O2 is set to become the first company worldwide to be granted a new automated, machine-readable trustmark for accessibility of its corporate website, www.o2.com, it revealed today at its annual Community Awards, held at the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA).
The trustmark awarded by Segala - an independent web certification specialist - is an endorsement of the importance O2 places on the ability of people of all age groups and capabilities to view and engage with content on the company’s corporate website. The trustmark is expected to be adopted by leading Internet search engines, enabling web users to filter for content that is specifically accessible to people with disabilities as well as protecting certain groups, such as children, from inappropriate web content.
Today’s announcement builds on other corporate responsibility accreditations awarded to O2. It became the first UK-based operator to achieve the ISO14001 environmental standard for all of its international operations, assisting the company in being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices rating. O2 also achieved top scoring mobile operator in Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index, adding to ‘Best CSR programme of the year’ award by European Strategic Risk and the ‘Most innovative corporate responsibility report’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Speaking at the O2 Community Awards, Sir David Arculus, chairman of O2, said: “We are committed to offering our 25 million plus customers the services they want and giving them the best possible experience. This includes enabling Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis sufferers to better monitor their condition with specially-adapted mobile phones or helping the emergency services to save lives through the use of O2 Airwave - a highly sophisticated, secure digital communications network.
“Our people in the UK, Germany, Ireland and the Isle of Man also make a positive contribution to local communities and society. They devote huge amounts of time and money to a wide range of charities and environmental organisations. I am delighted to be able to recognise their achievements through the O2 Community Awards, which is now in its second year.”
Attending the awards were a large number of O2-supported charitable and environmental organisations, many of which have the objective of giving young people a better chance in life. In the UK, O2 backs youth charity Weston Spirit, O2 Germany works with the German Children’s and Youth Foundation and on the Isle of Man, Manx Telecom employees are raising money for a new hospice, which will include the island’s first dedicated children’s unit.
Caroline Casey, founder of the Aisling Foundation, opened the O2 Community Awards and spoke of her organisation’s drive to encourage employers to see beyond disability and treat disabled people as ‘normal’. She is also creator of Ireland’s first ‘Ability Awards’, which are sponsored by O2 Ireland and were established to recognise best practise in employing people with disabilities. O2 Ireland plans to back the awards again, next year, and will also soon work with Irish Autism Action.
The O2 Community Awards was set up to recognise the contributions that O2 people are making within their local communities and across society. This year, the overall winner of the Awards was Tommy Harrison from the Isle of Man, in recognition of his charity ‘Hands of Hope’, which helps children of Romania.
O2 plc
O2 plc has 100% ownership of mobile network operators in three countries - the UK, Germany and Ireland - as well as a leading mobile Internet portal business. All of these businesses are branded as ‘O2’.
The company is a founding member of Starmap Mobile Alliance, has operations on the Isle of Man (Manx Telecom) and owns Airwave O2 - an advanced, digital emergency communications service. In addition, O2 has established the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively.
O2 has more than 25 million customers and some 15,000 employees. It reported revenues for the year ended 31 March 2005 of £6.683 billion.
O2 plc 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
