Governance

In 2011 we incorporated the management of our Good Together programme into our two operating businesses: Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants and Costa.  Responsibility for driving the programme forward and delivering our targets is now part of the remit of the boards and executive management teams within these businesses.  This approach has enabled us to truly integrate the Good Together principles and targets into our strategic business plans, whilst ensuring we address the issues that are most material to each business in ways that are relevant to their operations.

See the Whitbread Good Together Governance diagram (PDF, 152 kB)

Both businesses have established a Steering Group for the Programme, which meets every 6-8 weeks.  For WHR this is chaired by Patrick Dempsey, MD, and for Costa this is chaired by Clive Bentley, Global Property & CR Director.

At the Whitbread Group level, Simon Barratt, Group Counsel, is the nominated Main Board Committee (MBC) member with responsibility for overseeing the programme across our businesses.   Simon Barratt attends Steering Group meetings for both businesses.

The MBC is responsible for:

Acting as a custodian of Whitbread's Good Together policies.

Reviewing WHR's and Costa's response to CR opportunities and risks; and challenge where necessary, in line with the Good Together vision and Whitbread's strategic goals and priorities;

MBC Good Together scope of activity:

Agreeing and/or altering Good Together priorities and targets;

Regularly review key CR risks and opportunities facing Whitbread as it delivers its Good Together programme;

Aligning Good Together with the Whitbread values and the Whitbread ways of working;

Receive quarterly updates from the WHR and Costa MDs on the development and delivery of Good Together within the businesses;

Sign-off annual external Good Together update report. Primary audience for this report is the investor community and wider stakeholders such as NGOs;

In addition, Whitbread's PLC Board is responsible for ensuring Whitbread's CR programme is appropriate to maintain Whitbread's agreed level of commitment in this area.

Whitbread PLC Board Good Together scope of activity:

Reviewing the MBC report, on the status of implementation of the Good Together programme and performance throughout Whitbread.  PLC Board to ensure targets are relevant and appropriate to deliver long term sustainable growth.