Member Article

Gentoo Group amongst Top 10 in BITC's 2014 CR Index

Gentoo Group has been recognised in Business in the Community’s annual benchmark of responsible business, the Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index). In total, 98 companies are listed and Gentoo has made it to the Top 10 amongst BskyB, Royal Mail and Fujitsu.

Since 2002, the CR Index has provided unique insight into how businesses are driving the responsible business practice that will help secure a sustainable future. The 2014 CR Index, which is being launched as part of Responsible Business Week, provided a more challenging set of questions than ever before and its findings indicate that real the progress is being made by UK companies to integrate responsible behaviour into their business. This includes a growing understanding that responsible business provides mutual benefit, with two in three CR Index companies evaluating the economic value of CR to the business.

The Group was announced as a 4 star company out of a possible 5. This means that Gentoo:

Carries out formal risk and opportunity management processes in the context of the global mega trends and has started thinking about how these mega trends will impact upon the business strategy

Has developed a methodology for calculating the financial value CR activities bring to the business Has integrated leadership skills training within senior managers and Board members’ training and development Demonstrates transparency and accountability through an externally assured CR report, providing meaningful information on the management and performance of key material CR issues Has developed specific and measurable targets for all relevant issues and these are in the public domain Can demonstrate 3 years of performance improvement for most environmental and social impact areas

Peter Walls, Group Chief Executive said: “Responsible business matters to businesses, employees, communities and the long term sustainability of the planet. At Gentoo, Corporate Responsibility is ingrained in everything we do because we believe it’s the right thing to do.

“In the last year Gentoo has facilitated over 4000 hours to our volunteering programme and through our devolved budgets our Customer Panel has allocated funding to initiatives they really believe in. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. We are absolutely committed to being a responsible business and I look forward to the future challenges we will set ourselves.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “The 2014 CR Index shows us that companies are making real progress to integrate responsibility throughout their operations. We know that companies are now increasingly discussing CR at board level, transforming company culture through embedding CR into training, and unlocking innovative products and services by looking ahead to the long-term challenges and opportunities of responsible business. Crucially, this shift is being driven by a tranche of responsible leaders that understand the new contract now required between business and society to drive change.

“I congratulate Gentoo Group for achieving 4 star rating because it demonstrates a clear commitment to an integrated approach to being a responsible business. We look forward to working with Gentoo to challenge and support them towards creating a fairer society and a more sustainable future.”

As part of Responsible Business Week Gentoo Group, with the support of local partners – MacMillan Cancer Support, Prostate Cancer UK, NHS, North East Council on Alcoholism (NECA), Cancer Research UK, Bridges Community Bank and FISCUS – organised a Health and Wellbeing event to give customers the chance to meet new people, learn financial tips and take part in energiser classes.

Julie Walker, Head of Service (Operations), Gentoo Group said: “This week is Responsible Business Week, but at Gentoo we are a responsible business every day. This event was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact we can have, not only on health but also financial wellbeing. It’s incredibly important to work with partners on initiatives such as this so we can share knowledge and do what’s best for the people who may really need help and advice.”

Responsible Business Week (31 March – 4 April) is the only week dedicated to responsible business that is run by the charity Business in the Community. Responsible Business Week aims to inspire, equip and challenge businesses to do more to meet the world’s most pressing needs. You can follow the conversation at #RBWeek.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Facey .