With the implementation of National Grid’s new operating model the structure of our internal communications function has been reviewed and a new global internal communications team has been formed. Its role is to ensure that all our employees feel engaged and connected with our vision, strategy and objectives and live our core values. A survey was carried out to gather feedback on the communication routes that employees prefer and a suite of communication channels is now being rolled out across the whole of National Grid. The first edition of the new National Grid wide magazine, One, was produced in January 2008 and in March 2008, the second edition was accompanied by printed inserts for employees within each of our lines of business.
In February 2008, we conducted a comprehensive employee engagement survey, the first since completion of the KeySpan acquisition. Over 23,000 employees – 83.6% of our work force – took part in what will now be an annual exercise. This response rate was over 28% higher than that achieved in our last survey in 2006. The survey demonstrated that our employees see our safety focused and supportive work environment as real strengths. Where they think that we can make progress is in the areas of providing more open and honest communications, greater clarity about our vision and direction, and a stronger link between performance and reward. Action plans are being developed and built into managers’ objectives for the coming year.
At 31 March 2008, 22.5% of our employees were female and 12.3% were from black and minority ethnic groups. This reflects the acquisition of KeySpan and so is not directly comparable with prior years. Excluding KeySpan, the proportions were 23.4% and 7.4% respectively, compared with 23.7% and 7.3% respectively at 31 March 2007 and with 23.4% and 6.7% respectively at 31 March 2006.