Future thinking

Vauxhall Corporate
social responsibility 2011

vauxhall.co.uk
CONTENTS
3 About the Report
4 Introduction by the Chairman
and Managing Director
5 About Vauxhall
9 Environmental Management
17 Responsibility in the Marketplace
24 Employees and Workplace
30 Community

vauxhall.co.uk 2
ABOUT THE
REPORT
This report outlines Vauxhall’s engagement with the
community, the environment, its marketplace and
workplace throughout 2011. The company reports on its
performance and activities through General Motors’ global
reporting processes but this is its first Corporate Social
Responsibility report on our activities in the United Kingdom.
Throughout its pages, the report documents Vauxhall’s
achievements and challenges as well as areas for
development as we work to become the best automotive
manufacturer in the UK.
This report covers Vauxhall UK Ltd operations including:
- Head Office, Griffin House, Luton
- Warehouse, Toddington
- Vauxhall Luton Plant
- Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Plant
- Vauxhall Engineering Centre, Millbrook
The report excludes the performance of Vauxhall Retailer
network, which is operated independently by over 400
Retailers in the UK.

vauxhall.co.uk 3
INTRODUCTION BY
THE CHAIRMAN AND
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Welcome to Vauxhall’s Corporate Social Responsibility report for 2011.

Vauxhall Motors has been manufacturing motor vehicles in the UK continuously since 1903 and
during this time we have been actively involved within the community and have played an active
part in the lives of many people in Britain. Vauxhall has an enviable heritage of innovation and has
produced a wide range of stylish and exciting vehicles for over a century. We look forward to the
future through an impressive line-up of new products – including electric and low carbon derivatives.

This CSR report highlights the many activities we have undertaken in order to contribute towards a
sustainable, successful society.

We are pleased to report that we have made good progress this year in the four key areas of
business under which our CSR activity is defined: Environmental Management, Responsibility in the
Marketplace, Workplace and Community.

Through a continuous focus on environmental management, we are continually seeking the most
efficient processes and technologies, leading us for example, to reduce the weight of non-recyclable
waste per Vivaro built from 14kg to 1kg in just 4 years. The launch of the Ampera in 2012, the UK’s
first extended-range electric vehicle, demonstrates our commitment towards a more responsible
automotive industry.

Included in our commitment to responsibility in the marketplace is our dedication to providing our
customers with the safest products possible, as well as offering them high standards of customer
service and care.

In terms of our employees, we are very proud this year to be included in the 2011 list of Britain’s Top
Employers, which reflects our efforts to create a dynamic, fair and enjoyable workplace.

Lastly, we have strengthened our support for Help for Heroes this year and continue to work closely
with our local communities through a number of charitable initiatives.

Managing our environmental and social impact is an integral part of the way in which Vauxhall
Motors addresses the challenge of driving forward into a more responsible future.

Duncan Aldred Bill Parfitt

Managing Director Chairman

vauxhall.co.uk 4
ABOUT VAUXHALL

Founded in 1903, Vauxhall is the UK’s oldest

operational automotive brand. In 1905, the
company moved to Luton from London and rapidly
established itself as a manufacturer of quality
motor cars. General Motors bought Vauxhall in
1925, the first of GM’s overseas acquisitions.

vauxhall.co.uk 5
ABOUT VAUXHALL

As the UK’s oldest operational automotive

manufacturer, Vauxhall has helped define
the motoring landscape of Britain. Our
forward thinking philosophy and drive for
excellence has led to the production of
award-winning vehicles such as 2011’s ‘What
Car’s’ Green Car of the Year, the Ampera.

Vauxhall helped to keep the nation on the

move through over 100 years of incredible
social change, and on this journey, Vauxhall
has grown to become one of the UK’s
biggest and most respected motoring brands.
None of this though has been possible
without a dedicated and dynamic workforce.

Vauxhall is a major UK employer, with

around 28,000 people employed directly
or indirectly throughout our company
activities. Our direct head count amounts
to some 4,000 people at Luton, Ellesmere
Port and other locations. The fact that 88%
of the vehicles built at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere
Port plant and around 65% of the vans built in
Luton are bound for export, further underlines
Vauxhall’s value to the country’s economy.

15,500 people work within our retail

network, and a further 7,000 are
employed within our UK supply chain,
providing the millions of parts and many
essential services that we use every day.

Vauxhall sales amounted to almost 150,000

vehicles in the first half of 2011 alone which
gave us an 11.95% share of the UK market.

Vauxhall’s Luton plant was founded in 1905

and is now the largest van manufacturing
site in the UK. Since 2001, the plant has
been building multiple variants of the
Vivaro-type Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)
such as panel van, double cab, chassis cab,
dropside and combi, with over 65% bound
for export. In 2009, the plant established
its own on-site conversion centre.

vauxhall.co.uk 6
ABOUT VAUXHALL

The ‘best-in-class’ LCV has won Van to receive ISO 14001 certification (then
Fleet Awards’ ‘Best Medium Van’ 7 times BS 7750) in 1995, and has since received
and enjoys continued popularity. In 2010, numerous environmental awards such as
72,565 vehicles were built, with a similar the E.ON Energy Award and the National
figure expected in 2011. Green Apple award. It has also achieved
landfill-free status in 2011.
Based on its outstanding performance,
the plant has been allocated the new The plant started production in 1962 and
generation Vivaro, with start of production has since seen all variations of Astra
in January 2014. models leaving its production line. It will
celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012.
In 2009, Ellesmere Port became the
lead manufacturing plant for the 6th
generation Astra and is today the only
plant building the Astra Sports Tourer for
the whole of Europe. 88% of the plant’s
overall build is bound for export into
markets such as Chile, Israel and
South Africa.

