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Go-Ahead collects a wide range of corporate responsibility data across its bus and rail operating companies. The data is collected around our five key areas of responsibility; safety, environment, our passengers, our employees and the community.

Verification Statement from Bureau Veritas UK Ltd

For the third year, Bureau Veritas UK Ltd (Bureau Veritas) has worked with the Go-Ahead Group plc (‘Go-Ahead’) to verify selected corporate responsibility (CR) key performance indicator (KPI) data. The objective of the verification is to provide an opinion to Go-Ahead’s stakeholders on the accuracy and reliability of selected KPI data presented in the Report.

The verification process is based on Bureau Veritas’ internal protocol which reflects current best practice including ISAE 3000 and the reporting principles of the Global Reporting Initiative (‘GRI’).

Responsibilities of Bureau Veritas and Go-Ahead

Bureau Veritas’ responsibility is to provide verification over the content of the data as described in the Scope below, and for the content of this independent verification statement. Go-Ahead’s responsibility as part of this process is to provide access to all relevant Group and Operating Company sites, personnel, databases, documentation and data required to undertake the verification, and for the content of the Report.

Bureau Veritas is confident that no information material to this verification has been withheld.

Methodology

The verification undertaken by Bureau Veritas between August and September 2011 involved a series of interviews with CR data owners at the Go Ahead Group level and at one UK Operating Company to understand the process for managing, collating and reporting data. At Group level, Bureau Veritas conducted a review of the systems and procedures for collecting, reporting and managing CR data, and the central contracts for energy supplies and waste management.

Bureau Veritas conducted a review of internal and external records, and interrogated databases and associated management and reporting systems in order to challenge and substantiate the selected CR KPI data presented in the Report. The integrity and accuracy of aggregated data was tested by tracking a sample of data back to source. The methodology for data collection, estimation and aggregation was assessed for reliability and robustness.

Bureau Veritas’ verification activities are built on a rolling audit programme based on a sample of Operating Companies each year. A Site visit was undertaken at the head offices of London Midland Railway company. The scope of work allowed Bureau Veritas to identify areas of good practice and opportunities that could improve Go-Ahead’s environmental and social reporting process and these are communicated to the Go-Ahead Group in this independent verification statement.

Opinion of the verifier

Based on the verification activities it is Bureau Veritas’ opinion that:

• the selected CR KPI’s provide a fair and reasonable representation of Go-Ahead’s CR performance for the defined period;
• no significant omissions were identified which could affect stakeholders’ ability to make informed judgements on Go-Ahead’s CR performance for the defined period.

Areas of good practice

Bureau Veritas identified the following areas of good practice:

• Improved consolidation of environmental data through the acquisition of bespoke data management software for use by Group level to collate data from all Operating Companies;
• Greater transparency of KPI performance against previous years data where appropriate;
• Internal review of 2010 KPI’s leading to the reporting of additional material indicators within the KPI table.

Recommendations

On the basis of the scope of the work undertaken and the information provided by Go-Ahead, Bureau Veritas provides the following recommendations for consideration.

Go-Ahead should:

• Review the material sent to Operating Companies from Group level to define the scope of KPI’s and the methods for collection, additional assurance should be sought from Group Level that each defined KPI is clearly understood by all Operating Companies;
• Continue to review KPI’s on an annual basis, this process should involve input from key stakeholders to ensure the KPI’s reported are in line with stakeholder expectations;
• Involve CR data owners at Operating Company level in the KPI review and development process to ensure that such expertise and ideas for improvement are incorporated;
• Ensure that water use accuracy continues to be addressed in order to accurately report against robust performance data;
• Provide increased guidance on waste data collection to Operating Companies from Group level in order to reduce the risk of inconsistent waste data being provided to group prior to consolidation;
• Continue to migrate remaining energy and waste management contracts to central control at Group level, where possible;

Statement of independence, impartiality and competence

Bureau Veritas is an independent professional services company that specialises in quality, health, safety, social and environmental management advice and compliance with over 180 years history in providing independent assurance services. Bureau Veritas has implemented a code of ethics across its business; this ensures that employees maintain high standards in their day to day business activities. This verification assignment did not raise any conflicts of interest.

Bureau Veritas UK Ltd

September 2011