Stakeholder engagement
With a presence in more than 50 countries, we have a diverse range of stakeholders. From political parties to local communities, non-governmental organisations, consumer groups and our customers around the world, we engage with many of them on a regular, ongoing basis.
Customers and clients
Our customers and clients are our most important stakeholders. We hold regular surveys and focus groups to hear their views on how we can improve our products and services to better meet their needs.
Institutional investors
Barclays Executive Directors and senior leaders hold regular meetings with major investors. Communicating with shareholders is a key priority of the Board of Directors, ensuring investors are well informed about our strategy. We also host briefing meetings for investors interested in our approach to sustainability.
Private shareholders
Barclays shareholders receive communications in electronic or printed formats, such as the Annual Review, and notices of shareholder meetings.
Consumer groups
We work with consumer groups to understand their views on practical improvements we can make to our products and services, or propositions we want to launch. In 2006, our Consumer Champion team set up a group to discuss our work with consumer organisations. We continue to use the feedback to make changes to our products and services in the UK.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
We recognise that NGOs have an important role to play, working with governments and businesses to highlight issues of concern in a range of areas. We maintain dialogue with a range of NGOs and welcome their feedback.
Colleagues
We engage with colleagues across the business in several ways, from focus groups to networks and through union representation. Annual Employee Opinion Surveys are also a valuable means of gaining feedback. Senior leaders hold regular colleague presentations during which issues of interest are discussed with groups of employees.
Governments and public bodies
Governments and public bodies have a legitimate interest in regulating and monitoring the banking sector. We participate in dialogue with government throughout our operations. We aim to ensure an ongoing constructive dialogue with political stakeholders and regulators, providing input into government policy-making.
Trade bodies and associations
We are a member of a number of trade bodies and associations around the world, which provide policy-makers with feedback. These include the British Bankers Association, The American Banking Association and the South African Banking Association.
Memberships
We are a member of several organisations related to sustainability. These include:
- Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights – a programme to help lead and develop the corporate response to human rights
- The Wolfsberg Group – an association of 11 global banks which seeks to develop standards to tackle financial crime
- We are also a constituent in leading ethical indices such as the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index series.
