Emerging themes

2.5m people unemployed in the UK - 39% of these are young unemployed and 34% are in long term unemployment. 53% of the companies participating in the Index cited employability related issues as one of their key social issues that their business is tackling in the community area. This suggests an increase of 11% over last year. Majority of these stated a specific focus on equipping young unemployed people with the right skills and opportunities by developing future talent pool.

Related BITC resources: Work Inclusion and Business Action on Skills

Financial Times reports: Employability: How to spread the jobs net wider

Political instability has erupted over many countries across North Africa and the Middle East where many of index participants have invested heavily over the past years. 22% of Index participants are reporting to operate in politically unstable countries and so they need to think about both the welfare of their employees an preserving their assets for the long term benefits of the local communities.

Financial Times reports: Instability: Key to coping in fragile markets

Research shows that by 2030 global water supplies will satisfy only 60% of demand. More companies are recognising key risks related to water management such as water scarcity, rising prices, heightened regulation and physical security risks. Those businesses who take a proactive approach in managing their water footprint are able to realise business benefits such as direct cost savings, new income streams and employee and supplier engagement.

Related BITC resources: Take action on water: risks and business opportunities

Financial Times reports: Environment 'Resource efficiency’ is new mantra and Food sustainability: Crunch time for farms when problems crop up

Building strong partnerships with key suppliers in developing countries is being recognised as playing a major role in pursuing a sustainable sourcing strategy while at the same time contributing to international development. International development, a new social impact area question set within the CR Index, reveals how companies align their business core objectives to the Millennium Development Goals.

Related BITC resources: BITC's work on MDGs

Including extra-financial indicators as performance appraisals metrics is increasingly used to promote a sustainability culture throughout the business. CR Index results show an Increase of 14% (from 52% to 66%) in the number of companies reporting linkage of CR performance targets to bonuses and remuneration systems across senior management and board members.

Finacial Times reports: Bonuses: Targets are linked to pay by early adopters

Businesses increasingly recognise business & Commuting travel as an issue to address and this is reflected on the 10 fold increase from 2009 in companies reporting on this impact area. Overall score of 55% suggests early stages of implementation and business recognition of their ability to reduce negative impacts derived from travel.

Related BITC resources: ways2work

Maximising employee wellness and engagement is particularly topical in the current climate where employers are having to do more with less. 71 companies have reported on Employee Wellness and Engagement in this  year’s CR Index. An overall score of 82% shows that companies are addressing this issue and are at the early stages of demonstrating 3 to 4 years of performance improvement.

Related BITC resources: BITC Workwell Public Reporting Guidelines