

The winners of the 3 awards categories this year, included:

• Swantje Hartmann, representing O2 Germany, won the ‘Fit for Life’ category for her work with ‘Foerderverein des Kriminalpräventiven rat’ – an initiative for children and young people in the community of Delmenhorst. ‘Fit for Life’ covers work of grassroots activity projects, such as sports groups, kids’ football or youth clubs.
• Jason Corbett, who works at O2 Ireland, scooped first place in the ‘At Home’ category for his work with Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. ‘At Home’ recognises fundraising or community activity for a charitable organisation in their country of residence.
• Ghouse Fazaluddin, representing O2 Airwave, won the ‘International’ category for his work with The Imdad Fund, a charity that aims to alleviate poverty and suffering across the globe. ‘International’ recognises fundraising for a charitable organisation outside country of residence.

Note to editors

In 2005/06, O2’s total cash donations reached nearly two million pounds. It also runs a community investment programme, called ‘Can Do in the Community’, which was launched in 2002 and takes three main forms.

• Volunteering – ways for employees to get involved personally in the community.
• Can Do Giving – employees can support their favourite charities by donating regularly through payroll. Contributions are exempt from tax and include an additional 20 per cent donation from O2.
• Can Do Matching – the company matches sums raised by individuals or teams.

In addition, O2 plc became the first mobile operator to achieve ISO 14001 and featured in Business in the Community's Corporate Responsibility Index, which measures the performance of over 100 leading UK companies, as well as the Dow Jones Sustainability indexes and the FTSE4Good.

The Ipsos MORI survey

The research was conducted on behalf of a number of companies, including O2, among a targeted sample of 40 leading Non-Governmental Organisations and other influential experts in the field of corporate responsibility. Interviews were conducted with senior figures who could talk about businesses, mostly at director level. The fieldwork was conducted by telephone between 10 July and 7 August 2006.

O2’s Corporate Responsibility Report 2005/06 can be viewed at
www.o2.com/o2_in_society.asp

O2

O2 comprises mobile network operators in the UK and Ireland, along with integrated fixed/mobile businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic. It also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively as well as having 100% ownership of Be, a leading UK fixed broadband provider. In addition, the group includes O2 Airwave, which supplies secure digital communications to the emergency services and other public safety organisations.

O2, a Telefónica company, is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has more than 37 million customers across Europe.

O2 contacts

David Nicholas
Director of Communications
O2 plc
david.nicholas@o2.com
t: +44 (0) 771 575 9176

Simon Gordon
Head of Media Relations
O2 plc
simon.gordon@o2.com
t: +44 (0) 771 007 0698

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