CR performance
Measures and targets
For the 34 commitments in our Business Principles we set 39 measures and targets, demonstrating the progress we have made to operate in a responsible manner. The targets were agreed to 2020 and the measures cover the performance of the whole business (unless otherwise stated). For more performance details for each Business Principle area click on a link below.
RAG (Red, Amber, Green) performance
| Business principle area | No. of measures | Red | Amber | Green | RAG score* & status 2019/2020 |
| Customers | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2.25 |
| Environment | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2.45 |
| Employees | 6~ | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3.00 |
| Stakeholders | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2.75 |
| Communities | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2.20 |
| Overall | 38 | 9 (24%) | 0 | 29 (76%) | 2.53 |
*weighted averages (green=3, amber=2, red=1) with ≥2.5 resulting in green, 1.51-2.49 in amber and ≤1.50 in red
~The no. of Employee measures has been reduced by one due to the BITC 'race for opportunity' measure no longer conidered as an appropriate reflection of our business approach.
Previous year performance
| Business Principle area | RAG score* & status 2018/2019 | RAG score* & status 2017/2018 | RAG score* & status 2016/2017 | RAG score* & status 2015/2016 |
| Customers | 2.25 | 2.50 | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Environment | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.55 | 2.55 |
| Employees | 2.14 | 2.29 | 2.14 | 2.14 |
| Stakeholders | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Communities | 2.40 | 2.80 | 3.00 | 2.40 |
| Overall | 2.51 | 2.62 | 2.51 | 2.45 |
Benchmarking
The below indices provide us with a framework to tackle global, national, local and industry challenges across environmental, social and economic factors, and/or offer an external perspective on how we are doing.
In addition, the growth of socially responsible investment (SRI) and growing interest in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance by many global investment institutions has increased the need to understand the relationship between the corporate responsibility performance and shareholder value.
| Index | Description | Performance |
| Dow Jones Sustainability Index |
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) ranks the sustainability approach of the top ten per cent of the world’s biggest companies based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. |
For 2019, our overall performance was 79% and we retained World Class status for the twelfth consecutive year. |
| Carbon Disclosure Project | The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) shows our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change. | In 2019, we received a B rating. Our previous years' responses to the CDP are available here. |
| FTSE4Good | The FTSE4Good Index measures the performance of companies who demonstrate strong ESG practices against globally recognised responsible business standards. |
We have been named in the FTSE4Good Index every year for the last 18 years. Latest review June 2020. |
| Sustainalytics | Provides ESG risk ratings which summarise company performance in relation to industry peers. Gives an overview of ESG controversies. |
In April 2020 we were given a low risk rating with a score of 19.1. This positions us 2 out of 40 in the water utility sector. |
| Euronext Vigeo Eiris | The Euronext Vigeo Index distinguishes companies achieving the most advanced ESG performances as determined by a review of up to 330 indicators. |
Part of the UK 20 (the 20 most advanced companies in the UK) as of December 2019. |
| Forum ETHIBEL |
The Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe contains 200 shares of European companies that display the best performance in terms of corporate social responsibility. |
Reconfirmed as constituent of the Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe in May 2020. |
| MSCI | Provides ESG ratings on an AAA to CCC scale for over 6400 companies according to exposure to industry specific ESG risks and ability to manage those risks relative to peers. | Rated AA in April 2020. |
| ISS-Oekom | ISS recently expanded its methodology used by investors to identify governance risks within their portfolios to include environmental and social risks. Monthly disclosure ratings are given and an annual report produced. |
In the annual review of November 2019 our status assessed as Prime and rating B-. |
| GRESB | Rates the quality of information, available in the public domain, about our sustainability governance, implementation and operational performance data, and of our stakeholder engagement practices. |
Rated A in September 2019. |
| London Benchmarking Group | We audit our community spend using the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) model. We assess spend in terms of employee time, cash and in kind contributions. | Our total investment in 2019/20 was £2.26 million. |
