Corporate Responsibility
Environmental Policy
AutoLogic recognises the potential effect that some elements of its activities may create and is therefore fully committed to minimising damage to the environment, and preventing pollution.
The Group complies fully with all environmental legislation and standards laid down by Government and regulatory authorities.
AutoLogic’s Health & Safety Manager is qualified with a specialist diploma in Environmental Management and is able to provide support and guidance on all aspects of environmental legislation and provides a “competent person” to coordinate environmental improvement initiatives.
Within the UK we have identified three key areas for which we are developing “best practice” programmes: Transport Fuel Efficiency, Waste Disposal and Energy Use.
We are dedicated to raising environmental awareness with our employees which provides us with a platform to make progress on a variety of environmental issues such as energy efficiency and waste disposal.
We fully support the Government policy of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. As a result we have an ongoing process of reviewing the whole aspect of waste disposal in line with the Governmental recommended “Waste Minimisation Programme”:
- Eliminate – Avoid producing it in the first place
- Minimise – Reduce the amount produced
- Re-use – Re-use as many times as possible
- Recycle – Recycle as much as possible after its been re-used
- Dispose – Dispose of what is left in a responsible way
The Group is committed to the identification of ways to reduce overall energy consumption from its operating activities and offices generally.
As part of this process we have sought guidance from the Carbon Trust and will continue to introduce energy saving initiatives as opportunities arise. One such initiative is Vemis, a telematic on-board driver monitoring system which has now been installed in a significant number of our trucks. Using the data Vemis generates it has been shown that there has been an improvement in fuel consumption, which has aided the reduction of our trucks’ Carbon emissions by 6%.
Health & Safety
The Directors of AutoLogic recognise the importance of providing a safe and healthy working environment for their employees, visitors, subcontract staff and suppliers whilst under their control or protection. They therefore try to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the highest standard of health, safety and welfare. AutoLogic’s Health & Safety manager is qualified with the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and is able to provide support and guidance on all aspects of Health & Safety.
The Board’s dedication to this issue has, in the UK, resulted in a 9% reduction in the number of recorded accidents during the past year which is the fifth consecutive year that the number of accidents has been reduced. This represents an overall reduction of 40% since the inception of the current recording and monitoring system in 2002.
This achievement has been as a result of continual focus and cooperation at all levels within the organisation with Management undertaking Health & Safety training and ensuring regular consultation with employee representatives and regular participation in meetings of both national and local Health & Safety Committees.
The Group is now established as being at the forefront of car transporter related health and safety with continued involvement with vehicle manufacturers and the continued development of additional safety features.
A programme of audits carried out has shown a high level of control and compliance with Health & Safety legislation. Each individual depot report and resulting action points are linked to continual improvement initiatives. This programme will continue during the coming year as part of the overall monitoring strategy and continual improvement objective.
Social Responsibility
AutoLogic is committed to operating in a socially responsible manner, with clear standards of business conduct in achieving its primary business goals of providing excellent service in an efficient, lawful, competitive and profitable manner for its stakeholders.
The Group aims to exceed levels of service in its industry and strives to promote best practice throughout; accepting the costs of working to high standards alongside the benefits of enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Employees and their skills are a key resource through which we can achieve our commercial and strategic goals. AutoLogic is dedicated to providing safe and comfortable working conditions for its staff and ensuring that equal opportunities exist in the workplace regardless of race, religion, age, sex or physical ability. In addition, the Group seeks to involve staff in decisions that affect them wherever possible.
Each year, the Board decides upon appropriate levels of charitable contributions aligned where possible to core business activities in order to achieve a degree of common interest between the aims of AutoLogic and those of the charities it supports. Sponsorship of charity events and staff participation in fundraising are a key element in the Group’s charitable contribution.
AutoLogic understands that it must behave responsibly towards its stakeholders yet remain competitive in its market and must constantly evolve, continually investing in key resources to maintain its position as a leader in its industry.
Internal Control
In accordance with the Guidance for Directors on Internal Control (the “Turnbull Report”), the Board acknowledges its continuing responsibility to ensure that an adequate system of internal controls is in place and confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing significant risks to the achievement of the Group’s strategic objectives. This process has continued throughout 2006, and complies with the recommendations of the Turnbull Report. The effectiveness of this process has been regularly reviewed by the Board. The internal control systems are designed to meet the Group’s particular needs and the risks to which it is exposed and by their nature can provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against misstatement or loss.
The Group does not have a permanent internal audit function but periodically engages external consultants to provide internal audit reviews. The appropriateness of establishing a permanent internal audit function is reviewed regularly.
The processes to identify and manage key risks to the Group are an integral part of the internal control environment. Such processes, which are reviewed and improved as necessary, include strategic planning, the appointment of senior management, the regular monitoring of performance, control over capital expenditure and investment and the setting of high standards and targets for safety, health and environmental performance.
The Group’s strategic direction is regularly reviewed by the Board and the subsidiary boards consider the strategy for the individual businesses. Annual budgets and performance targets are set for each business by the Board in accordance with the Group’s overall objectives.
Businesses within the Group are responsible for meeting a defined reporting timetable and for compliance with the Group accounting policies. The subsidiary boards of the individual businesses and the Board receive a monthly summary of the financial results of the businesses, based upon a standardised and timely reporting process.
On completion of all major investments, post investment reviews are carried out on behalf of the Board. This process helps improve the quality of business judgements through the understanding and experience gained. In addition, following completion of acquisitions, the existing internal control procedures are extended to cover the enlarged Group. These procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure their continued appropriateness in light of the size and geographical scope of the Group.
The Company exercises its supervisory and voting rights in relation to its joint ventures, to ensure that appropriate procedures and internal controls are in place in these businesses.