Engaging with our communities helps us build positive, longer-term relationships with our employers, clients and consumers, encouraging improved client retention and employee engagement.
We have a strong track record in community engagement and investment, operating the best community-based initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles, tackle social exclusion, improve employment chances and promote sustainability and diversity.
We are fully aware of our responsibilities to the communities in which we operate. We value our membership of Business in the Community (‘BITC’), a UK-based organisation which seeks to inspire, engage, support and challenge companies to continually improve the impact they have on society and the environment.
Our people pride themselves on being good neighbours and actively support their local communities using, whenever possible, their skills and the locations where they work to provide support to community initiatives.
Donations
During the year to 30 September 2011 worldwide charitable donations were £5.9 million (2010: £5.8 million).