Balfour Beatty seeks to utilise the full talents and skills of all its people through effective selection, training and development. It also aims to create a safe, healthy, challenging, rewarding, participative, fair working environment for all employees.
Balfour Beatty employs over 30,000 people worldwide, each one an ambassador for the company. The company's expectations of all employees are clearly and explicitly communicated.
In short, People are expected to understand and abide by the company's core values and its principal commitments. To work hard, be reliable, conscientious and approachable. To be proud of their company and motivated to contribute to and share in its success. In return, they are supported by the company in their efforts to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
A series of guides have been produced and distributed throughout the Group to define our objectives and expected behaviour.
Business Conduct Guidelines explain, in detail, required behaviour. In 2007, all Group employees will receive training on these guidelines to ensure that they are fully embedded in the organisation.
Stakeholder Codes of Practice explains how operating managers are expected to manage their relationships with all key stakeholder groups, including their employees.
All employees receive a six-monthly magazine which covers in detail the latest financial information, news and events from around the whole Group, including safety, health and environment topics and matters of general employee interest.
Individual businesses use a variety of methods to communicate key business goals and issues to employees and also consult and involve their employees through local publications, briefing groups, consultative meetings, training programmes and working groups to assist the process of continuous improvement in the way they operate and do business. Regular publications inform employees of major business and technical achievements. Most of our UK based businesses have either attained or have committed to attain the UK Investors in People standard.
Surveys of employee attitudes, needs and opinions are conducted in the great majority of our operating companies. In 2007, the first Group-wide employee survey will be undertaken.
We have an assistance network in place for all our pensioners needing help and advice. Entirely staffed by former employees, this provides a valuable safety net for some pensioners. We also hold regular roadshows around the UK for pensioners and keep in touch via a twice yearly magazine.
In 2006, we were awarded the Quality in Construction prize for the best Corporate Responsibility programme in the industry. Such recognition is gratifying, but we remain determined to continue to make progress in all aspects of corporate responsibility.