Apart from excellent quality and

efficiency records, the plant also
prides itself in a very competitive
environmental footprint. It was the first
automotive manufacturing operation

vauxhall.co.uk 7
ABOUT VAUXHALL
As a responsible corporate citizen, Vauxhall is committed to respect and
promote the principles established by our parent company, General Motors.
General Motors Environmental Principles
These principles have stood the test of time over
the years by providing guidance to our employees
around the world about the impact of their decisions
and actions.
1. W
 e are committed to actions to restore and
preserve the environment.
2. W
 e are committed to reducing waste and
pollutants, conserving resources and recycling
materials at every stage of the product life cycle.
3. W
 e still continue to participate actively in
educating the public regarding environmental
conservation.
The Global Sullivan Principles
of Social Responsibility
This corporate code of conduct, developed originally
by former General Motors board member Leon
Sullivan in 1977, is widely used by companies
around the world today.
As a company which endorses the Global
Sullivan Principles, we will respect the law, and
as a responsible member of society we will apply
these Principles with integrity consistent with
the legitimate role of business. We will develop
and implement company policies, procedures,
training and internal reporting structures to ensure
commitment to these Principles throughout our
organisation. We believe the application of these
Principles will achieve greater tolerance and better
understanding among peoples, and advance the
culture of peace. Accordingly, we will:
• E
 xpress our support for universal human rights
and, particularly, those of our employees, the
communities within which we operate, and
parties with whom we do business.
• P
 romote equal opportunity for our employees
at all levels of the company with respect
to issues such as colour, race, gender, age,
ethnicity or religious beliefs, and operate without
unacceptable worker treatment such as the
exploitation of children, physical punishment,
vauxhall.co.uk
4. W
 e will continue to pursue vigorously the
development and implementation of technologies
for minimising pollutant emissions.
5. W
 e will continue to work with all governmental
entities for the development of technically sound
and financially responsible environmental laws
and regulations.
6. W
 e will continually assess the impact of our
plants and products on the environment and
the communities in which we live, and operate
with a goal of continuous improvement.
female abuse, involuntary servitude, or other
forms of abuse.
• R
 espect our employees’ voluntary freedom
of association.
• C
 ompensate our employees to enable them to
meet at least their basic needs and provide the
opportunity to improve their skill and capability
in order to raise their social and economic
opportunities.
• P
 rovide a safe and healthy workplace,
protect human health and the environment, and
promote sustainable development.
• P
 romote fair competition including respect
for intellectual and other property rights,
and not offer, pay or accept bribes.
• W
 ork with governments and communities in
which we do business to improve the quality of
life in those communities – their educational,
cultural, economic and social wellbeing – and
seek to provide training and opportunities for
workers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• P
 romote the application of these Principles
by those with whom we do business. We will
be transparent in our implementation of these
Principles and provide information which
demonstrates publicly our commitment to them.
8
Environmental
management
Vauxhall is committed to protecting the
environment for its present and future success
and also as an expression of the company’s
corporate citizenship. To this end, we try
to involve our employees, customers and
suppliers in our efforts to control and reduce
our environmental impacts.

This commitment covers the way in which we

manufacture and sell our vehicles and products
and promote their responsible use. Through
formal environmental management, we will
continually seek the most efficient processes
and technologies, which control and reduce
waste, pollution and CO2 emissions.

vauxhall.co.uk 9
Environmental management

Accreditations & Awards

Vauxhall UK Ltd holds an IS0 14001 environmental management certificate

for its Engineering Centre at Millbrook and its manufacturing sites.

• Ellesmere Port in Cheshire (certificated in 1995-6)

• Luton (certificated in 2000 under the name IBC Vehicles)

The three basic requirements for an ISO 14001 certificate are:

1. Observance of all relevant legislation

2. The prevention of pollution
3. Continual Improvement

On 11th November, the

Wildlife Habitat Council
(WHC) awarded Vauxhall at
Ellesmere Port with a ‘Wildlife
at Work’ certification at its
22nd Annual Symposium in
Baltimore, Ohio, USA.

Ellesmere Port site wildlife activities The wildlife team also dedicated some
began in 1999 with the planting of over of its work to enhancing the site’s habitat
2,000 trees in cooperation with Mersey for pollinators: In 2009, two areas were
Forest, a local conservation group: One seeded with native wildflowers, a reduced
tree was planted for every employee in mowing schedule was initiated in some
an area called Hooton Wood. In the mid areas, and the use of chemicals and
1970s, the site’s fire water reservoir was pesticides was formally restricted where
converted into wetland as the installation such restrictions were possible.
of fire water tanks made the reservoir’s
former use redundant. More recently,
in 2009, Vauxhall employees formed
a 10 member wildlife management
team to actively manage and monitor
approximately 10 acres of the site’s
wildlife habitat, including deciduous
woodlands, grasslands, freshwater
wetlands and ponds.

vauxhall.co.uk 10
 Environmental management

Accreditations & Awards

Ellesmere Port achieved:

• Energy Efficiency Accreditation in 2007 from the Carbon Trust
•  ecognition from the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (EEAS)
R
for cutting the energy necessary to produce each Astra by 50% since 2003
• 8 Green Apple awards back-to-back between 2000 and 2008

• Energy Conservation Award by E.ON – Power

Griffin House won:

• EU Energy Trophy 2007-2008 (best energy saving in the UK)

Energy used

All Vauxhall manufacturing facilities around the world have implemented the General
Motors Environmental Management System (EMS), which combines elements of the
environmental management standard ISO 14001 and elements that are specific to
General Motors’ operations.

