BT 2014 Annual Report Download - page 93

90 Governance
Who we are
I chair the Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Business (CSRB).
Our membership and meeting attendance are set out below. Lord
Michael Hastings stepped down after nine years of service and I would
like to thank Michael for his signicant contribution over this time.
Committee members
Meetings
Member Eligible toattend Attended
Sir Michael Rake (chairman) 2 2
Clare Chapmana21
Tony Chanmugamb10
Niall Dunnea 22
Lord Michael Hastingsc,d 11
Phil Hodkinson 2 2
Baroness Margaret Jayc22
Dame Ellen MacArthurc21
Gavin Neathc 22
Gavin Patterson 2 2
Jasmine Whitbread 2 2
a BT employee.
b Tony Chanmugam joined the committee on 10 December 2013.
c Independent member.
d /ord Michael +astings retired from the committee on 10 November 2013.
What we have done
We met twice during the year and the chart opposite shows how
we allocated our time to the dierent elements of the Better Future
programme. This reects our focus on the three elements of Better
Future and the supporting theme of employee volunteering.
We seek input from external stakeholders on the perception and progress of
our Better Future programme. BT hosted a two-day Better Future Forum to
specically communicate with our online stakeholders in July 2013. CSRB
members attended the forum sessions and contributed to the debates.
<ou can Ƭnd information on Better Future within the
Better Future 5eport at www.bt.combetterfuturereport
Being a responsible and sustainable business leader is a strategic priority
for BT. This means more than just driving sustainable business practices
in BT’s own operations.
Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Business Chairman’s report
Allocation of time
35%
Governance
12.5%
Connected Society
12.5%
Improving Lives
15%
Volunteering
4%
Other
21%
Net Good
BT recognises the broader value it can deliver to society through its
people and its technology. We annually approve its direct investment in
responsible and sustainable business. For the year 2013/14, we approved
an investment of 1% of adjusted prot before taxation, based on the
2012/13 group results. This investment is split between programmes
wedirectly oversee and activities embedded in the lines of business.
BT Group’s direct investment in sustainable and responsible business in
2013/14 was £27.2m (in time, cash and in-kind support). The investment
is split between volunteering and in-kind activities by BT employees,
whichcontributed 44%, and cash funding, which delivered 56%.
We have continued to develop the strategy and provide high-level
guidance for the three elements of the Better Future programme
Connected Society, Net Good and Improving Lives. Within the three
elements, we have identied the need to shape the portfolio of activities
and focus on transformational projects that deliver in the communities
where BT operates. BT is focusing its resources on a smaller number
of projects that can deliver the greatest value, and moving away from
supporting multiple projects in a less substantial way.
BT’s employee volunteers underpin the three Better Future programme
elements. BT benets from the promotion of volunteering opportunities
because this increases employee engagement with its culture and its
values. Organisations supported by its volunteers benet from access
to skilled individuals at no cost to their organisation. An example is the
BTTroubleshooter programme which can be found at www.bt.com/
troubleshooter
Volunteering
BT actively encourages its people to get involved in their communities
and helps them by running a comprehensive set of volunteering
programmes. In 2013/14, over 13,600 BT people volunteered more
than 46,000 days, worth over £14m to those communities.
Volunteering is, of course, a discretionary activity and employees
continue to volunteer individually as well as becoming involved with
BT’s wider activities. All BT people can volunteer for up to three days
a year. We are proud of what they do these volunteers support more
than 1,300 unique charities and community groups across the globe.
CSRB members also joined the many contributors at the 50th event of
the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSE) in Dublin in
January 2014. This exhibition promotes the study of science by school
children across the island of Ireland. The BTYSE is organised and staed
by BT volunteers and is a great example of how BT people make a
positive impact in society.
Sir Michael Rake
Chairman of the Committee for Sustainable and Responsible Business
7 May 2014
Our diverse membership brings a wide
range of views to support our strategic
priority to be a responsible and sustainable
business leader.
Sir Michael Rake