Responsible business

Strefa Rodzica w Oleśnicy The activities of the Company in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility are defined by Budimex CSR Strategy for 2016–2020 that was adopted by the CSR Committee at the beginning of 2016. It indicates the directions of the Company’s activities that serve the interests of stakeholders, the environment and the company itself.

Development of this area of activity brought about a change of Budimex’s organisational culture. Employees are increasingly often involved in CSR-related initiatives. One of good examples includes the CSR programme called “Grants for Volunteer Projects” effective since 2015 whereby employees propose their ideas for volunteer work, and the CSR Committee awards financial grants to implement selected projects.

Budimex is a leader in corporate responsibility reporting in the construction industry in Poland. The company has published social reports since 2009. In 2011–2012, these reports were prepared at B+ level, which means that a broad range of GRI indicators described was additionally verified by an independent auditor. Since 2013, the responsible business report has been prepared in line with the most recent GRI G4 (core) guidelines and has also been verified by an independent auditor.

For eight years, Budimex has been an active participant in the “UN Global Compact” – an initiative of the Secretary General of the UN which aims to promote corporate responsibility towards society. The participation of Budimex in the UN GC means that the company complies with 10 fundamental principles of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption, and is committed to carrying out initiatives that will be the implementation of these principles.

Strefa Rodzica w Jedrzejowie The RESPECT Index is the first index of socially responsible companies, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, in Central and Eastern Europe. As a result of an annual three-stage evaluation followed by an audit, companies managed in a responsible and sustainable manner are identified. Since 2011, Budimex has continuously remained a part of the Index, which confirms that the company meets the highest standards of corporate governance and CSR.

Furthermore, in 2016 Budimex has been among the companies that received the honourable Ethical Company title, awarded in a competition organised by “Puls Biznesu” and PWC.

Budimex meets international management standards for quality, environment, and occupational safety and health, which is confirmed by relevant certificates: Quality system certificate as per AQAP 2110, Environmental Management System as per ISO 14001, Occupational Health and Safety Management System as per OHSAS/PN-N 18001, and Quality Management System as per ISO 9001. Budimex is also one of the signatories of the Safety in Construction Agreement, an informal association of the leading companies operating in the Polish market of general contractors, established in 2010, whose goal is to increase the level of work safety and eliminate fatal accidents in this industry. It assumes execution of a number of projects which implement OHS system solutions, e.g.: common document specimens, a model of confirming professional qualifications of construction workers, and periodic training courses.

Budimex carries out two own social programmes. The first one is “Domofon ICE”, a programme launched in 2010. It involves providing grade 0–3 schoolchildren with plastic cards with contact details of their next of kin to be contacted in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the campaign has a broader educational dimension as it promotes the principles of road safety and first aid among young people. All children participating in the programme receive mobile phone-shaped cards together with a fluorescent holder that can easily be fixed to a backpack. Thus far, the programme has included almost 23 thousand children from over 240 Polish schools Conducted evaluation research indicated that one year after receiving reflective tags, 70% of children still carry them at their bags.

Another social programme is the “Strefa Rodzica” [Parent Zone]. Its aim is to provide children’s departments at hospitals with isolated zones, where parents can spend time with their sick children in decent conditions. Depending on the needs and conditions in individual hospitals, this can involve refurbishing an unused space or part of a corridor, equipping the hospital with an appropriate number of folding beds or sanitary devices, and organising a place to rest and play with the children. “Parent Zone” also involves the personal engagement of Budimex SA’s employees, who volunteer to outfit renovated spaces, help in the assembly and placing of furniture, and do small finishing works. In 2016, Budimex launched five Parent Zones in children’s hospitals in Toruń, Jędrzejów, Bogatynia, Oleśnica and Rzeszów. The total number of Parent Zones all over Poland is 17, and they can be used annually by more than 25 thousand children and their guardians.

The INN Poland portal, which deals with Polish innovations and integrates the business community with scientists, has developed its first ranking presenting companies which develop their business activities with regard to principles of social responsibility. Budimex is among the Golden Six of INN: CSR. The Golden Six was selected on the basis of a survey on involvement in CSR activities conducted at fifty companies in Poland. The expert panel scrutinised the process of building positive relationships with the stakeholders, initiatives in favour of local communities, long- and short-term objectives and achieved results. They also assessed the degree to which conducted CSR activities contributed to improving the company’s innovativeness.

Budimex’s social commitment also demonstrates itself by working together with selected foundations. In 2016, the company donated money to the “Na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową” [Helping Children with Cancer] Foundation for the treatment of children and to the construction of “Przylądek Nadziei” [Cape of Hope] – Clinic of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Oncology and Children’s Haematology of the Wrocław Medical University. The “Wróć” [Come Back] Foundation for Children Injured in Transportation Accidents received funds from Budimex for the purchase of minibuses which will transport children to rehabilitation facilities.

In response to social demand, the company became – for the fourth time – a partner of the “Budimex Półmaraton Augustowski” [Augustów Half Marathon], organised to promote healthy lifestyle. It is the largest running event in the region which attracts an increasing number of participants year by year.

As in previous years, the company remains involved in the organisation of the Polish Sailing Championship for the Disabled. Year 2016 witnessed the 22nd edition of this event.

Budimex has been a long-time supporter of the J. Waldorff Social Committee for the Stare Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw which was supported in 2016 with funds to save historic chapels and tombstones.

Apart from community, charity and sponsoring initiatives, the company also carried out educational activities, supporting the organisation of professional and industry conferences, congresses and seminars. In many cases, Budimex representatives participated as experts.

In 2016, the Budimex Group donated in total almost PLN 1 million to various causes.