This system has allowed Vauxhall Head Office (Griffin House) to reduce its energy
consumption by 60% between 2005 and 2011.

8
7 GAS
6 4.9 ELECTRICITY
x 1 million KW/h

5
4 2.5 2.1 2.7
1.9
3 1.9
1.3
2
3 2.5 2.4 2.3 2 1.9 1.8
1
9+3 9+3 9+3 9+3 9+3 9+3 9+3
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

vauxhall.co.uk 11
Environmental management

Plant initiatives –
Waterborne paint
The use of solvents in paint primers is
an industry-wide challenge. Vauxhall
is committed to reducing emissions
throughout its manufacturing operations
and supply chain, so it manages
traditional solvents through recycling,
conversion to energy and superheating
the gases to break them down.

We are now using ‘waterborne’ paint

technology that still contains solvent
(approx 5 to 7% compared to 50 to 80%
contained in traditional paint) but uses
water as the main carrier for the
colour pigments.

At the Ellesmere Port plant, the exterior

of the Astra produced is painted with
waterborne primer and base coat applied
using robotic electrostatic application.
The final clear coat product applied is still
solvent based.

vauxhall.co.uk 12
environmental management

RECYCLING
1. Vehicles design and production

Vauxhall’s Design for Recycling strategy is a key element of our philosophy as a responsible
manufacturer. It has the twin aims of decreasing the waste generated during vehicle production
and then further reducing waste at the end of a vehicle’s life.

All design teams within the organisation follow strict recyclability/recoverability guidelines.
The objective is to support the development of vehicles which have recyclability built-in.
The process also helps engineers analyse components with regard to their recyclability and
recoverability – the ease with which they can be recycled at the end of their life. Vauxhall has
a long tradition of using recycled materials: at the time of publication, more than 90 varieties of
plastic had been approved for use in production.

Development Production
• Recycling-orientated design • Use of recycled materials
• Life cycle assessments (recyclates)
• Avoidance of critical materials

RECOVERY Usage
• Vehicle recovery • Retailer disposal
• De-pollution and pre-treatment • Spare parts
• EU directive

Recyclates are always preferred over virgin material, as long as their usage is technically
feasible and economically viable.

For a limited time, those parts were made from the

The under-hood
parts that would
deflect the air around
the Ampera’s radiator
contain about 99% of
recycled material.
plastic boom material used to soak up oil spilled in the
Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe.
At the moment, used tyres from General Motors Milford
Proving grounds and some plastic caps from other GM
plants are blended into the material along with other
recycled material to make the parts. Our recycling
team takes every effort to maintain high standards of
performance and mechanical and thermal durability,
while quality is never compromised.

vauxhall.co.uk 13
environmental management

Content of recycled plastic materials

per Astra produced. Griffin House, Luton
Vauxhall’s Corporate
HQ is now landfill-free.
2010 250 150 37k In addition to regular recycling collections,
all other waste is converted into fuel pellets
for use at power stations. Our non-recycled
1998 75 55 17k waste to landfill has decreased from
Parts Materials Consumption of recyclates 150.000 kg per year in 2007 to 0 kg in 2011.
Released Released (metric tons/year)

2. End of life vehicles • W

Vauxhall UK is contracted to Autogreen
Automotive Life Cycle Solutions, who provide a
network of around 160 Authorised Treatment
Facilities (AFTs) for the recycling of end of
life vehicles. The AFTs manage Certificates
of Destruction (COD) for scrappage, vehicle
pre-treatment and de-pollution, recycling and
reselling reusable and non-metallic waste.
They also provide a free take-back service to
the last owner of the vehicle. More information
is available from www.autogreen.org
3. Landfill-free initiatives
The waste to landfill per vehicle built in the
Vauxhall Luton plant, manufacturing Vauxhall
Vivaro and Renault Trafic, has been reduced
from 14kg in 2007 to 1kg in September 2011.
 ood is either reused as it is or if it is damaged
beyond the possibility of reuse, it is chipped for
use as a land top dressing or composted.
• P
 allets are either reused or chipped
depending on their quality and the amount of
damage they have experienced in use.
• S
 olvents are collected and sent for
reprocessing into fresh material by distillation.
• M
 etal cuttings from the Press Shop are
sent for smelting back into fresh steel.
• M
 iscellaneous scrap metal from around
the Plant is separated and sent for smelting
back into fresh metals for reuse (steel,
aluminium, copper).
We are currently focusing on how to improve the
process sludges from the paint and the Trade
Effluent Treatment Plant, the only waste streams
that we cannot recycle or reuse at the moment.

The successful move towards being WASTE TO LANDFILL

‘Landfill-free’ is due to the dedicated on-site per Vivaro built in kg
waste management team searching for recycling
and reuse homes for the waste we generate.

• C
 ard and paper from packaging is recycled at 12
paper mills into new card and paper. 10.3 9.2
• P
 lastics are sent to a recycling operation 3.9
1
where it is sorted into distinct types of plastic
and then melted for reuse.
Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

vauxhall.co.uk 14
environmental management

NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
In association with parent company General Motors, Vauxhall is
developing a range of vehicles that will shape the future of motoring.
This range includes fuel efficient ecoFLEX models, small electric
vehicles like the RAK e concept, the Extended-Range electric
Ampera and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles such as the HydroGen4 with
long distance, zero-tailpipe emission driving. They are all part of a
comprehensive strategy we call e-Mobility Unlimited.

