In 2010 we were, once again, included in the FTSE4Good Index and our results in continued the qualitative assessment produced by Experts in Responsible Investment Solutions continue to improve. We were not included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index ('DJSI') due to being too small by market capitalisation, so we commissioned a benchmarking report against the same criteria from SAM Research. We were awarded a score of 62% – against an industry average of 38%. A number of our scores in individual criterion were higher than the top scores in the financial services industry.
| | IPF score | Average score in financial sector | Best score in financial sector |
|---|
| Total score |
62 |
38 |
73 |
|---|
| Brand management |
88 |
39 |
84 |
|---|
| Corporate citizenship and philanthropy |
72 |
26 |
66 |
|---|
| Talent attraction and retention |
81 |
38 |
76 |
|---|
| Stakeholder engagement |
91 |
48 |
97 |
|---|
| Environmental policy/management system |
73 |
35 |
79 |
|---|
Each year EIRIS produces a qualitative assessment of our sustainability for the index; in our most recent results we were rated 'exceptional' for our environmental management and environmental reporting. Our anti-bribery policy and code of ethics were classified as 'advanced', and we were judged to show clear evidence of systems for promoting equal opportunities and diversity, managing health and safety and promoting employee training and development. The EIRIS evaluation shows that we have adopted and clearly communicated a corporate policy statement setting out details of our policy for managing relationships with customers and suppliers, and that we demonstrate unequivocal evidence of systems for managing and improving these relationships. Our evidence of systems for promoting community involvement was also considered to be very clear.