Overview
We see corporate social responsibility (CSR) as being what Reuters contributes to the world and how it makes that contribution. Reuters plays a significant role in world affairs as the reliable, impartial disseminator of news and information about – and to – people, enterprises and markets everywhere. We have earned this role – and built our business, brand and reputation – by adhering to the Trust Principles that are woven into Reuters constitution. In addition to all employees being required by the company's Code of Conduct to adhere to the Trust Principles, an independent group, the Reuters Trustees, are required, together with Reuters directors, to do all in their powers to see that the principles are upheld. We are unusual in not only having a set of ethical principles but in having enshrined them directly in our constitutional documents and given express powers to an independent body to ensure that we adhere to them.

CSR focus
From a CSR perspective, the Trust Principles, our people and our customers are our priorities. During 2001 Geoffrey Weetman, our executive director responsible for CSR matters, began a systematic review across the CSR spectrum to confirm our assessment of the principal areas of CSR risks and opportunities and to ensure that we have the requisite policies and processes in place to manage them. In conducting our review we adopted the framework set out in Appendix 3 to the Association of British Insurers' disclosure guidelines on social responsibility (the Framework) and, with our Internal Audit team, we assessed the extent to which we comply with the standards set out in it. As a pilot we concentrated our efforts on assessing our activities in the UK. In summary, we established that, in all material respects, we meet the Framework's standards in the areas of employees, customers, suppliers, community and shareholders. The results of this review were considered by the Board as part of its risk management programme and will continue to be monitored as part of that work. We intend, over time, to undertake similar assessments across the Group and we plan to incorporate CSR evaluation by trained CSR verifiers into our rolling Internal Audit programme. Information on CSR has been incorporated into the training we provide to directors of Reuters subsidiaries.

Our people
A major source of competitive advantage for Reuters comes from the energy, ideas and commitment of its employees. 2001 was not an easy year for our people and we recognise with gratitude the continued dedication shown by them. The reorganisation of our company, whilst widely recognised to be in the best interests of the business, also brought with it the personal uncertainty that accompanies change. In addition we carried out a job reduction programme, designed to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible, which resulted in more than 1,000 people leaving in 2001.

To provide employees with the information they need to understand and achieve our business objectives, we make extensive use of the company's intranet as a communication tool. Meetings are regularly held between management and employees and union representatives so that the views of employees can be taken into account in making decisions which may affect their interests. Reuters European Employee Forum operates as a pan-European works council. The Chief Executive and other executive directors meet with the Forum regularly. We undertake regular employee surveys to evaluate morale and to identify any employee issues that need to be addressed. The results are communicated throughout the Group.

We are committed to the training and development of our people. It is our policy that selection of employees including for recruitment, training, development and promotion should be determined solely on their skills, abilities and other requirements which are relevant to the job and in accordance with the laws in the country concerned. Reuters provides training for employees on health and safety and provides occupational health care in its major locations. In view of the deaths in 2001 of six of our colleagues in the World Trade Center and two journalists in Afghanistan we have reviewed the adequacy of our policies, training and procedures for employees generally and for those working in dangerous places in particular. We have reaffirmed the standing instructions to employees to avoid risks wherever possible and for hostile environment training and protective equipment to be provided to all employees who may need them.

Reuters is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunities for its employees. We maintain a strict policy prohibiting discriminatory practices on the basis of sex, race, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.