Page 19


Business review

Resources and relationships

(Photo captioned: We aim to recruit and retain Partners who can deliver commercial success and also embrace our distinct culture)

Partners

Our culture

The Partnership’s ultimate purpose is “the happiness of Partners through worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful business”. To achieve this, we aim to create an environment where all Partners have a consistent, rewarding and motivating experience. This experience is based on the Partnership and Partners delivering three commitments:

• Take responsibility for our business success: we take responsibility to deliver the right experience for all our customers and generate profits for us all to share;
• Build relationships powered by our principles: we build relationships based on honesty, respect and encouragement. We expect these behaviours of each other and demonstrate them at all times;
• Create real influence over our working lives: we take opportunities to develop ourselves, balance work and life priorities and offer personal support.

We aim to recruit and retain Partners who can deliver commercial success and also demonstrate, through their behaviours, that they embrace our distinct culture.

The John Lewis Partnership operates without discrimination and embraces diversity; this is reflected in all that we do. The Partnership is committed to providing equal opportunities for all in employment, regardless of individual differences such as gender, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, social background, religion and beliefs. Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the Partnership’s ‘Fair Treatment’ policy.

Talent development

Our intention is that every Partner fulfils their individual potential and can develop their career within the Partnership. We aim to provide exemplary leadership that empowers Partners to deliver first class customer service in each one of our department stores, food shops, or other retail channels. Our Partners are equipped to do so through their attitude, behaviour and skills, supported by first-class training and development.

Benefits

Our reward strategy aims to provide a Total Reward Package that offers competitive pay and distinctive market leading benefits, such as our non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme for those Partners who stay with us for three years. We aim to provide opportunities for Partners to have a choice in benefits and leisure activities, recognising the growing diversity of Partners. Our reward policies are developed to encourage a sense of belonging to a community and to offer opportunities Partners cannot easily obtain themselves.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Respect, honesty and fairness, sharing the rewards and responsibilities of ownership and conducting our business with integrity and courtesy are key aspects of the way we work. This drives our environmental policies, our involvement with local communities and our approach to responsible sourcing and trading.

The Partnership has made a commitment to annually benchmark its CSR performance with other leading UK businesses. The Partnership retained its platinum level status in the most recent Business in the Community (BITC) Corporate Responsibility Index, as well as receiving five ‘Big Tick’ awards in the organisation’s annual Awards for Excellence. John Lewis Newcastle’s ‘Attract and develop talent – Fit for the Future’ programme received a Big Tick in the Talent award category, while the following programmes were reaccredited: Waitrose Education; Waitrose Local and Regional Sourcing; the John Lewis Newcastle vocational placement scheme; and the John Lewis Glasgow school mentoring programme.

Over the last year, the Partnership has undertaken an in-depth evaluation of its CSR activity. That process has helped to refresh our governance arrangements, define and embed new (Continued on page 20...)