ReportAlert.info - The Co-operative Group Publishes its Latest Ethical Plan

Through the Plan, the company has underlined its ambition to become the UK's most representative large business by setting challenging new targets on the diversity of its Boards and governance structure
Mar 13, 2013 9:05 AM ET

March 13, 2013 /3BL Media/ - The Co-operative Group has launched its latest Ethical Plan covering 2013-15 at www.co-operative.coop/join-the-revolution/our-plan

Through the Plan, The Co-operative has underlined its ambition to become the UK’s most representative large business by setting challenging new targets on the diversity of its Boards and governance structure.

The Plan, which comprises of c.50 targets, within eight 'focal areas' such as supporting co-operatives, tackling global poverty and protecting the environment includes a commitment to ensure that 40 per cent of the Co-operative Group and Bank boards will be made up of women by 2018, going well beyond the recommendation of 25 per cent for FTSE 100 companies.

The Co-operative first launched its Ethical Plan in February 2011 with the aim of being clearly recognised as the UK’s most socially responsible business and the Plan is updated every year to ensure the targets contained within remain cutting edge.

Other highlights from the newly released Plan include: The Co-operative’s stores and branches will act as a focus for 12,000 community initiates each year; an additional £1m of support to co-operative enterprise in 2013; and growing its partnership with lendwithcare.org further to facilitate 100,000 loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world by the end of 2013.

The Co-operative operates in the UK and its businesses include food retail, banking, pharmacy, and funeralcare. It has more than 5,000 outlets, over 100,000 colleagues, and is owned by more than 7 million members.