March 21, 2003—A voluntary benchmarking exercise via “Business in the Community” has measured companies’ commitment to socially responsible behavior.
UK FM companies who opened their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and practices to independent measurement and ranking, received their positions in the first published index.
Carillion is the only FM company within the rankings to make it into the top fifth, alongside other names such as Marks & Spencer and Astra Zeneca. Its Web site has recently been updated and now uses the line “we believe in the quality of life” and talks about looking at its construction and FM activities from that perspective.
A total of 122 companies participated100 were FTSE-listed companies, including 53 of the FTSE 100, and 22 non-FTSE members of Business in the Community.
“This is the first business-led, voluntary index, publicly benchmarking the responsible business practice of companies in a range of different industry sectors,” said a Business in the Community spokesperson.
Other FM players volunteering their polices and practices for examination included Serco Group which was placed in the second quintile, Jarvis, placed in the third and Rentokil Initial, in the fourth. Capita, the outsourcing company, and Workspace, the serviced office provider find themselves in the fifth section.
Stephen Timms, minister for corporate social responsibility, welcomed the index saying: “Corporate Social Responsibility has a vital role to play in our society. It’s living proof that economic and social goals do not have to be in conflict. And it can address some of the toughest challenges our society faces.
The index measures strategy, integration and management practice in four key areas. The average overall score achieved by participants was 67.87%. In these areas, environment is the furthest advanced (71%), followed by workplace (67.5%), community (nearly 60%) and marketplace (54.5%). Individual scores were not identified, but those in the first quintile—like Carillion—scored more than 82% in total.
Business in the Community has 700 member companies and a declared purpose “to inspire, challenge, engage and support business in continually improving its positive impact on society”. Together the member companies employ over 15.7 million people in over 200 countries.
–Fiona Perrin
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2003 i-FM