1. ecoFLEX ecoFLEX technology consists of a lot of

small, clever changes that add up to a big
Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX philosophy
increase in overall efficiency. Obviously,
reflects a genuine desire to address
that means significant improvements
the environmental challenges of how
to a car’s fuel systems. Less obviously,
cars are designed, built and operate in
it also means eliminating other hidden
the real world, based on sustainability,
drags on fuel consumption by improving
recyclability, bespoke fuel saving
aerodynamics, refining gearing and re-
technology and the reduction of
engineering tyre profiles.
CO2 emissions.

The Government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign

aims to address the challenges posed by
climate change, encouraging consumers to
make more carbon efficient choices and – in
the case of motor vehicles – reduce their
environmental impact through their design
and the way in which they’re driven.
Vauxhall is proud to support the campaign
by communicating greener driving tips to
customers and will continue to support and
promote the initiative in the future.
www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk

vauxhall.co.uk 15
 NEW TECHNOLOGIES
2. AMPERA
The Vauxhall Ampera is the first product to
be launched as part of Vauxhall’s e-Mobility
Unlimited strategy & will be the UK’s first
Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV).
The Ampera is a battery EV that on a full charge
has a range of up to 50 miles. Unlike pure battery
EVs however, there is no range anxiety as for
longer journeys, a 1.4l petrol engine takes over
to generate the electricity needed to drive the
vehicle electrically when the battery is depleted.
The combined C0 2 figure for the vehicle is 27g/
km* qualifying the vehicle for a number of the
government EV incentives such as the Plug-in
Car Grant (25% off the purchase price of the
vehicle, up to £5,000), 50% Company Car Benefit
in Kind discount & 100% discount on the London
Congestion Charge.
The Ampera that will be launched in the UK in
2012 has already won the following awards:
vauxhall.co.uk
3. Pure Battery Electric Vehicle
We are also developing smaller pure battery
electric vehicles that are ideal for the urban
environment. The predicted growth of mega-
cities around the world means the need for safe,
clean e-mobility will become ever more prevalent.
The RAK e was launched at the 2011 Frankfurt
Motor Show as a concept but has true production
potential and could revolutionise urban transport.
Weighing around a third of a small modern car, it
is a fully electric vehicle with a driving range of 60
miles and a top speed of 75mph.
4. Hydrogen
The third part of the e-Mobility Unlimited strategy
is hydrogen. Vauxhall has already played an active
role in GM’s Project Driveaway which is now in its
4th generation vehicle (HydroGen4).
The first generation hydrogen fuel cell was
installed in a Vauxhall Zafira and GM’s Proving
Ground at Millbrook undertook stringent safety
testing on the hydrogen fuel tank.
* C0 2 emission data are determined according
to regulation R (EC) No. 715/2007 taking into
consideration the vehicle weight in running
order, as specified by the regulation. Additional
equipment may lead to slightly higher results than
stated C0 2 figures. Combined C0 2 emissions of
27g/km – on average, each kilowatt / hour (kWh) of
electricity generated in the UK emits 545g of C0 2
(02 Nov 2011, Autocar) – this is not included within
the EU Type Approval figures.
16
Responsibility in
the Marketplace
Our vision to become the best automotive
manufacturer in the UK starts with safety at its
core. In 2011, we continued to test our vehicles
way beyond mandatory safety standards.
We also began a new quality journey to ensure
customer expectations are met or exceeded
from manufacturing through to service.

vauxhall.co.uk 17
Responsibility in the Marketplace

Customer Focus

Measuring and reviewing customer
satisfaction is a key element to Vauxhall
policy of quality and service improvement.
1. Customer Satisfaction Programme
The Vauxhall customer survey process
helps gauge how well Vauxhall Retailer
standards are being met in the field.
The programme has been renewed in
February 2011 to be more efficient and
simpler for customers to complete.
The Customer Satisfaction
Programme includes:
In January 2012, the 50 Retailers with the
best purchase and service satisfaction
scores received in 2011, will be awarded
the Vauxhall Customer Excellence Award.
Our Customer Excellence Award
recognises and rewards top performing
Retailers for the quality of service they
give our customers, and is a testament
to the quality of the entire staff. Just as
we have standards in place to encourage
poorly performing Retailers, we think it’s
fair that we have an award to recognise
those who are doing a great job.

• The
 Purchase Satisfaction Survey
(PSS), which asks customers about
their experiences about buying a new
Vauxhall car.

• T
 he Service Satisfaction Survey
(SSS), which assesses private
customers’ first and second service
experience at a Vauxhall Retailer.

In August 2011, Vauxhall joined the

Institute of Customer Service.

vauxhall.co.uk 18
Responsibility in the Marketplace

2. Vauxhall Customer Assistance Centre

The Vauxhall Customer Assistance Centre responds to opinions, requests and complaints to
provide efficient and tailored services.

To ensure we are offering the best service possible, our Customer Assistance Centre relocated
from Budapest to Newcastle in 2011. On a daily basis, our team of 71 people answer more than 700
calls a day and close 9,000 cases a month. To improve our services, we are regularly monitoring
our customers’ satisfaction thanks to Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index.

3. Lifetime Warranty
To demonstrate our commitment to worry-free driving and to show our confidence in the quality
and reliability of our products, in August 2010, we introduced Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty.
Available to the first owner of all new Vauxhall passenger cars, it’s valid for the lifetime of the
vehicle up to a maximum of 100,000 miles.

