4. Community impact and involvement
Policy
To contribute to local worthwhile causes and charities and to
ensure that the Group’s operations cause minimal negative
impact within the community.
Actions
For many years the Group has contributed to worthwhile causes.
Donations are usually, and have been in the past, made
primarily to children’s, cancer, police, fire brigade, drug
rehabilitation and other similar charities. The Group’s charity
committee reviews all written requests for donations and decides
on the level of donation and the charities to which donations are
made whilst taking into account its limited resources.
During 2004 donations were made to 22 charities. The amount
donated by the charity committee, from the Company’s Charities
Aid Foundation account, totalled £3,700 (2003: £7,000). In
addition, the Company took part in the Christmas Carol Concert
at St Paul’s Cathedral held every two years in support of Cancer
Research UK for which the donation, including the
advertisement in the souvenir programme, totalled £4,000.
Like all companies, the Group has limited resources and the
amount of money available for charitable purposes varies from
time to time.
5. Relationships with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders
Policy
The Group recognises the obligations it has towards the parties
with whom it has business and other dealings such as its
customers, shareholders, employees, suppliers and advisers.
Dealings with those groups of people depend upon the honesty,
integrity and enthusiasm of its employees and every effort is
made to ensure that a high standard of expertise and business
principles is maintained in such dealings. Where appropriate,
training is given to maintain and to raise the standards.
Actions
As stated in the Directors’ Report, the Group’s policy with
suppliers is that individual subsidiary companies are responsible
for negotiating terms and conditions under which suppliers
operate. Once agreed, payments to suppliers are made in
accordance with those terms and conditions, subject always to
the supplier having complied with them. That policy has been in
place for a number of years and will continue for the financial
year ending 31 December 2005. We continue to review and
take action where appropriate to ensure the reliable and
consistent sources of quality materials from which our products
are made.
In all our dealings, honesty and integrity continue to be
paramount. The Group’s brands are a highly valuable asset and
every effort is made to enhance their reputation for high quality,
service and reliability. In 2005 we will have a common approach
to auditing ethical trading standards with suppliers.