Reporting approach

Step 1- Planning

At the planning stage, we work with you to identify your material issues – your key responsibilities to society and the aspects of your social and environmental performance most likely to affect the organisation’s future prospects. These define the content of the report.

We also help you decide which, if any, reporting standards to follow – including assessing the case for using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability reporting guidelines.

At the same time, we help you understand the needs of your audiences, establish clear communication objectives for the report, and develop the overall editorial and design concept. At this stage, we also work with you to decide how best to utilise print and online reporting formats and report internationally.

Step 2 - Information sourcing

We help you set up and manage processes for collecting and analysing performance data and other information that should go in the report. Processes can include interviews and simple questionnaires through to web-based or intranet information management systems.

Step 3 - Writing and design

We help you write and design the report – either acting in an advisory capacity, or doing all the writing and editing work and coordinating design on your behalf.

Step 4 - Review

To ensure quality, during report development we review and comment on content and design. This includes checking that the report fulfils the requirements of relevant reporting standards.

Step 5 - Promotion

We advise you on how to maximise the visibility of your report to your stakeholders. Usually, we do this as part of broader advice on your communication of your corporate responsibility programme.

Step 6 - Follow up

Unlike with some consultants and design companies, our work does not end when your report is published. We help you capitalise on it by using it in stakeholder dialogue and capturing the results to help you improve your future sustainability focus and reporting. And of course you get access to world-leading advice to help you shape your wider sustainability programme.