HISTORY

CSR is not new to John Laing plc. John Laing’s community policy was set more than ten years ago and is as relevant to our current business activities as it was then. The Company’s founder, John Laing, set up LCT more than forty years ago in order to make charitable donations to individuals and charities. The Company covenanted money to LCT for a number of years and it now has a sizeable asset base that enables it to continue to support organisations often in long-term partnerships. The Company has been an active member of Business in the Community (‘BitC’) since 1986.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Company’s health and safety policy is determined and monitored by the Board. The Chief Executive, A E Friend, is accountable to the Board for the Company’s health and safety performance. In addition a committee has been set up to regularly review health and safety and report to the Board. All areas of the Company’s business activities and its staff are represented on the Committee. A full time, dedicated resource monitors and advises on health and safety matters.
Each of the Company’s projects is reviewed at least annually and health and safety issues are monitored via a system of management procedures and risk registers maintained at project level. Significant risks are escalated to Board level via stated procedures.
The Company is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of its employees, of others who carry out work on its behalf and of those who may be affected by its work. The Company follows a health and safety policy of continual improvement. This policy is employed throughout all areas carrying out operations for its clients as part of its health and safety management system and local management are actively encouraged to obtain an appropriate qualification in this area. The policy is available to all clients, contractors and, when requested, to the local community.
The safe operation of the Company’s services is of paramount importance and the Board recognises that health and safety standards are a key contributor to the sustainable growth of the business.
The Company continues to monitor closely all issues relating to its marketplace and takes action where appropriate updating its policy statement as required. The Company also reviews the health and safety performance and policies of its partners and appointed contractors.
The Company actively promotes positive compliance with legal and other requirements through an action programme that sets individual annual objectives and, whenever appropriate, adopts openness in respect of the disclosure of its health and safety performance.
Chiltern Railways trained staff visit schools on the Chiltern route to educate children of all ages about safety and the dangers of railway crime.
The Company has a rigorous training regime for new train drivers including refresher courses. Driver performance is closely monitored with particular attention to Signals Passed At Danger, all incidents of which are reported to senior management and subject to a detailed investigation.
The effectiveness of any health and safety policy depends upon the culture encouraged by the Company and its clients and the behaviour and willingness of employees to follow the Company’s stated procedures. All employees receive awareness training during induction and are expected to support the Company’s policies and procedures.
A consistent documented health and safety management system is maintained at every level of the Company to describe how these issues are dealt with in practice. This is based on ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment), and integrates health and safety into all aspects of our business. The health and safety system, together with the environment and quality systems, are designed to complement each other.
We work closely with industry bodies, clients, the Health and Safety Executive and Government and respond to their requirements wherever possible. The Company shares information and best practice in the interest of furthering these relationships and improving its health and safety performance. The Company fully supports the Government’s ‘Revitalising Health and Safety’ report. Following its publication the Company will consider what actions may be taken to comply with its requirements.
The Company’s accident rate is already below the figures published by the Health and Safety Executive for its industry sector but it intends to focus on the following areas to enhance its health and safety performance in the short to medium term:

COMMUNITY POLICY

In creating and practicing its Community Policy the Company has tried to ensure a close fit between it and its business activities. The Company takes account of social, environmental and ethical issues when bidding for new contracts. Such matters are taken into account by project bid teams and bids are reviewed by sub-committees of the Board who report material matters to the Board using risk registers and stated procedures. Highlighted below are the principles and practical examples of putting them into action. The policy stands on the following principles:

> WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES TO BRING HELP AND HOPE TO DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY       THE COMPANY HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE CHARITY HOMELESS LINK AND ITS PREDECESSORS FOR NINE YEARS. IN THAT TIME IT HAS CONCENTRATED ITS SUPPORT ON DAY CENTRES FOR THE HOMELESS. THE LATEST SUPPORT ENABLED A DAY CENTRES HANDBOOK TO BE PRODUCED BY HOMELESS LINK     > ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES       THE COMPANY SUPPORTED THE MERGER COSTS OF TWO EDUCATIONAL CHARITIES TO HELP CREATE A NEW CHARITY ‘CONTINYOU’. AN ART COMPETITION WAS LAUNCHED IN EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW SCHOOLS WITH INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL PRIZES		> PROMOTING THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND GROUPS IN DECISIONS REGARDING THE REGENERATION OF THEIR COMMUNITIES       THE COMPANY CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION AND NATIONAL TENANTS RESOURCE CENTRE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING OF TRAINING COURSES AIMED AT SMALLER COMMUNITY GROUPS     > CREATING A BETTER LIVING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT       THE COMPANY CONTINUED TO SUPPORT A ‘SCHOOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME’ IN CONJUNCTION WITH HERTFORDSHIRE GROUNDWORK INVOLVING PARENTS, TEACHERS, GOVERNORS AND ESPECIALLY PUPILS IN JUNIOR AND SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION IT CREATED AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ADVANCED SCHOOL IN NEWHAM FEATURING A GRASS ROOF, RAINWATER RECYCLING AND WILDLIFE PONDS     > ENCOURAGING A SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AS A BASIS FOR ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN THE COMMUNITY       THE COMPANY CONTINUED TO FUND A CHILDREN’S SOCIETY PROJECT TO DEVELOP MODELS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE BASED ON ITS SUCCESSFUL CHILDCARE INITIATIVE IN THANET

FORMER STAFF WELFARE The Company has always been concerned both for its existing employees and its previous employees. Contact is maintained through its network of retirement clubs, LCT’s welfare staff who make home visits and its quarterly news magazine. Financial assistance is directed towards former employees in need. ENVIRONMENT Given the long-term nature of many of our projects and the need to work closely with Government departments, local authorities and local communities, the environment is justifiably an important consideration in all of the Company’s proposed activities. Each area of the business takes account of such matters and provides training to its staff where necessary. Through Equion, and as part of its commitment to ISO 14001, all sites are recording water, gas, electricity and oil consumption and are monitoring CO2 emissions. All of Equion’s bids are internally and externally audited and part of this process is the review of compliance with its environmental policy. The project teams work closely with each client to minimise the impact of its activities on the environment and often project specifications include enhancements that are identified by the Company that will improve the sustainability and quality of the local environment. Equion is committed to producing year-on-year improvements on the environmental targets that are set. In 2004 it intends to reduce its level of wastage and CO2 emissions. Chiltern Railways maintain an extensive environmental policy and set objectives under the requirements of its operating licence which have to be approved by the Rail Regulator. The objectives and targets set follow the British Standard BS7750 Specification for Environmental Management Systems. The targets are monitored by management specifically identified as having such responsibility. Chiltern Railways already have well-established safety and quality systems in place and seeks to make its environmental standards compatible with these. Chiltern Railways have reduced the number of train miles by more than 750,000 whilst increasing passenger numbers, promoted the use of Bicester Urban taxi buses and brought back into use Moor Street Station. In Laing Roads proposals for the refurbishment of existing roads or the creation of new roads in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas are thoroughly reviewed by all interested parties. Often licences are required from Government departments before any work can commence. Such licences are only granted following input from both national and local environmental agencies and specialists. Full consultation takes place throughout the process and often the Company will not only protect but also improve the local environment. In respect of the Sirhowy Way road project in Wales, the Company is working with the Countryside Commission for Wales, the Environment agency, the Welsh Assembly, the Caerphilly County Borough Council and other local bodies to ensure the proper protection and improved environmental conditions for bats, badgers, dormice, otters and other species living in proximity to the road.   COMPANY TARGETS     > EXISTING CSR POLICY AND PRACTICE TO BE REVIEWED     > SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY TO BE REVISED     > FURTHER INTEGRATION OF CSR POLICY WITHIN NEW BUSINESS               > DEVELOPMENT OF FURTHER PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR INCLUDING ANOTHER EDUCATION CHARITY AND THOSE WHO CAN INCREASE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITHIN SUITABLE PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDINGS OPERATED BY EQUION     > TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SET OUT IN THE HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT 1995 IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSING REGENERATION PROJECTS FOLLOWING THE SETTING OF TARGETS BY ITS CLIENTS