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Evidence that companies are becoming better at integrating CSR within their operating units has emerged in the latest Corporate Responsibility Index from Business in the Community.
The index, now in its third year, shows CSR integration scores among the 144 participating companies stood at 80 per cent in 2004, compared with 75 per cent in the previous year. This was despite the fact that average marks across all aspects of CSR remained stationary.
Bitc said it was not possible to draw firm conclusions based on a comparison of company performance from one year to the next, but the higher score was nevertheless significant because three-quarters of the companies taking part in 2004 had also been in the 2003 index and many of the changes were the result of restructuring and mergers.
The index compiler told EP the improvement on integration was partly due to more staff training, which is helping to spread business responsibility messages throughout companies. A Bitc official said: ‘We’ve also seen improved dissemination of information on CSR principles and greater reference to such issues in staff appraisals, which greatly helps with integration.’
Bitc had emphasized to index participants last year that it wanted better integration, and says the subject still needs ‘more attention’.
The best performer in the index was the Australian bank Westpac, the only company to register ‘outstanding performance’ in all categories highlighted by Bitc, including overall strategy and integration. Westpac had not taken part in the index before. Other new participants to fare well were Scottish & Southern Energy (14th), CE Electric UK (22nd), EDF Energy (46th) and Johnson Matthey (60th).
Altogether 36 businesses participated for the first time. Of the 144 taking part, 57 were FTSE 100 companies, and 43 were from the FTSE 250. The rest were generally Bitc members.
The index also shows that:
CSR issues are included in a third of senior manager appraisals
employees from nine in ten of the participants are briefed on the company’s values or principles, but only a third of the companies provide training on such issues
all but a tiny minority of companies have a code of conduct, but one in seven do not monitor compliance with it.
The best-performing sectors, in order, were: utilities, electricity, telecoms, mining and beverages. Among non-corporate organizations participating, the UK government’s Inland Revenue department took 97th place, better than in previous years.
Bitc reveals only the top 100 best-performing participants. In all, 500 companies were invited to take part.
The index, now in its third year, shows CSR integration scores among the 144 participating companies stood at 80 per cent in 2004, compared with 75 per cent in the previous year. This was despite the fact that average marks across all aspects of CSR remained stationary.
Bitc said it was not possible to draw firm conclusions based on a comparison of company performance from one year to the next, but the higher score was nevertheless significant because three-quarters of the companies taking part in 2004 had also been in the 2003 index and many of the changes were the result of restructuring and mergers.
The index compiler told EP the improvement on integration was partly due to more staff training, which is helping to spread business responsibility messages throughout companies. A Bitc official said: ‘We’ve also seen improved dissemination of information on CSR principles and greater reference to such issues in staff appraisals, which greatly helps with integration.’
Bitc had emphasized to index participants last year that it wanted better integration, and says the subject still needs ‘more attention’.
The best performer in the index was the Australian bank Westpac, the only company to register ‘outstanding performance’ in all categories highlighted by Bitc, including overall strategy and integration. Westpac had not taken part in the index before. Other new participants to fare well were Scottish & Southern Energy (14th), CE Electric UK (22nd), EDF Energy (46th) and Johnson Matthey (60th).
Altogether 36 businesses participated for the first time. Of the 144 taking part, 57 were FTSE 100 companies, and 43 were from the FTSE 250. The rest were generally Bitc members.
The index also shows that:
CSR issues are included in a third of senior manager appraisalsemployees from nine in ten of the participants are briefed on the company’s values or principles, but only a third of the companies provide training on such issuesall but a tiny minority of companies have a code of conduct, but one in seven do not monitor compliance with it.The best-performing sectors, in order, were: utilities, electricity, telecoms, mining and beverages. Among non-corporate organizations participating, the UK government’s Inland Revenue department took 97th place, better than in previous years.
Bitc reveals only the top 100 best-performing participants. In all, 500 companies were invited to take part.
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