How we manage corporate responsibility

The Camelot Board of Directors is accountable for the responsible operation of our business. Our Directors are closely supported by our Corporate Responsibility Board (CRB) and the Advisory Panel for Corporate Responsibility (APCR), which is comprised of seven external advisors.

The Chief Executive chairs the Corporate Responsibility Board (CRB), and its members work together to set our strategic direction on corporate responsibility and embed responsible practices into the business.

Members include senior directors from our main business units, such as Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Corporate Affairs. They are expected to champion corporate responsibility companywide and within their area, ensure their teams achieve our corporate responsibility commitments, and identify opportunities to improve performance.

The CRB is supported by a number of internal bodies which work together to implement responsible practices and integrate them into our business. Examples include our cross-functional Player Protection Panel, established in 2006 and the newly-formed Stakeholder Engagement Panel. This internal panel agrees and coordinates our high-level stakeholder engagement strategy. Its members are senior representatives from around the business who have direct contact with Camelot's key stakeholders. Both these panels meet regularly and report to the CRB.

In 2009/10, these groups focused on establishing a responsible gaming strategy for the third Licence and refreshing our understanding of our stakeholder groups, respectively. The members of the Stakeholder Engagement Panel also worked closely together to keep key stakeholders consistently informed during the share sale. The CRB and PPP did not meet as frequently as scheduled but the corporate responsibility team ensured actions were followed up between meetings.

Advisory Panel for Corporate Responsibility

The CRB receives advice from an independent Advisory Panel for Corporate Responsibility. Panel members each represent a specific stakeholder perspective for further details of the Panel and their independent statement on the content of this report). It provides a forum for debating our corporate responsibility priorities and making sure we consider the – sometimes conflicting – needs of each stakeholder group. Panel members challenge our approach and recommend ways to improve our practices.

Gerry Acher, Camelot's non-executive Deputy Chairman, and chairman of our Audit Risk and Security Committee, chairs the Panel. He reports to the main Camelot Board on Panel discussions.

Our Chief Executive and an Executive Director attend Panel meetings, along with members of our corporate responsibility team. External Panel members meet before the Camelot representatives join, to allow a full, frank and independent discussion of the agenda or any issues they need to raise with the Chair in private.