Barclays 2008 Annual Report Download - page 68

66 Barclays PLC Annual Report 2008 |Find out more at www.barclays.com/annualreport08
Sustainability and Barclays
At Barclays, we recognise that our sustainability values have an increased
importance in the current financial climate. We are focused on:
supporting our existing customers; being a bank that welcomes
all potential customers; being an equal opportunity employer; our
commitment to climate change; and ensuring we behave at all times
as a responsible global citizen.
Doing this effectively helps us to reduce our risk and positions us well
to capture commercial opportunities arising from the global transition
towards a more sustainable future.
Developing our strategic framework
To measure our success in integrating sustainability into our business we
have addressed the broad sustainability agenda through five key themes:
– Customers and Clients
– Inclusive Banking
– Diversity and Our People
– Environment
– Responsible Global Citizenship
These themes resonate in our businesses, provide a platform for
action, and give us a clear purpose and direction. Implementation is driven
by actionable goals and robust performance measurement.
We manage and report our progress on the sustainability topics of
most significance to our business and our stakeholders. We have
determined this in part through:
– our research initiatives and partnerships
– dialogue with our stakeholders including customers, investors
governments, non-governmental organisations, consumer groups,
and journalists across our markets globally
– internal and external focus groups including hosting consumer
roundtables in the UK.
Stakeholder insight and feedback on our sustainability agenda is vital,
and encourages us to be open and transparent about the issues our
stakeholders are concerned about.
Measuring progress
We aim to measure and monitor our sustainability progress both internally
and externally. In 2008, we developed a framework for regular progress
reports to the Group Executive Committee and the Board. It provides
consistent tracking of our progress by sustainability theme and Business Unit.
Barclays participates in a number of external indices, forums and initiatives
which help to measure our progress including the Dow Jones Sustainability
Index and FTSE4Good. In 2008, Barclays ranked joint first in the Carbon
Disclosure Project’s Leadership Index.
Customers and clients
In 2008, amid widespread uncertainty in financial markets and the wider
global economy, it was vital to stay close to our clients and customers,
who we recognise have a choice where they bank.
During the year, we worked to help our customers and clients cope
with the challenging economic circumstances. Our record of lending
responsibly has allowed us to continue mortgage lending in the UK,
increasing our share of net new lending from 8% in 2007 to 36% in 2008.
We increased lending to UK SMEs by 6% to a total of £15bn. We also
provided support to small businesses in the UK and South Africa and also
made significant investment in the Barclays Business Support team which
is dedicated to helping business customers in financial difficulty in the UK.
In addition, we have committed to lend an additional 10%
(£1.5bn) to SMEs in the UK by the end of 2009. We continue to act
on customer and client feedback to develop appropriate products and
services to meet different needs.
Inclusive banking
For Barclays, inclusive banking means helping those who are excluded
from the financial system to join and benefit from it.
We have dedicated accounts for people on low incomes across several
countries in Africa. In 2008, these basic accounts made up 27% of our
total current and savings accounts in Africa.
Absa, which has 10 million customers, is now the market leader for
low income customers in South Africa – those earning less than R3,000
(£200) a month – with a market share of 33%.
We continued to support better access to financial products and
services in the UK through our basic-level Cash Card Account, which is
now held by more than 730,000 customers, and through partnerships
with community finance organisations and charities which help excluded
and vulnerable people in society.
In March 2008, Barclays launched the ‘Hello Money’ service in India
which allows customers to carry out banking transactions easily and
securely over their mobile phones. Hello Money is already making a
significant impact in giving access to financial services for people in India’s
rural areas.
Diversity and Our People
Barclays aims to provide a safe working environment in which employees
are treated fairly and with respect, encouraged to develop, and rewarded
on the basis of individual performance.
Corporate sustainability
Barclays Capital has traded
more than 1billion tonnes
of carbon credits with a
notional value of over
£20bn
1bn
51° 30' 21" N
London, UK 12pm GMT
£52.2m invested in
our communities globally
£52.2m
19° 01' 04"N
Mumbai 5.30pm IST
Over 57,000 employees
received direct support for
fundraising, volunteering
and giving in 31countries
57,000
1° 16' 28" S
Nairobi 3pm EAT