2 August 2011

Costain has made a positive start to the successful implementation of Costain Cares, its new operational drive to give competitive advantage in every facet of the business.

Since its launch at the Company’s Annual General Meeting at the beginning of May 2011, Costain has been recognised, through successfully integrating corporate responsibility (CR) into its business model and developing clear CR responsibilities and incentive structures at a board and operational level, by achieving Platinum in Business in the Community’s (BITC) 2011 Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI).

The Company has also embarked on an engagement drive, both internally and externally, to engage with its numerous stakeholders, including  customers, supply chain and employees, in identifying areas where it can improve and understand their priorities. Below is a link to a recent film the Company has produced which illustrates how it is engaging with its supply chain.

Costain Cares - Supply Chain Engagement video

Costain’s employees are its most valuable asset and that is why the Company has rolled out an extensive Employee Engagement Survey. This will allow its employees to play a key role in shaping the future of Costain. The Company is now in the process of reviewing the results and identifying areas for action, which is a fundamental part of how the Company will demonstrate and deliver Costain Cares to its employees.

Costain has also become a Patron of the Prince’s Trust and its Construction and Business Services Leadership Group, and will support the Trust in achieving its goals of helping over 50,000 young people get their lives working again this year, as well as helping to shape training opportunities around skills shortages and job opportunities across the construction industry.

Catherine Warbrick, Costain Corporate Responsibility Director, said: “Costain Cares is an ongoing process that will help define and guide how it conducts itself, from building relationships with its stakeholders, to securing new orders from major customers and delivering profitable solutions through innovation.

“As was discussed at its launch in May, those companies that adhere to greater corporate and social responsibility will be more successful and offer greater returns to shareholders and the communities they serve.”

For this reason, the Company is developing a number of challenging targets that, once signed off by the Board, will be released in October.  The targets will cover a number of areas, including safety, health and environment under the direction of Costain’s Safety, Health and Environment Director Peter Fisher, supply chain management under Group Commercial Director Patrick Bruce, community and customers under Alex Vaughan, the Corporate Development Director, and employees under the direction of Christina Wade, Costain’s HR Director.

Costain Cares is now central to its business and the Company is committed to making it a success. It will be measured by third party assessment to help the Company reach its potential, as well as set its strategic goals for the future.

 

Ends