We carry out external assurance, internal audit, annual internal verification and stakeholder engagement to:

Our approach to assurance and verification

Since 2007/08, we have followed  a rolling three year approach for external assurance:

• Year one is a broad but shallow review of all aspects of approach to CR 
• Years two and three comprise a ‘deep dive’ on a specific CR issue as identified by the Executive and R&R committees.

2010/11 was the first year of our second three year assurance cycle. In October 2010 we appointed Corporate Citizenship to provide our external assurance for the cycle.

Corporate Audit

We have developed a risk-based three-year rolling audit programme that focuses effort on areas of perceived greatest risk arising from the Company’s CR issues and activities. The plan comprises three audit types:

• Annual reporting audit: A review of the scope and processes use to compile the CR content of public reporting media to ensure it fairly reflects the underlying CR risks and activity, and the testing on a sample basis of selected support material for various statements and data;
• Rolling verification: The verification of data in underlying systems and processes that operate throughout the year and that are used to support statements used in public reporting; and,
• Issues audits: Audits into how well National Grid is managing CR–related risks and processes.

During 2010/11, corporate audits have covered such areas as: network reliability, stakeholder relations, supply chain management, statutory reporting obligations and GHG emissions.

Internal verification

We have formalised the approach used to develop and verify the CR content of the Annual Report and Accounts, this website and other CR reporting media. This eight- step  procedure sets out specific approval obligations of content authors and owners. Internal verification by the content owners is the primary verification mechanism.

Stakeholder engagement

Since 2008, we have begun of our reporting cycle with a stakeholder feedback session facilitated by Ceres to ascertain:

• Sector challenges. What are the key CR / sustainability / non-financial issues and challenges faced by the utilities sector?
• National Grid. What are the key CR / sustainability / non-financial issues and challenges face by National Grid in terms of being (and being seen to be) a responsible business? 
• How can National Grid play a leadership role within and beyond its industry sector?
• Emerging sustainability issues. Looking ahead 3-5 years, what emerging issues and challenges will the sector / National Grid need to find ways to address / need to report on in the future?

2010 Ceres stakeholder panel feedback

In 2011, we held an additional (and different)  stakeholder panel facilitated by Corporate Citizenship to provide additional independent opinion on the performance of the company as well as make recommendations on where we could improve the future reporting of corporate responsibility-related issues and performance.

2011 Corporate Citizenship stakeholder panel report

Assuring corporate responsibility information contained in the 'Responsibility' section of our website

In addition to the above, Our Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 is used as the principle source for performance data set out on this site. This source data has been subject to statutory audit by the Company's Independent Auditors within the scope and to the extent set out in the 'Independent Auditors’ report to the Members of National Grid plc' contained in the Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11.