Morgan Sindall and Carillion were the top scoring construction companies with four stars in this year’s Business in the Community annual benchmark of responsible business, the Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index), outperforming all others in the Index’s Construction and Materials’ sector.
They edged ahead of Costain with three and a half stars, and Willmott Dixon and Wates Group, which both scored scored three.
Kier, M&E specialist NG Bailey, the Clancy Group and supplier Marshalls all achieved two and a half stars, while Interserve achieved two stars in the Index
The CR Index is a benchmarking tool which helps companies measure and demonstrate progress being made in integrating responsible business practice into mainstream business at all levels.
Companies are assessed against a diverse range of factors, from how engaged their board and senior managers are with responsible business issues, to the link between remuneration and CR performance.
"The CR Index challenges us on everything that we do and how effectively we do it. It covers many elements including how our business is governed, our strategy, our management practices, our community engagement and our environmental impact."
Martin Worthington, Morgan Sindall
BITC says that the overall average score of the CR Index has increased from 85% in 2014 to 91% in 2015, showing the increased relevance of corporate responsibility to business operations.
Morgan Sindall achieved 96% in 2015, by developing “specific and measurable targets for all relevant issues” and demonstrating transparency and accountability through its reporting.
Martin Worthington, director of safety and sustainability at Morgan Sindall, said: “The CR Index challenges us on everything that we do and how effectively we do it. It covers many elements including how our business is governed, our strategy, our management practices, our community engagement and our environmental impact, as well as how effectively these are integrated. I am delighted to see that we have achieved a significant increase in our 2015 rating and this is testament to the considerable hard work undertaken by colleagues right across the company. It is an achievement of which are all very proud.”
Paul Smith, director with responsibility for sustainability at Willmott Dixon said: "We’re delighted to have achieve 92% – a 4% increase on our 2014 score. It’s in our DNA to increase the positive contribution we make to society and BITC’s CR Index is a great tool which helps us measure and improve how we do this."
Stephen Howard, chief executive of BITC said: “To truly change business culture, companies need to engage their people to embrace a different way of doing business with responsible values at the core. So it is especially encouraging this year that we have seen a significant increase in the representation of corporate responsibility, both at board level and amongst the generation of future leaders that will shape the businesses of tomorrow.”