4. Responsible Retailing
Motor Codes was set up by the motor industry to act
as the self-regulatory body for the automotive sector Since 2008,
and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 93% of the
Under the new car sales code, Vauxhall Retailers
commit to provide high levels of customer satisfaction
Vauxhall Retailer
as a core element of their business and sets out
guidelines on the car sales process, from initial
network are
advertising through to new car warranties.
following the
Under the Service Code, our subscribing Retailers
are committed to: 3 Codes of
• Honest and fair service
Practice*
• Open and transparent pricing

• Completing work as agreed

instituted by
• Invoices that match quoted prices Motor Codes.
• Competent and conscientious staff
*For new car sales, service
• A straightforward and swift complaints procedure
and repair warranties.

vauxhall.co.uk 19
Responsibility in the Marketplace

PRODUCT SAFETY

1. Crash Test

All Vauxhall cars have to meet the latest crash test standards, however, simply meeting
the standards is not enough.

Strict in-house crash performance requirements are rigorously applied to all Vauxhall
products. Thanks to those standards, when a model is submitted for type approval
crash testing, there is no doubt of a performance far in excess of the pass requirements
of the regulations.

The approach of applying strict in-house performance criteria is deeply rooted in

Vauxhall’s engineering DNA.

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Responsibility in the Marketplace

2. NCAP

Vauxhall vehicles are tested by the
European New Car Assessment
Programme (NCAP) which offers
consumers independent information on
the level of safety provided by vehicles
in the event of a serious accident.
NCAP awards a star rating from
one to five for each vehicle, following
independent crash tests. All vehicles
are assessed under identical test
standards and conditions to make
ratings comparable.

Under the new EURO NCAP rating

scheme introduced in 2009, all our
vehicles tested received the maximum
rating of 5 stars.

vauxhall.co.uk 21
Responsibility in the Marketplace

3. Product Satisfaction

We are committed to the quality of our products to ensure reliability and over time we have
established a robust quality process which enables us to identify and determine vehicle concerns
which can be classified into the following:

Nature of problem Action

Issues failing to fulfil safety-related aspects Product Safety Recall

Issues failing to conform to official Standards/Regulations Non-compliance Recall

Issues failing Emission Standards Product Emission Recall

Customer Annoyance / non-safety-related issues Customer Satisfaction Programme

Potential Customer Annoyance non-safety-related issues Service Update

Issues difficult to diagnose with Customer Annoyance aspects Technical Service Bulletin

We have the responsibility to repair and modify vehicles affected by any campaign and we
are committed to rectify up to 100% of the vehicles affected to reduce any negative impact.
The rectification rate is monitored on a monthly basis to determine whether additional actions
are required.

Vauxhall promotes that Authorised Repairers rectify and check all vehicles going through their
facility and that Vauxhall processes are implemented and meet the VOSA (Vehicle & Operator
Services Agency) General Product Safety Regulation 2005 (GSPR), ensuring vehicles are sold on
without any safety defects.

SUPPLY CHAIN

We consider our suppliers to be critical In general, we build where we sell.

business partners and are involved in a
number of programmes with them that
address both environmental responsibility and
business development.
At Vauxhall, we operate under a global policy
that encourages responsible purchasing:
• Use General Motors’ Global leverage
• Look for the best logistics opportunities
• W
 e buy based on ‘Quality, Service,
Technology & Price’
This not only makes commercial sense
for our company, but also for the markets
and communities in which we operate.
Furthermore, ‘localisation’ supports our desire
to minimise carbon emissions in our supply
chain, particularly by reducing the distance
parts need to be shipped, and enables us
to more easily adapt our products to local
customer demands, unique infrastructure
characteristics, and meet environmental and
regulatory requirements.

vauxhall.co.uk 22
Responsibility in the Marketplace
As a member of the Automotive Council and
its Supply Group, Vauxhall endeavours to lead
by example and we are now well ahead of our
target of increasing by 15% the company’s UK
sourcing. Parts thus resourced to the UK range
from carpets to powertrain parts, cargo nets
to suspension springs and load compartment
covers to exhaust systems.
UK suppliers excel in quality and
overall competitiveness and I am very
pleased that we have succeeded to
re-source some of our parts originally
brought overseas, directly from the
UK. It is part of Vauxhall’s plan to
support UK manufacturing and we are
going to persevere in this direction.
Bill Parfitt, Vauxhall Chairman.
That being said, we recognise that increasing
environmental accountability throughout
our supply chain is an area in which we can
improve. Currently, we do not require suppliers
to report environmental metrics, such as
emissions, but we do monitor their compliance
to ISO 14001 standards.
Vauxhall has a strict ‘zero tolerance’ policy
against the use of child labour, abusive
treatment of employees or corrupt business
practice in the supply of goods and services
to us.
vauxhall.co.uk
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS;
EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS PRACTICES
Seller, and any goods or services
supplied by Seller, shall comply with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders,
conventions, ordinances or standards of the
country(ies) of destination or that relate to
the manufacture, labelling, transportation,
importation, exportation, licensing, approval
or certification of the goods or services,
including, but not limited to, those relating
to environmental matters, data protection
and privacy, wages, hours and conditions
of employment, subcontractor selection,
discrimination, occupational health/safety
and motor vehicle safety.
Seller further represents that neither it nor
any of its subcontractors will utilise child,
slave, prisoner or any other form of forced
or involuntary labour, or engage in abusive
employment or corrupt business practices,
in the supply of goods or provisions of
services under this Contract. Seller agrees
to comply with all applicable anti-corruption
laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, and that neither it nor any of
its subcontractors will directly or indirectly
provide or offer to provide, anything of
value to or for the benefit of any official or
employee of a governmental authority
to obtain or retain any contract, business
opportunity or other benefit, or to influence
any act or decision of that person in his/her
official capacity. At Buyer’s request, Seller
shall certify in writing its compliance with
the foregoing. Seller shall indemnify and
hold Buyer harmless from and against
any liability claims, demands or expenses
(including attorney’s or other professional
fees) arising from or relating to Seller’s
non-compliance.
23
employees and
WORKPLACE
At Vauxhall, we are totally committed to our
employees. We recognise that our workforce is
critical to the success of Vauxhall and we also
recognise the need to attract, recruit, retain
and engage employees with the potential,
skills and experience that is necessary for the
continued growth and development of our
business. We are committed to fully engaging
employees with our business, ensuring that
they have meaningful learning & development
opportunities and we support measures to
ensure we have a diverse workforce and a safe
workplace. We also work closely with our trade
union partners in all these areas and believe
Vauxhall and all its employees benefit from this
strong relationship.

vauxhall.co.uk 24
employees and WORKPLACE

AWARDS

In 2011 we were awarded the prestigious Top

Employers award recognising Vauxhall’s well-
earned status as one of the UK’s best employers.

