AmazonScience/document-haystack

1S172 statement continued2BOARD ENGAGEMENT3Stakeholder How the Board engaged in 2023 Outcomes and impact4Our people • Site visits to the Manchester and Bristol hubs, where the Board met with colleagues on an 5informal basis and hosted lunches with Reach leaders6• Olivia Streatfeild, Colleague Ambassador, hosted two breakfast sessions with colleagues, each 7attended by another non-executive director, to hear about challenges currently faced by the 8business from a diverse range of voices (read more on pages 82 and 83)9• Tour of the Oldham print site, providing an opportunity for directors to speak to colleagues 10involved in the print manufacturing process11• The directors continued to interact with senior leaders and receive their presentations at Board 12meetings. Executive Committee members all regularly present to the Board, often discussing 13the views and sentiments of their respective teams14• The CEO held fortnightly breakfast sessions with colleagues across the business and, together 15with the CFO, held regular town halls with colleagues16• The Board received regular updates on HR matters, diversity and inclusion, and employee 17engagement survey results18Site visits and face-to-face interactions with colleagues provided 19first-hand insight into culture and sentiment within the business, 20helping the Board make broader strategic decisions.21Through regular diversity updates, the Board endorsed the inclusion and 22social mobility agenda for 2023. Reach has been ranked as the 19th most 23inclusive employer in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List 2023/24 24(up from 29th the previous year).25Customers • Received regular updates on the two organic growth initiatives approved by the Board in 2022: 26Curiously, and entry into the US market27• Discussed the use of behavioural and contextual data to understand customers better and drive 28page views29• Considered initiatives to boost page views following declining digital referral volumes30• Discussed AI and its potential application and use, as well as risks and opportunities31• Received the results of a customer insights panel to understand the digital behaviour 32of the general audience and how the brands’ content relates to this33Customer insight and market knowledge are a vital part of the decision-34making process, for example, in areas such as new market development 35and expansions.36The Board has requested more research and detail into customer 37insights and the output of this work will be presented for debate in 2024 38to further assist our strategic thinking.39Communities • The Sustainability Committee received presentations on the positive social impact that the 40Group’s content has had on communities across the country, through campaigns, lobbying 41and forcing change, protecting the environment and promoting social good42• Undertook climate training on Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, and  43science-based targets44• The Audit & Risk Committee and Sustainability Committee monitored compliance with, and 45progress on, the journey to net zero and climate-related reporting, including the Task Force 46on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and climate scenario analysis47• The Board received an update on the Generation Valuable programme and Reach joining the 48Valuable 500: a partnership of 500 global companies working together to end disability exclusion 49The Board deepened its understanding and awareness of ESG factors 50to help inform its decisions.51The Board approved near-term science-based targets to commit to 52reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.53The Board has encouraged the application of measurable objectives 54to monitor continued progress in the Generation Valuable programme.558656Reach plc Annual Report 2023Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Other Information