Go-Ahead

Our Corporate Responsibility

Independent assurance statement

Independent Verification Statement from Bureau Veritas UK Ltd
 

Objectives

Bureau Veritas UK Ltd has been commissioned by Go-Ahead Group plc (‘Go-Ahead’) to provide commentary and verification of the key performance indicator (‘KPI’) data presented within its printed 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report (‘the Report’), which is also publicly available on the Go-Ahead website. The objective of the verification process is to reassure Go-Ahead’s stakeholders that the CR key performance data (KPI) presented in this report are accurate, reliable and objective.

The process we have used in this verification exercise is based on Bureau Veritas’ own verification methodologies which reflect current best practice such as ISAE 3000 and the Global Reporting Initiative (‘GRI’).

Responsibilities of the verification provider – Bureau Veritas UK Ltd

The verifier’s obligation is to stakeholders and readers of this report and Bureau Veritas is exclusively responsible for the contents of this verification statement. Go-Ahead Group plc provided access to all operating company sites, personnel, databases, documentation and data required to undertake a comprehensive verification process and the verifier is confident that no material has been withheld.

Scope

The information and data reviewed for this verification process relates to the period from 29 June 2008 to 27 June 2009. We have verified all CR KPI data in the Report, with the exception of any data reported in the 2009 Group Annual Report and Accounts.

Methodology

The verification process undertaken by Bureau Veritas during August 2009 involved a series of interviews with CR data owners at Group and a sample of operating companies to understand the process for managing, collating and reporting data. This process built on an existing rolling audit programme. At Group level, we conducted a review of Enablon, the Group software for collecting, reporting and managing CR data and the central Group contracts for energy supplies and waste management.

Bureau Veritas also conducted a review of documents; inspection of internal and external records; interrogation of databases and associated management and reporting systems, in order to challenge and substantiate the CR KPI data presented in the Report. The integrity and accuracy of aggregated data was tested by tracking sample data back to its source. The methodology for data collection, estimation and aggregation was examined and tested for accuracy and robustness.

Our verification activities built on an existing rolling audit programme based on a sample of four operating companies, and site visits were undertaken at the head offices of the following operating companies:

  • Go-Ahead London (London);
  • Oxford Bus Company (Oxford);
  • Southern Railway (East Croydon); and
  • London Midland (Birmingham).
  • The scope of work allowed us to identify areas of good practice and opportunities to improve Go-Ahead's environmental and social reporting, and are communicated to Group in this external verification statement; and internal management reports for each operating company.

Opinion of the verifier

  • Based on our verification activities it is our opinion that:
  • The reported CR key performance indicators provide a fair and accurate representation of Go-Ahead’s CR performance for the defined period;
  • No significant omissions were identified which could affect stakeholders’ ability to make informed judgements on Go-Ahead’s CR performance for the defined period.

Areas of good practice

  • Through the verification process we identified the following areas of good practice:
  • Good management at Group level in relation to energy performance and waste management through the use of Group contracts where possible;
  • Progress made to date by the train operating companies to understand and overcome the complexities of the traction energy system and to reduce absolute traction energy use through investment and introduction of new technologies
  • Efforts made by operating companies to improve the accuracy of the fuel use data reported by means of regular external data audits

Recommendations

  • On the basis of the verification process, scope of the work undertaken and the information provided to us by Go-Ahead, we provide the following recommendations for consideration. Go-Ahead should:
  • Continue to develop the range of relevant CR performance indicators that are collected and reported from operating companies in order to ensure full coverage of the activities of the company.
  • Continue to migrate remaining energy and waste supplies over to the Group contracts, where appropriate;
  • Progress programmes to determine the feasibility of installing data loggers to record water consumption in order to increase the accuracy of the data being reported;
  • Further align with best practice through the use of Defra/DECC 2009 carbon conversion factors to calculate Group carbon emissions from fuel use and electricity consumption;
  • Consider using per passenger mile/km to normalise emission data rather than per passenger journey, to reflect the variability in the length of passenger journeys;
  • Develop a formalised process for capturing and recording charitable donations, gifts in kind and staff time data at operating company level;
  • Develop a group wide KPI guidance document to distribute to all operating companies detailing the definition, scope and reporting boundary of each CR KPI;
  • Involve CR data owners at operating company level in the process of determining and reviewing KPIs to ensure that expertise and ideas with regards to improvement of data collation processes are communicated to, and considered by, Group;
  • Increase the frequency of CR data collation and aggregation at Group level to identify any data issues as early as possible.

Statement of independence, impartiality and competence

Bureau Veritas is an independent professional services company that specialises in quality, health, safety, social and environmental management advice and compliance with over 180 years history in providing independent assurance services. Bureau Veritas has implemented a code of ethics across its business which ensures that all our staff maintains high standards in their day to day business activities. Our verification assignment did not raise any conflicts of interest.

Bureau Veritas UK Ltd
September 2009
corporateresponsibility@uk.bureauveritas.com


 

©2006 The Go-Ahead Group plc.
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