ENGAGING WITH OUR WORKFORCE

We seek to engage all members of our workforce in Vauxhall business strategy,

objectives and performance. We use a variety of communication routes in our different
locations to keep staff informed including ‘town hall’ meetings, team briefings and
newsletters, as well as web-chats and diagonal slice meetings which give employees
the opportunity to provide feedback and input directly to leaders.

1. Excite 2. Workplace of Choice Survey

EXCITE is an employee engagement In 2011, salaried employees participated

programme which promotes our values
and desired behaviours throughout
the company to improve our working
environment and create opportunities
for our workforce to connect with the
Vauxhall brand. EXCITE stands for Enjoy,
X-factor, Customer driven, In it to win,
Tell it how it is and Energetic. These are
behaviours we see displayed by Vauxhall
people every day and we celebrate that
through a monthly EXCITE award as
well as internal events, competitions,
charitable activities, special promotions
and other employee events.
in the pilot of General Motors’ new
Workplace of Choice Survey.
An impressive 84.5% of eligible
employees took up the opportunity
to comment on how they feel about
working at Vauxhall. Our score of 66%
put us within our business partner Aon
Hewitt’s ‘High Performance’ range.
Those responses will help us drive
further Employee Engagement activities
in 2012. In 2012, this survey will be
extended to all Vauxhall employees.
3. Bright Ideas
In 2011, we also launched Vauxhall’s
new suggestion scheme ‘Bright Ideas’.
This is a nationwide scheme which
financially recognises individual and
team suggestions for improvements.

vauxhall.co.uk 25
employees and WORKPLACE

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

We recognise the importance of Learning & Development to deliver an efficient, effective and
knowledgeable workforce, as well as provide employee job satisfaction and opportunities for
promotion. All employees participate in a performance management process, designed to ensure
they receive personal feedback on their performance – including strengths and areas where they
can continue to develop.

1. Inspire Training

We believe in the value of ‘on the job’ training and developing our employee through new work
assignments and the opportunity to get involved in new projects and challenges. We also provide
more formal training courses to cover specific training and development needs. We recognise the
importance of developing our leaders and equipping them with the skills to inspire and engage their
teams. 2011 has seen the launch of Vauxhall’s ‘Inspire’ – our Directors and Executive managers
(in total 240 senior managers) have now commenced this 9 month leadership development
programme. In 2012, we will begin to roll this programme out to other managers.

2. Investor in People

While several of our UK sites already had the Investors

in People Award, in 2011 we decided to work towards
accreditation of all our UK sites. The assessment took
place in November 2011.

DIVERSITY, DIGNITY & RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE

As diversity is strength in the increasingly We strive to create work environments

diverse marketplace, our employees’
diverse backgrounds are valued. We are
committed to equality of employment
opportunities and hire, promote, train
and pay based on merit – this is reflected
in all our employment policies, procedures
and practices.
Working closely with our trade union
partners, we strive to maintain workplace
environments free of discrimination,
hostility and physical or verbal harassment
with respect to age, race, colour, sex,
religion, national origin, disability or
sexual orientation.
that accept and tolerate these differences
while promoting productivity and
teamwork. Each of us is responsible for
creating and maintaining a productive
work environment where the dignity of all
employees is respected.
We are currently reviewing and updating
our Diversity and Dignity & Respect at
Work policies and have recently piloted a
new training programme for managers
which will be fully launched in 2012. We
continue to have processes in place which
enable any member of our workforce to
confidentially raise a concern or complaint.

vauxhall.co.uk 26
employees and WORKPLACE

HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING

The safety of our employees is our overriding priority – whether based in a manufacturing
plant, engineering facility, office environment or driving to visit our Retailers or customers.
Supported by qualified health & safety professionals, our Board of Directors and
management teams at our different locations around the UK, regularly monitor key
safety performance indicators as well as consider and implement recommendations for
continuous improvement.

1. Health & Safety at the Plant

A good example of our proactive approach to Health and Safety is the way we deal with
ergonomics within our manufacturing facilities. This ranges from full evaluation of every
station (prior to its introduction) to joint best practice workshops with the Health and
Safety Executive and other vehicle manufacture OEMs. Another example of how serious
we take H&S is the fact that every accident is investigated, route caused and counter
measures identified within 24 hours.

