Strategy and governance

Centrica's corporate responsibility (CR) ambition is to be the most trusted energy company.

An integrated business and CR strategy

Our CR strategy and ambition directly supports Group strategic vision - to be the leading integrated energy company, with customers at our core - by seeking to gain sustainable business success through building trust with stakeholders. With the evolution of our corporate strategy in February 2013 we are currently realigning our CR strategy and will provide a full update when this is completed later in 2013.

We deliver our Group strategic vision through an approach built on ethical values, behaviours and responsible business practices, aimed at winning the trust of our customers, regulators, investors and other stakeholders by effectively managing our social, environmental and ethical impacts. It also helps us to attract and retain talented and committed employees.

Our approach to CR is straightforward and integral to our strategic decision-making and business performance:

• We communicate our position on key issues and, through our business principles, are clear about the standards we expect of ourselves and those we work with
• We consult our employees, customers, investors and wider stakeholder groups to understand the main social and environmental matters affecting our business
• We identify and prioritise the risks we face and opportunities we have, and develop distinctive strategies, commitments and targets
• We manage CR with an impact areas-based approach to ensure our resources and engagements are focused on the most relevant issues and where we have the greatest impact
• We communicate our performance with openness and transparency, so that our stakeholders understand the progress we're making

We can also contribute positively to society and the environment, benefitting the long-term health and sustainability of both. We strive to do this in a way that also creates opportunities and advantages for our business and shareholders.

A strong reputation for CR can help us win business advantage and contribute to shareholder value. Conversely, perceived weakness in CR may damage our reputation and cause financial risks.

Find out more about our approach to risk management.