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BLUE LABEL INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2016
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Stakeholder relations
The Board has ultimate accountability for
stakeholder strategy and engagement,
recognising that developing and nurturing
dialogue with key stakeholders is a driver of
business sustainability.
relationships. A stakeholder
engagement programme has been
formalised for key stakeholder
groupings. This process takes into
account the impact that each
stakeholder group may have on our
business, ensuring that the frequency
and form of engagement is aligned to
its estimated impact.
Some of the initiatives and methods
used in the process of engaging with
stakeholders comprise: face-to-face
formal or informal, individual or group
meetings (including the AGM), media
and securities exchange news
announcements, presentations,
roadshows, telephone and
conference calls, the Blue Label
website
(www.bluelabeltelecoms.co.
za), investor site and trade visits. We
rely on the results of perception
studies, independent research,
reputation audits, whistleblowing
facilities and formal grievance
mechanisms as well as financial and
sustainability reports. In addition, we
initiate newsletters, circulars and
e-mail updates, regular customer,
business partner and supplier
meetings, below and above-the-line
advertising and marketing across
various channels, formal consultations
and audit processes, and host
management and sales conferences.
Dialogue, review and feedback are
encouraged wherever possible, which
in turn are presented to Exco for
consideration.
Prior to financial year-end, Blue Label
announced a part-sponsorship of the
national Springbok Rugby team,
primarily in order to raise visibility and
awareness of the name “Blue Label
Telecoms”. Sponsorship rights
enabled the Company to brand its
name on the Springbok rugby jersey
and in numerous on- and off-field
advertising exposures.
Blue Label’s stakeholder engagement
programme supports its efforts to be
a successful, stable and ethical
company contributing to the
economic growth of the communities
in which we operate.
The Board acknowledges that Blue
Label’s relationship with its
stakeholders is a core capital, as
defined by the framework for
International Integrated Reporting.
The responsibility for satisfactory
stakeholder relationships vests with
every employee in the Group, as we
consider a good reputation to be a
competitive advantage, which affords
the Group the ability to create
additional value.
We approach stakeholders with trust
and respect and look to them for the
same mutual good faith. A broad
range of internal and external
stakeholders with a material or
potential interest in, or who are
affected by us, have been identified.
We recognise the importance of
identifying issues of a shared interest,
but also value the opportunity for
engagement, as it provides a unique
insight into the expectations of each
stakeholder group. We apply a
measured approach to interacting
with and responding to stakeholders,
with a view to establishing enduring
DISCLOSURE
IDENTIFY AND
ENGAGE
DEMONSTRATE
COMMITMENT
BALANCE
BEST INTEREST
COMMUNITIES
Educational institutions
and research organisations
PROVIDERS
OF CAPITAL
including shareholders,
institutional and
retail investors and
financial analysts
MEMBERS
OF THE MEDIA
including journalists,
reporters and editors
GOVERNMENT
Regulatory bodies
and the public sector
EMPLOYEES
EQUITABLE
TREATMENT
REPUTATION
BUSINESS
PARTNERS
and suppliers
CUSTOMERS