MAG Achieves Highest-Ever Business in the Community Rating, as It Launches a New CSR Strategy

· 4-STAR 97% RATING ON THE BITC ANNUAL INDEX FOR OPERATOR OF MANCHESTER, EAST MIDLANDS, LONDON STANSTED AND BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORTS

· MAG SETS OUT COMMITMENT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOLLOWING MAJOR GROWTH & PASSENGER INCREASES

· AIRPORT GROUP CONTRIBUTES £4 BILLION TO ECONOMY ANNUALLY & SUPPORTS 45,000 JOBS

MAG, the operator of Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth Airports, has achieved its highest ever score of 97% in the annual Business In The Community (BITC) Annual Index, earning an outstanding four-star rating for its commitment to acting responsibly to its employees, neighbours, customers and suppliers.

At 97%, MAG – scores 6% above the average BITC index score of 91%, demonstrating how it has successfully integrated responsible business practice into their mainstream business at all levels.

The independent BITC Index is a rigorous process which assesses hundreds of companies against a diverse range of factors, from how engaged Board and senior management are with responsible business issues and the link between remuneration and CSR performance.

Coming during Responsible Business Week, when companies from across the UK celebrate the contribution that business can make to wider society, the rating heralds the launch of the Group's new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. The new strategy reaffirms the Group's commitment to responsible operations in consideration of the impact it has on its colleagues, customers, business partners, suppliers and local communities.

The report also underlines the growing economic contribution the Group's airports make to the regions in which they operate, including through job creation, committing to training placements for 5,000 people and investing at least £500,000 in charitable donations & sponsorship by 2020.

The business has evolved significantly since MAG last published its CSR Strategy in 2012 – and following major passenger growth and the acquisition of London Stansted, its airports now directly support the employment of 45,000 people and contribute an estimated £4 billion annually to the national economy.

In the strategy, MAG sets out how it aims to be a trusted partner working closely with stakeholders to ensure the benefits of its success are shared. It also commits to meeting a number of demanding targets that drive better ways of working, including: reducing emissions and waste, supporting local communities and generating opportunities for local people and local businesses.

MAG CSR 2015 Highlights:

· Reduce energy use by 16,000 MWh, by 2020 and deliver updated renewable energy strategy at each airport. Maintain carbon neutral operation at Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth and work towards the same at Stansted.
· MAG will help prepare young people for the world of work by directly supporting the education of at least 50,000 young people by 2020.
· By 2020, MAG will invest at least £500,000 in charitable donations and sponsorships with organisations that make the regions where MAG operates vibrant places to live and work.
· Invest £100,000 annually through community funds.
· By 2018, MAG will increase colleague engagement by 15%.
· MAG will provide training placements for 5,000 people by 2020, with at least 50% subsequently placed into permanent employment within the business.

Neil Robinson, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for MAG, comments: "We're delighted to have achieved this outstanding level of acknowledgement from such a well-respected organisation.

"We place significant importance on our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy and are incredibly proud of our achievements to date. By setting a clear strategy for the future, it ensures that we can continually improve in those areas and work towards our target to become the premier airport management and services business.

"Our airports are an important part of the regions that they serve and as we continue to grow, it is increasingly important that we remain focussed on being a responsible business."


Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community, said: "The 2015 CR Index shows us that we are moving in the right direction and companies are now increasingly integrating responsible business practice into decision making right across the business. To truly change business culture, companies need to engage their people to embrace a different way of doing business with responsible values at the core. So it is especially encouraging this year that we have seen a significant increase in the representation of corporate responsibility, both at board level and amongst the generation of future leaders that will shape the businesses of tomorrow.

"I congratulate MAG for achieving its ranking and look forward to working together to create a fairer society and a more sustainable future."

**MAG's 2015 CSR Strategy is available to download in full atwww.magworld.co.uk/magweb.nsf/Content/CSRStrategy

-ENDS-

For more information contact the Manchester Airport Press Office on 0161 489 2700 or via email at press.office@manairport.co.uk

Notes to editors:

· MAG serves 48 million passengers and handles almost half a million tonnes of air freight every year through its ownership and operation of the airports of London Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth airports.

Seb Thompson
Press Office Manager
Manchester Airports Group (MAG)
0161 489 2705
seb.thompson@manairport.co.uk