Experian 2012 Annual Report Download - page 49

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GovernanceBusiness reviewBusiness overview Financial statements
Corporate responsibility
Experian’s ability to drive sustainable, profitable growth is partly dependent
on its roots in responsible business behaviour and practice. A long-term
belief in doing the right thing has this year matured into a cultural identity,
with a responsibility to society at its core.
Our six key responsibilities remain
unchanged but they take on a new
resonance as we demonstrate how
we connect, protect and create and
take account of the social context of
our business. Measured performance
on social, ethical and environmental
objectives, developed by the business,
is an important way of demonstrating how
we take these responsibilities seriously.
Responsibility 2012 Objectives Status How achieved Link to strategic
goals
Data
Use and protect data
properly, respecting
all the relevant laws,
helping evolve industry
guidelines and
new legislation and
ensuring a culture of
compliance with the
highest standards of
integrity.
Prepare and distribute training to all
employees globally related to new legislation
and existing requirements of the Experian
Code of Conduct, tracking and monitoring to
ensure complete awareness of compliance
requirements.
Follow the same model of global distribution
and awareness training for the Anti-Bribery
and Corruption Policy and Appropriate Use
of Data Policy/Data Acquisitions Policy,
integrating policy standards across all regions
including EMEA/Asia Pacific.
Computer based training related to the Code of
Conduct, Anti-Bribery/Corruption and Gifts and
Hospitality was released in October 2011 and the
majority of employees in the US, UK and Ireland had
completed by January 2012. The training was rolled
out to another ten countries by March 2012. Take up of
the training is monitored and employees who have not
completed it are followed up by their manager. Non-
completion is a disciplinary offence.
The Appropriate Use of Data Policy/Data Acquisitions
Policy is being dealt with separately and training is
embedded in the UK and Ireland, with other regions at
various stages of implementation.
Engaging employees in new
compliance responsibilities
Strategic goal linkage:
Become global market leader
in credit information and
analytics
Products and Services
Create social and
economic benefit
through our products,
services and
capabilities, balancing
commercial benefit
with consumers’ rights
and needs.
Establish an acceptable framework for
embedding social, ethical and environmental
(SEE) considerations into the investment
decision process as new products and
services are reviewed, developing criteria
that help the business assess and evaluate
the social benefit of any new development,
looking particularly for opportunities, not only
mitigating risks, in terms of consumer benefit,
value to clients’ reputation and contribution to
broader economic and social development.
The investment decision documentation includes
a stakeholder impact consideration framework.
Discussions through the year have concluded that the
further embedding of social considerations is not likely
to be achieved by a change of wording or criteria.
Therefore a new initiative to work with the leadership
team at the global senior management conference has
been established as the best way forward to improve
understanding of SEE matters and follow up with
regional strategic project committees is planned in the
next financial year.
Big ideas: Innovation with a
social benefit
Strategic goal linkage:
Become global market leader
in credit information and
analytics
Create successful businesses
in new customer segments
Consumer
Inform and empower
consumers, and
ensure that those who
interact directly with
our Group receive fair
and honest treatment.
Continue to develop employee
communications to raise awareness across
the whole Experian population of the positive
role of credit and credit reporting, helping
employees play an active part in reaching out
to consumers, particularly supporting the
consumer champions in Brazil, Australia and
India, as their markets and bureaux develop.
Where community funding is used to support
financial education, work with the community
teams to support the use of these funds to
maximum effect with the broadest range of
consumers.
Employee communications have developed
particularly in North America and Brazil. The employee
ambassador programme in North America is of
particular note and is featured in the North America
regional CR report.
The consumer education champions in North
America and UK and Ireland have been instrumental
in supporting consumer developments in India and
the Serasa Experian champion spent time in North
America with the local team developing his expertise
and knowledge.
The North America, Latin America and UK and
Ireland regions have all linked consumer education
with community grants, with reach reported in the
community section of the CR report.
Our NA volunteer ambassadors
speak up to help consumers
Strategic goal linkage:
Build large-scale operations in
our major emerging consumer
economies
Become the most trusted
consumer brand for credit
information services and
identity protection
Achieved Part achieved Ongoing