2. Safe Driving Programme

We have always set the standard
for innovative and effective Health &
Safety processes that go beyond our
legal obligations, and our Safe Driving We have received
Programme is a great example of this.
All company drivers are required to
external recognition
participate in regular training and employees for our efforts from
who have had two or more accidents benefit
from one-to-one sessions.
the Government-
3. Health & Wellbeing backed Driving for
The total health and wellbeing of our Better Business
workforce is important to us as well. We
offer all employees the opportunity to Campaign, which
benefit from discounted health insurance
or join a flexible health plan. Employees are
has selected us
also offered job-related health screening and as one of their
our annual free flu vaccination programme
is available in the workplace to all.
Business Champions.
We also recognise that being able to balance
working life with family life is important to
our employees. We seek to provide flexible
working opportunities for shift, full-and
part-time employees and support enhanced
family leave arrangements – in excess of
statutory requirements.

vauxhall.co.uk 27
employees and WORKPLACE

OUR PAST & FUTURE EMPLOYEES

At Vauxhall, we want to engage with our future
employees as well as existing ones! We have
close links with local schools and colleges
as well as key universities around the UK.
With award-winning Apprentice,
Undergraduate and Graduate programmes,
these relationships benefit both Vauxhall and
also our communities and the young people in
these educational establishments.
1. Apprentice Programme
In 2011, 39 apprentices have been recruited as
part of our partnership with Bedford College
and West Cheshire College. This gives young
people a vital opportunity to break into the
world of manufacturing, and teams their
education with real hands-on experience.
2. Undergraduate Programme
Our Undergraduate scheme has been
running for over 30 years, and in 2011 our
intake reached 102. We strive to give a variety
of students the chance to fully engage in a
corporate environment and a taste of the
real-world in-between studies. They play
a valuable role in our business, and get the
opportunity to enhance their degrees, and
future career prospects. Our MD, Duncan
Aldred, started out as an Undergraduate
himself, showing just how important and
valuable this scheme is.
In 2012, all our Undergraduates will have
the opportunity to take part in projects
working with local schools running fun and
educational sessions.
3. Graduate Programme
Our Graduates assume jobs with real
responsibilities, challenge and reward.
On joining, our Graduates undertake a
comprehensive induction programme, which
enables them to learn about all aspects of
our business across our various locations,
ensuring they have a full understanding of our
Company activities and priorities.
Most development is conducted on-the-job but
some training courses and focused learning
and development activities also supplement
the Graduate’s growth. The allocation of a
Senior Director Mentor ensures the ongoing
high exposure our Graduates experience from
when they join the organisation, a support
which continues throughout their careers.
We are hiring our Graduates to be tomorrow’s
leaders, and we like to stretch, develop and
move them around to broaden their experience
and knowledge.

Colleagues are proud to have been at Vauxhall for many years. There’s a
great wealth of experience here, which is key to the development of younger
employees. I like the fact that colleagues are proud to have been at Vauxhall for
many years; to me that’s a huge endorsement of the Company.
The fact that you can work here for a long period and have such a varied career
appeals to me greatly, and is something Vauxhall does very well. I’m very proud
to work for a company that continues to manufacture in the UK. And I love the car
scheme that lets me drive a brand new car and change it every eight months!”
Bryony Boutell, logistics analyst, joined Vauxhall on the
Graduate Programme in June 2008

vauxhall.co.uk 28
employees and WORKPLACE
4. ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ campaign
2011 has seen Vauxhall partner with
the Government in its ‘See Inside
Manufacturing’ campaign. We opened the
doors of our engineering facility at
Millbrook Proving Ground and both
manufacturing plants to pupils, teachers
and careers advisers, giving them a
unique opportunity to get behind the
scenes in our world-class facilities to
learn about the automotive industry and
modern manufacturing.
vauxhall.co.uk
5. Vauxhall Pensioners Association
We also continue to engage with
our previous employees. Vauxhall
Pensioners Association exists for
previous employees and arranges special
events and meetings to help pensioners
keep in touch. The Vauxhall Welfare Fund
has several existing Vauxhall employees,
as well as pensioners, on its board and
provides financial assistance to Vauxhall
pensioners – help with disabled aids such
as stair lifts as well as other day-to-day
requirements.
29
COMMUNITY
Vauxhall is a valued member of communities
across the UK and we are committed to
making a positive impact wherever we are.
We have a longstanding history of community
engagement, in particular in the Bedfordshire
and Cheshire areas where our manufacturing
sites are based, and we encourage our
employees to support charities and participate
in fundraising activities.

vauxhall.co.uk 30
COMMUNITY

HELP FOR HEROES

As a well over 100-year-

old British brand with a
history of supporting the
British war effort during
the 1st and 2nd World
Wars, Vauxhall has been
an Official Partner for
Help for Heroes since the
beginning of 2010. Help for Heroes’ Key Messages

It’s about ‘the blokes’: those men and

This charity has since been supported
by Vauxhall and its employees on a
large scale: In April, the H4H team took
delivery of 3 new Vauxhall Astra Sports
Tourers to help with their business
activity, as well as a New Movano
Van to assist their merchandise sales
around the country. In addition, Vauxhall
employees and Retailers have been
organising fundraising activities all
around the country such as car boot
sales, cake bakes, bungee jumps etc to
raise money for the charity and to date,
over £160,000 has been raised.
“We at Help for Heroes would like to
say thank you to everyone at Vauxhall
for ‘doing their bit’ to support and raise
money for our wounded heroes – we
really do appreciate your hard work,
commitment and enthusiasm.”
Bryn Parry CEO Help for Heroes
women of our Armed Forces who have
been wounded in the service of our
country since 9/11.
• H
 4H provides direct, practical
support for our wounded. They fund
projects and initiatives that make
a real difference to the lives of our
wounded heroes.
• T
 hey do not seek to criticise or be
political. They just want to help and
they work closely with the Army,
Navy and RAF to provide support
where it is most needed.
• ‘Money in, money out’. They pride
themselves on their ‘Money In and
Money Out’ policy that ensures
that every penny raised is spent
or allocated to the direct, practical
support of our men and women
of the Armed Forces whose lives
are affected in the line of duty in
Afghanistan and Iraq.

