Investing in communities

Adding value to our communities adds value to our business.

Making a positive difference to communities today will, in the long term, help to create a vibrant, stable society, which will constitute our future customers, employees and suppliers.

While many of our commercial contracts, such as renovating schools, are inherently valuable to communities, we recognise the benefits of further community involvement to our business. As well as supporting the societies on which our business depends, it helps enhance Carillion’s reputation.

Our approach focuses on tailoring our activities to local needs. Each business unit reviews its strategy and performance annually and develops plans for improvement. These are approved by the senior management team and progress on them is reported throughout the year. We have Community Regeneration Managers, Community Liaison Managers and Community Champions across the business helping to implement plans and raise awareness.

We create a community engagement plan for each major contract, in accordance with our Community Policy (1.16 Mb). The plan allows for our people to get involved in the community and sets out how we will create positive impacts and minimise our negative effects on the community. For example, we distribute newsletters and hold open days for local residents to keep them aware of what we are doing, as well as employing local labour and local suppliers wherever we can. See Suppliers.

In the UK, all our major construction projects are part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Through this, we commit to meeting requirements such as minimising noise and dust and ensuring our working hours reduce inconvenience to the local community. Our sites are assessed against these requirements, and in 2010 we achieved an average score of 35.23 out of 40. This is an improvement on 2009 (34.72) and compares to an industry average of 32.25.

School redevelopment improves education

Carillion’s redevelopment of Mortimer Community College in South Shields has improved attendance figures, examination results and teacher recruitment.

“The emotional and physical well-being of our staff and students has improved significantly. Much of this is down to our wonderful new school. We actually forgot that the school was a building site. Learning never stopped, in fact our examination results improved by 33% in the first two years of the build. It has been an honour and privilege to work with the team at Carillion.”

Clare Mullane,
Head Teacher, Mortimer College

Examples of community engagement

A major focus of our community engagement includes boosting the local economy by increasing the skills base of local people through training and employment.

Our partnerships with The Prince’s Trust and JobCentre Plus bring skills and employment to local communities. See Our people for more details.

Carillion Canada held a Junior Achievement Career Day where we conducted classroom sessions about different career options. In the Middle East, Al Futtaim Carillion gave presentations to United Arab Emirates University students on emerging trends in construction technology and career options in design, engineering and construction.

Engaging with local schools is central to our community engagement, not only to promote construction as a career choice, but also to raise awareness of safety on construction sites. Employees on many projects also donate time to improve school facilities, such as playgrounds, with Carillion or our supply chain partners donating the materials and equipment.

A lesson in health and safety

A lesson in health and safety We gave 28 children from Nelson School a tour of the Library of Birmingham site and introduced them to the health and safety issues of building sites. They were able to see the equipment in use and the potential dangers first-hand. As a reminder of the safety issues they learnt, we gave the children a bag of gifts including a hard hat.

Paving the way at a Surrey children’s home

Pastens, a residential home for children with severe learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, is over 100 years old and needed help to restore pathways in the garden. Carillion Highway Maintenance paved the pathways which were previously made of loose stone.

“I am delighted with the new smooth surfaces, which will improve access for all residents, especially those in wheelchairs.”

Colin Morley,
Facilities Project Director, Pastens

Carl the camel steals the show

Al Futtaim Carillion, working on high-profile projects in Al Ain, organised an open day at the Al Ain Care and Rehabilitation Centre (AACRC) for children with mental health issues.

We arranged a fun-filled day, which included a magic show and a dance performance by Carillion staff. We took Carl the camel, the Al Futtaim Carillion mascot, which added to the children’s enjoyment. Our team also donated gifts and sporting equipment for the children

“I am extremely pleased that the day was a great success and we will explore with the AACRC how we can further our support for the centre’s children in the future.”

Simon Webb,
Managing Director, Al Futtaim Carillion