Vodafone 2001 Annual Report Download - page 11

Vodafone Group Plc
Annual Report & Accounts
for the year ended
31 March 2001
9
DIRECTORS’ REPORT continued
Directors’ in terests in th e sh ares of Vodafone Grou p P lc
The Board’s Report to Shareholders on Directors’ Remuneration on pages 14 to 22 details the directors’ interests in the shares of Vodafone
Group Plc.
Directors’ in terests in con tracts
None of the current directors had a material interest in any contract of significance to which the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings
was a party during the financial year. Details of a transaction with Sam Ginn, who was Chairman of the Company until 23 May 2000, are given in
note 28 on page 54.
Em ployee in volvem en t
The Board’s aim is that employees understand and are committed to the Company’s strategy. This is described as “Vision and Values”, the
current version of which is summarised below. This is presently being reviewed and, as part of the process of integrating newly acquired
businesses into the Group, a new version will shortly be presented to employees throughout the Group.
Our vision is to be the world’s mobile communications leader, enriching the lives of individuals and business customers in the networked society
and our goals are to:
• Expand our geographic presence and control our investments;
• Bind customers to us through a constant introduction of new products and services and a brand that differentiates us from the rest;
• Lead in each local market by customer and brand loyalty, lowest cost position, share of profit pool and employee satisfaction;
• Leverage our global scale and scope to realise synergies, which help to achieve the lowest cost position and offer greater value to our
customers;
• Lead global technological platform development while positioning ourselves as the strategic partner of choice with technology leading
suppliers; and
• Attract the most talented people to work with us.
These goals are intended to be achieved by employees adopting agreed behaviours and values, which are to:
• Put customers first;
• Work as one team;
• Be open and involving;
• Move quickly into action;
• Deliver quality and innovation; and
• Think and act like owners.
These messages continue to be communicated in conferences, workshops and other forms of employee communications.
The Board places a high priority on employee communications and this is achieved through a growing range of mechanisms including
management presentations, team briefings, e-mail, intranet sites and conferences. The Company has an International Employee Communications
Forum at which employee representatives from subsidiary companies in Europe are able to discuss the progress of the Group and matters
affecting more than one country.
Em ployee edu cation , train in g an d develop m ent
Continuing education, training and development are important elements in ensuring the future success of the Group. Policies have been adopted
to assist employees in reaching their full potential and a wide variety of schemes are offered, aimed at ensuring that relevant education, training
and development opportunities are available.
Programmes of business related further education and management development are sponsored by the Group. Other programmes are provided to
help employees meet the training requirements of their chosen professional institution, thereby continuing to raise the level of professionalism in
the Group.