Our approach to corporate responsibility

Our vision is to be a world leading provider of information and services that improve outcomes for our customers and benefit society. To achieve this, we know we must exercise the full extent of our corporate responsibility (CR), performing to the highest commercial and ethical standards and channelling our knowledge and strengths, as a global leader in our industry, to make a difference.

At Reed Elsevier, CR is not a programme or tightly-defined set of activities, it is how we conduct our business each day. CR drives competitive advantage by ensuring good management of risk and opportunities, helps us attract and retain the best people, and strengthens our corporate reputation.

The Reed Elsevier Board, senior management, and the Corporate Responsibility Forum (chaired by a member of senior management and involving individuals representing all key business functions and businesses) oversee corporate responsibility objectives and monitor performance against them. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has responsibility to the Board for CR. The CR Director engages with the senior management team and also provides formal updates to the Board.

This report reflects the priority we place on comprehensive reporting (see Appendix 3 for how we align with the indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative). We also include CR as an integral part of our business review in the Annual Report and the Chairman and CEO make reference to relevant CR issues in their statements in the Reed Elsevier Annual Report. In addition, CR factors into our evaluation of principal risks as is evidenced in areas such as listening to and meeting customer needs; the importance of ethical practice in our supply chain; and the priority placed on our people and the environment.

We focus on our unique contributions as a business where we can make a positive impact through our knowledge, resources, and skills including: universal sustainable access to information, advance of science and health, promotion of the rule of law and justice, and protection of society. Elsevier contributes to advancing human welfare and economic progress through its science and health information. LexisNexis Risk Solutions tools and resources help to prevent crime. LexisNexis Legal & Professional promotes justice through its legal information. Reed Exhibitions and Reed Business Information bring communities together enhancing productivity and efficiency.

We also concentrate on good management of the material issues that affect all companies, specifically focusing on the areas within governance; people; customers; community; supply chain; and environment relevant to our business. Our thinking is informed by extensive internal and external engagement.