Barclays 2005 Annual Report Download - page 24

Barclays PLC
Annual Report 2005
22
Directors’ report
Activities
Barclays PLC Group is a major global financial services provider
engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment
banking, wealth management and investment management services.
The Group operates through branches, offices and subsidiaries in the
UK and overseas. The activities of the Group are described on pages
100 to 102 and developments in the Group’s business during the year
and an indication of likely future developments are analysed in the
Financial review on pages 103 and 104, with additional information
on potential risk factors discussed on pages 47 to 49.
Community Involvement
The total commitment for 2005 was £39.1m (2004: £32m).
Barclays committed £35.3m in support of the community in the UK
(2004: £29.5m) and £3.8m was committed in international support
(2004: £2.5m). UK commitment includes £16.7m of charitable
donations (2004: £11.2m).
Barclays is a member of the PerCent Club – a group of companies that
have undertaken to ensure that donations to the community over time
amount to at least 1% of their UK pre-tax profit.
Barclays has an extensive community programme covering many
countries around the world. The Group provides funding and support
to over 7,500 charities and voluntary organisations, ranging from small,
local charities like the Whitechapel Mission in East London (UK), to
international organisations like the Red Cross. We also have a very
successful employee programme, which in 2005 saw more than
26,000 employees and pensioners worldwide taking part in Barclays
supported volunteering and fundraising activities. Further information
on our community involvement is given on pages 14 to 16.
Political Donations
The Group did not give any money for political purposes in the United
Kingdom nor did it make any donations to EU political organisations or
incur any EU political expenditure during the year. Absa Group Limited,
in which the Group acquired a majority stake in 2005, made donations
totalling £224,400 in 2005 in accordance with its policy of making
political donations to the major South African political parties to
support the development of democracy in South Africa. The Group
made no other political donations in 2005.
At the AGM in 2002, shareholders gave a four-year authority for
Barclays Bank PLC and a number of other subsidiaries to make political
donations and incur political expenditure, within an agreed limit, as a
precautionary measure in light of the wide definitions in The Political
Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. These authorities,
which have not been used, expire on 26th April 2006. The risk of
inadvertently breaching The Political Parties, Elections and
Referendums Act 2000 remains and the Directors consider it prudent
to seek a renewal of the authorities given by shareholders. Resolutions
to authorise the Company and Barclays Bank PLC to make political
donations and incur political expenditure up to a maximum aggregate
sum of £250,000 are therefore being proposed at the Barclays PLC
2006 AGM.
Employee Involvement
Barclays is committed to ensuring that employees share in the success
of the Company. Staff are encouraged to participate in share option
and share purchase schemes and have a substantial sum invested in
Barclays shares.
Employees are kept informed of matters of concern to them in a variety
of ways, including the corporate news magazine, the intranet, briefings
and mobile phone SMS messaging.
Barclays is also committed to providing employees with opportunities to
share their views and provide feedback on issues that are important to
them. An annual Employee Opinion Survey is undertaken with results
being reported to the Board HR and Remuneration Committee and all
employees. Roadshows and employee forums also take place.
In addition, Barclays undertakes regular and formal Group, business unit
and project specific consultations with Amicus, our recognised union.
Equality and Diversity
Barclays is committed to giving full and fair consideration to
applications for employment from people with disabilities and to
continuing the employment of staff who become disabled and
arranging any appropriate training to achieve this.
Barclays respects and values people from all backgrounds and is
committed to becoming a more inclusive organisation with a
workforce that reflects the markets we serve.
The Equality and Diversity programme covers employee, customer,
supplier and community activities, wherever appropriate.
Health and Safety
Barclays is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of its
employees and, as far as is reasonably practicable, to providing and
maintaining safe working conditions. This commitment goes beyond just
fulfilling its statutory legal obligations; the Group has a wish to be proactive
in its management of health and safety in the workplace, and recognises
that this will strengthen both its physical and human resources.
It is also recognised that, in addition to its employees, Barclays has
responsibilities towards all persons on its premises, such as customers,
contractors, visitors and members of the public, and will ensure, as far
as is reasonably practicable, that they are not exposed to risks to their
health and safety.
Barclays monitors its health and safety performance using a variety
of metrics on a monthly basis and the Board HR and Remuneration
Committee receives regular reports on health and safety from the
Human Resources Director.
Creditors’ Payment Policy
Barclays policy follows the UK DTI’s Better Payment Practice Code,
copies of which can be obtained from the Better Payment Practice
Group’s website at www.payontime.co.uk. The Code states that a
company should have a clear, consistent policy, adhered to by the
finance and purchasing departments, that payment terms are agreed
at the outset and payment procedures explained to suppliers, that bills
are settled in accordance with payment terms agreed with suppliers,
that complaints are dealt with quickly and that suppliers are advised of
disputes. Barclays values its suppliers and acknowledges the importance
of paying invoices, especially those of small businesses, promptly.
Normal policy is to pay all small business purchases within 30 days.
Paragraph 12(3) of Schedule 7 of the Companies Act 1985 requires
disclosure of trade creditor payment days. Disclosure is required by
the Company, rather than the Group. The Group’s principal trading
subsidiary in the UK is Barclays Bank PLC, the accounts for which are
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.