Pearson has set down a global policy which states that it will:

• Contribute, through its business activities, towards wider economic growth by being Brave, Imaginative and Decent.
   
• To show evidence of progress in the retention of people.
   
• To be a supplier of diversity and equal opportunity by following policies that are disseminated throughout the business and the community to achieve a more sustainable economy.
   
• By working with other interested groups to measure and improve our performance in relation to the environment, in particular climate change and to work and live within acceptable environmental limits.
   
• To work towards putting in place a flexible procurement policy for new goods and services taking into account the targets set by the Government in “Sustainable Operations on Government Estates”.  To work and live within acceptable environmental limits. To work and live within acceptable environmental limits.
   
• To maintain a position in the key indices of social responsibility and help promote a safe, healthy and just society.
   
• Achieve Environmental Key Performance Indicators.

There are considerable challenges to achieving these goals such as the type of estate in which the test centres operate and the current economic problems which may limit the progress that is possible but there is optimism that good progress can be made in 2011/ 2012.

Timescales

In view of the complex nature of this action plan and the dependability on our partners we will review the information which has to be gathered and assess the capability of our partners to contribute to the plan on a quarterly basis.