SCOTTISHPOWER has retained its Platinum status in Business in the Community’s (BITC’s) 2009 Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) for the fourth consecutive year.
The Index is the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility. ScottishPower achieved Platinum status in the CR Index 2006 and again in 2007, after which it was eligible to retain this banding for the next two Index cycles with the company holding the same business structure and demonstrating its continued board-level commitment to corporate responsibility.
Achieving Platinum status highlights that ScottishPower has integrated corporate responsibility in its business model and demonstrates that it has clear CR responsibilities at board and operational levels.
The CRI helps companies to integrate and improve corporate responsibility throughout their business operations, by providing a systematic approach to managing, measuring and reporting on business impacts in society and on the environment.
Platinum companies have a structured approach to data collection and social and environmental impact assessment. They demonstrate three-to-four years of performance improvement across their key impacts. They act and report with a high level of transparency and stakeholder engagement, and the materiality, completeness and responsiveness of their published data is often third party assured.
Ann Loughrey, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at ScottishPower, said: “It is a great achievement for ScottishPower to retain our Platinum status in the Corporate Responsibility Index.
“We are delighted to be recognised by Business in the Community for the fourth year running, highlighting our long-term commitment to corporate social responsibility. We understand that in order to build a successful and sustainable business it is vital that we demonstrate our commitment to responsible business practices.
“Our relationships with stakeholders and the hard work and dedication of our staff allows our CSR policy to be a success and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support and commitment.”
Stephen Howard, chief executive, Business in the Community, said: “I congratulate ScottishPower on achieving Platinum in the 2009 Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index.
“Companies participating in the Index may be at different stages of their responsible business journey, but they have all demonstrated that they take these issues seriously and are leading the field in ensuring this is just how they do business. We believe this is imperative if we are to strengthen and stabilise our businesses and economy.”
ScottishPower was recently awarded Business in the Community’s coveted National Big Tick at the UK Awards for Excellence for two of its projects and reaccreditation with an additional Big Tick for a third project.
The awards reward businesses who demonstrate the positive impact they have had on society, and also the business benefits created by ensuring that being responsible is integral to their business model.
The company received a Big Tick in the Employability award category for its Skillseeker Programme and in the Education award category for its PowerWise project and was reaccredited with a Big Tick for the Power in Partnership category for its partnership work with the National Grid in the North Staffordshire Warm Zone.
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