Collaboration and influence

To support the impact of our CSR programme and activities, we partner external organisations on various initiatives. Our senior executives are also active in various associations which are relevant to our business:

• Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis Partnership, is now non-executive Chairman of the UK Commission on Employment and Skills. This is an opportunity to raise the profile of our Partner development, learn from others and influence how the Government supports business in providing employment for the next generation.

• Andy Street, Managing Director, John Lewis, is on the Board for London First, a business membership organisation working to make London the best city in which to do business. Andy has also been appointed the first Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, and will lead the economic rejuvenation of the region.

• Mark Price, Managing Director, Waitrose, is now Chairman of Business in the Community (BITC). The Partnership has been a long-standing member of BITC, helping to define what responsibility looks like in the workplace, marketplace, environment and the community. In September 2010, he was also appointed as a non-executive director of the Channel 4 board.

• Nigel Keen, Director, Partnership Property Services, is now the retail representative on a new Government committee, the Green Economy Council, which will discuss how government and industry can work together to support the transition to a green, low-carbon economy.

• Lesley Ballantyne, Director, Operational Development, John Lewis, has been appointed Mentor for the Government’s Pathfinder Mutuals initiative, advising public-sector staff as they prepare for employee ownership.

• Patrick Lewis, Partners’ Counsellor and Partnership board member, has joined the Government’s Mutuals Taskforce, helping people to become semi-independent mutual companies under the Government umbrella.

• Andrew Moys, Director of Communications, is the Partnership’s representative on the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills Employee Engagement Task Force which will share best practice and raise the profile of employee engagement in delivering growth and wellbeing.

“ We’re delighted to welcome Waitrose’s Managing Director, Mark Price, as Chairman of BITC and I’m confident our movement will continue to grow under his leadership. Mark has an impressive track record for innovation in sustainable retailing, demonstrating that responsible business can result in profitable business.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community

(Photo of David Cameron and MPs)

Engaging with the Government on creating more job opportunities

Our Chairman Charlie Mayfield joined other major British employers for talks with the Prime Minister and Chancellor in January 2011. Each employer outlined the jobs they plan to create in the years ahead. Charlie confirmed that the Partnership had ‘invested heavily’ in our business throughout the recession and created net 4,100 new jobs in 2010 alone.

The Partnership will create a similar number of opportunities in 2011, primarily through plans to open 39 new Waitrose shops, a John Lewis store in Stratford and two more John Lewis ‘at home’ shops.