RWE npower

RWE npower is a leading integrated UK energy company and is part of the RWE Group, one of Europe’s leading utilities. They serve around 6.6 million customer accounts and produce more than 10% of the electricity used in England and Wales. They supply electricity and gas to residential and business customers through their retail business, npower, and operate and manage a flexible portfolio of coal, oil and gas-fired power stations.

They recognise the impact that their business has on the world we live in through the burning of fossil fuels. At every stage of their decision making process they consider the social and environmental impacts of their actions. They also take the wellbeing of their employees seriously, as it is their talent, energy and knowledge that enable RWE npower to be a successful business. Equally important are their stakeholders – from the communities in which they operate to government departments and local liaison committees, who all play a role in their success.

RWE npower’s community programmes aim to give something back to the communities they serve. They understand the value of engaging their employees on this agenda, who are proud to support these programmes and value its importance in maintaining trust with all of their stakeholders.

RWE npower programmes 

Their programmes focus on three areas where they think they can make the biggest difference: improving health; enhancing education and protecting the environment.

In each of these areas, many of their projects are run in partnership with other organisations, charities and community groups. These long term partnerships give RWE npower more scope to impact the community in a positive and sustainable way, while benefiting the business by enhancing their reputation.

In 2008, RWE npower contributed more than £6.6 million to the community through charitable donations, community investment (including employee volunteering) and commercial activities. In deciding how and where to invest, they are guided by overarching principles and feedback from their stakeholders.

One of their biggest projects, npower Brighter Futures, sets out to inspire young people – from their first day at school, right through to their first day at work. It aims to help young people gain skills and knowledge – and empower them to achieve their vision of a ‘brighter future’. They run a range of initiatives to help young people make their own choices about what their future looks like.

Engaging employees

They also support their employees in the work they do in the local community, and recognise and reward the effort put in, through their volunteer awards scheme, payroll giving and match-funding scheme. Last year, over 1,500 employees gave up their time to take part in projects in the community, including over 95 ‘team challenges’, which not only benefit local communities, but also offer their employees teambuilding opportunities.

Last year, 275 employees took part in the Climate Cops programme to educate children about climate change. Ten employees were also selected to lead their Green SOS programme, which helps secondary schools across the country to launch environmental projects in their local communities.

In 2008, many of their employees also used their specialist skills to help their local communities, for example, their legal team spent almost 100 hours providing legal advice to charitable groups and individuals, including the Citizens Advice Bureau. Collectively, their engineering employees gave over 170 working days to the npower enthuse programme – a programme that engages young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, helping them to experience a day in the life of a scientist and engineer through interactive challenges. Next year, employees will also be involved in an e-mentoring programme to encourage children to consider careers in science.

RWE npower truly believe in the power of partnership and with other organisations they can leverage additional resources above and beyond their direct contributions. In 2009, they aim to bring in an additional £8m from external partners.

Another of their key targets relates to their Health Through Warmth community scheme which operates through locally based partnerships that seek to identify vulnerable people whose health is adversely affected by cold and damp conditions in their home. RWE npower will aim to refer 8,500 vulnerable, low income households through the HTW scheme in 2009.

For details about the other projects and community initiatives that led to RWE npower achieving the CommunityMark, please visit http://www.npower.com/rwenpowercr/5_responsible_business/5_7_our_community/index.html