Industry leader - Inchcape

23Inchcape plc Annual report and accounts 2006ecosystems. Jean-Paul monitors andassesses performance and also actsas internal auditor to the Lexus dealernetwork in Belgium. This achievedISO 14001 certification in 2005 and itsenvironmental management systemis maintained by the Lexus AftersalesDepartment.This system has made trackingour performance very efficient andJean-Paul believes that maintainingit is essential in helping to identify andmitigate risks, and to reaching ourgoal of reducing the operation’senvironmental footprint.In line with this, Jean-Paul is keento educate his colleagues about issuesthat effect their immediate officeenvironment, as well as their impacton the global environment. But herecognises that environmental initiativescannot be forced on colleagues – theyneed to make sense, be easy to use,and become a way of life.In June 2006, our Belgiancolleagues took part in Toyota’s GreenMonth Campaign, which focused onthe effect cars have on the environment.The initiative provided tips andinformation about driving moreefficiently, which were passed onto customers in a brochure availablein dealerships. Toyota Belgium alsoorganised a head office teamawareness lunch and screenedAn Inconvenient Truth – a film aboutclimate change.Jean-Paul is proud of whatthe Toyota Belgium head office hasachieved with regards to EHS and isoptimistic about the future. He believesthat individuals should try to do whateverthey can for the environment andencourage others to do the same.Even small changes to behaviour canmake a big difference.Serving ourcommunitiesWith a presence in over 20 countries,the Group’s broad international spreadhas resulted in a diverse range of people,cultures and lifestyles that enrichour company.With our extensive international interests,Inchcape firmly believes in supportingthe many different communities andcultures that we operate within, oftenthrough sponsorships and support of localcharities for local people.By encouraging our colleagues toengage in the issues which affect theirlocal environment, we can target fundsand assistance more effectively as wellas developing a sense of personalinvolvement. Getting involved can helpcolleagues gain a better understandingof the communities they live in, and inturn help us to serve our localcustomers better.Here we outline a number of initiativesthat we have been involved in over thepast year.– At Head Office level, we donate toone nominated charity each yearthrough a variety of fund-raising eventsand collections. Our charity-of-theyearin 2006 was Peach – a charityestablished to promote earlybehavioural intervention for youngchildren with autism. Peach receivedover £2,500 in 2006.– Subaru Australia raised over $6,000from staff and other donations for theStarlight Children’s Foundation as wellas a further $20,000 from the SubaruAnnual Charity Golf Day.– Crown Motors Ltd is an active fundraiserfor the China Literacy Foundation Ltd(CLF), and its 2006 Lexus Charity GolfDay raised more than HK$20,000 indonations from Lexus owners andCrown Motors itself, which will directlysupport the charity’s work in providingschools and educational opportunitiesfor children in very poor parts of ruralChina. The CLF received a furtherHK$500,000 from Crown Motors’ hostingof the Toyota Classics 2006 concert inHong Kong.– Borneo Motors’ Lexus Charity Golf Dayraised S$50,000 for the Salem DayRehabilitation Centre, which cares forthe elderly. Borneo Motors also raiseda further S$30,000 for the Students CareService by donating all registration feeproceeds from the Toyota CamryCharity Golf Challenge 2006.– The Toyota Great Ethiopian10K Runwas held in Addis Ababa in November2006, attracting a record 20,000participants. Our distribution businessin Ethiopia is a major supporter ofAfrica’s biggest road race.– TM Auto Ltd., Inchcape’s operationin Bulgaria, received the GoldenBook Award for Corporate SocialResponsibility for its involvement in theEuropean Rally for People withDisabilities, one of its social contributionactivities in 2006.– Inchcape in the UK supports BEN,the motor industry benevolent fund.This support is shown through financialcommitment, colleague timecommitment and various fund-raisinginitiatives over the year. In 2006,Inchcape Retail made a businessdonation to BEN of over £18,200, andwas presented with a Gold AwardQuality Mark by BEN in recognitionof its commitment to the automotiveindustry through payroll giving.– In Greece, Toyota Hellas is amongthe leading supporters of ‘Open Arms’,an NGO created in 1994 to providesupport to hospitalised children andtheir families.– Each year, Inchcape in Finland donatesa car to a chosen charity. In 2006, aMazda 3 went to ’HelsinkiMissio’, whichsupports poor and eldery people.