Our new approach

Experian’s de-merger and stock-exchange listing in October 06 marked a new chapter in the Company’s history, but not the beginning. Before that we had been a separate and largely autonomous division within GUS plc. During recent years Experian has been managing its corporate responsibilities within the framework set by GUS and – to some extent – set by the GUS processes. Our first actions on de-merger have therefore been to review and re-assess our approach and to make sure that we have the right direction, resources and skills for future CR management.

Some things have not changed: we remain convinced that CR is about risk and opportunity, that it is an important and legitimate concern for business, and that taking proper account of society’s views makes us a better business in the long term. Similarly we remain committed to dialogue, transparency and the need for good quality benchmarks and indicators.

Another thing we take from our history with GUS is that it is valuable to be explicit in defining our responsibilities so that we can focus our efforts and so that stakeholders know what to expect. Accordingly we have undertaken a review, consulting relevant staff within the business and drawing on external evaluations from analysts and commentators. As a result we have defined six essential responsibilities, shown below. These provide the framework and direction for our CR programme, and the rest of this report follows this structure.

Experian has a responsibility to:

• Use and protect data properly, respecting all the relevant laws, helping evolve industry guidelines and new legislation and ensuring a culture of compliance with the highest standards of integrity.
  
  
• Create social and economic benefit through our products services and capabilities, balancing commercial benefit with consumers’ rights and needs.
  
  
• Inform and empower consumers, and ensure that those who interact directly with our company receive fair and honest treatment.
  
  
• Be a good employer to all, establishing a set of expected behaviours and values, ensuring that everyone working for us is treated fairly, given the maximum opportunity to fulfil their potential and that all our workplaces are safe and healthy.
  
  
• Minimise as far as possible the environmental impacts associated with our business and enable employee participation, with a particular concentration on the reduction of energy use and its effect on global warming.
  
  
• Play an active part in social and economic regeneration in our communities, be they local, national or global.

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