FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, has published its 2010/11 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.
The Aberdeen based company revealed it has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions, increased its contribution to local communities and improved safety performance across its operations in the last 12 months.
Tim O’Toole, Chief Executive of FirstGroup, said: “CSR drives us to improve performance resulting in better employee engagement, improved customer service and great business efficiency which supports the success and growth of our business.
“I am extremely proud of our many achievements and our improving performance in key areas highlighted in the report. It demonstrates our commitment to our customers, staff and the local communities that we serve.”
First’s five key CSR objectives are:
1. Providing safe and secure services
2. Improving customer service
3. Valuing employees
4. Reducing environmental impact
5. Developing its role in the community
Tim O’ Toole continued: “I am particularly proud that we are setting standards in the transport industry with our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. Across our UK Bus and Rail divisions we are driving down emissions per vehicle kilometre.”
FirstGroup’s groundbreaking and award winning DriveGreen has achieved fuel efficiency improvements of around 2.3% in the UK Bus division – some 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. DriveGreen uses the latest technology to detect dozens of driving movements per minute and immediately reports back to the driver how efficiently they are driving. Going forward First will further develop and refine DriveGreen to enable greater fuel efficiency.
In its UK Rail division First has introduced its industry leading Driver Advisory Systems, which like DriveGreen, gives drivers the opportunity to drive more fuel efficiently. First Hull Trains already use the system and will be fitted to First Great Western’s High Speed Train fleet, the largest single consumer of fuel with First’s UK Rail division, by the end of 2011.
These and other initiatives have helped First cut its carbon emissions by a total of 2% in the last 12 months.
Other highlights of the CSR report include:
• First’s Group-wide contribution to local communities this year totals £2,451,775 as measured by the London Benchmarking Group.
• First has reduced its Lost Time Injury rate by 11% and its vehicle collision rate by 6%.
• Punctuality and reliability is above 90% across most of the business.
• In the UK, First continues to lead the industry in providing lifelong learning and Skills for Life programmes for its employees. 85% of First UK Bus employees have access to learning centres, with a target of 100% by 2012.
• At any one time around 1,000 employees are using First’s online basic skills assessment programme, which offers learning tools to help staff achieve national test levels in adult literacy or numeracy.
• First has increased by 40% the number of people completing Passenger Carrying Vehicle S/NVQs in UK Bus.
• In partnership with Greener Journeys, the UK bus industry conducted its first joint consumer campaign.
• First introduced its ‘Corporate Travel Club’ for large employers to help them promote bus travel to their colleagues.
• First has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger km by 7% in UK Rail.
• In North America energy usage in First’s top 100 properties has reduced by 11%.
• Waste recycling levels have increased by 9% in the UK and 4% in North America.
“The achievements highlighted in the CSR Report are testament to the quality and commitment of our staff right across the Group. We will always strive for improvement and look forward to reporting further successes in 2011/12,” added Tim O’Toole.
To view the report in full visit http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/csr/