vauxhall.co.uk 31
COMMUNITY
One of the most impressive fundraising efforts undertaken by Vauxhall employees
was the completion of the Three Peaks Challenge. In 2011, 22 employees braved the
elements to climb the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales within just 24 hours.
Vauxhall is an integral part of the local
communities where its production sites
are based and as a major employer in the
UK, we also recognise the role our
business is playing in the wider community.
Through different activities and charities
supported, we are trying to make
a difference.
LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The Vauxhall Male Voice Choir in Luton
and Vauxhall Motors Football Club
in Ellesmere Port are two excellent
examples of well-anchored Vauxhall
supported community activities, building
on Vauxhall heritage and activities which
have been evolving in and with their local
environments over many decades.
1. The Vauxhall Male Voice Choir
(VMVC)
The Vauxhall Male Voice Choir was
formed in 1943 in Luton, performing
concerts at functions organised by
others, generally in aid of charity or other
worthwhile projects such as building
vauxhall.co.uk
The group compromised of four teams,
including a team of Undergraduates,
began the challenge at 5pm on Friday
3rd June, climbing 1343m to conquer
Ben Nevis. This was followed by a 255
mile drive to climb the 978m high Scafell
Pike. The final leg consisted of a 196 mile
journey to Snowdon, and after a final
push of 1078m the quickest team finished
the entire challenge in 20 hours and 14
minutes. The employees’ fantastic efforts
raised £5,500 in aid of Help for Heroes.
restorations. Initially, the choir only
comprised Vauxhall employees, but
today, whilst it still carries the Vauxhall
name, members are joining from all over
the community. Bill Parfitt, Vauxhall’s
Chairman, is currently holding the
position of VMVC President and the
company has continuously supported
the choir’s activity.
2. Vauxhall Motors Football Club
Based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the
Club was founded in 1963, shortly after
Vauxhall’s new car plant was opened
in Ellesmere Port and it was originally
Vauxhall’s work team. The team had
a lot of success in its local leagues
and fought its way up to be among the
highest-ranked amateur football teams
in England. It currently has a semi-
professional status and plays in the
Conference North league. The Club also
comprises a women’s team and teams
for different age groups from under 11
to under 18.
32
COMMUNITY
3. Local Charities
Vauxhall has also taken responsibility in
supporting well-established local charities
by means of a ‘grace and favour’ vehicle
loaned to each charity (renewed yearly) as
well as ad hoc donations.
Thus, Vauxhall has been supporting Claire
House Children’s Hospice, The Hospice
of the Good Shepherd (both supporting
terminally ill children), Keech Hospice Care,
the Bedfordshire Hospitals Charity and
the East Anglian Air Ambulance for many
years with a vehicle used for fundraising
activities, transport of patients and family
members and equipment movements.
YOUTH FOCUS
1. Local schools / education
With its longstanding Undergraduate
scheme and recently relaunched
Apprenticeship scheme, Vauxhall is also
committed to engage in educational
activities outside the organisation:
This year, closer links were knitted with
Luton Culture around a Pakistani Truck Art
project, also involving a design competition
with one of the local schools.
Also, Vauxhall Undergraduates brought
once again their VansRUs and Activity
Day manufacturing modules to local
vauxhall.co.uk
This year, Barnstondale Centre
provides affordable breaks to groups of
disadvantaged young people from the
Merseyside area, permitting them to
experience a range of outdoor activities
in a safe environment. It has also been
allocated a vehicle for the first time.
In addition, Vauxhall is happy to assist with
other requirements and as an example,
Vauxhall recently helped the East Anglian
Air Ambulance to Trauma Ted, a 2m tall
mascot which is now supporting the charity’s
fundraising activities at various events.
primary and secondary schools in
Bedfordshire and Cheshire respectively.
The one-day modules – which have been
extremely well received by local schools,
bridge the gap between the classroom
and the world of work in a playful way
and provide valuable insight into the
multi-skilled manufacturing sector.
In addition, Vauxhall prides itself in
providing pre-production cars and
engines to colleges and other institutions,
running engineering courses all over the
country so that they can benefit from the
company’s know-how.
33
COMMUNITY

2. Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Vauxhall Fashion Scout provides

the opportunity for upcoming young
designers to showcase their talent during
London Fashion Week. Over the last
6 years, Vauxhall Fashion Scout has
established itself as a leading platform
for design innovation, helping designers
to build successful creative businesses
and launching some of the most exciting
design talents to market including David
Koma, William Tempest and BodyAmr.

Vauxhall Automotive Charity involvement

1. BEN
Within the automotive sector, Vauxhall
has been an active supporter of BEN for
over 50 years, and between 1996 to 2010
c£2m has been donated to the charity
based on a contribution per car or van
sold. In addition, since 1999, the charity
benefits from one of Vauxhall’s ‘grace
& favour’ vehicles renewed annually
and used by the BEN Welfare Officer in
Cheshire to visit people in hardship.
2. WOMAC
Women On the Move Against Cancer,
is another charity born from the Public
Relations side of the UK automotive
sector. Vauxhall is supporting WOMAC’s
yearly fundraising event, purchasing a
number of tickets to the event and helping
organise raffles etc in cooperation with its
PR counterparts from other manufacturers.

BEN is a UK charity for those who

work or have worked in the automotive
and related industry, as well as their
dependants. It provides care, support and
advice to those who need help in times of
hardship or distress, for instance helping
with the cost of special health equipment,
giving emotional support through an
illness or funding a respite break.

vauxhall.co.uk 34
COMMUNITY

EMPLOYEE’S ENGAGEMENT
The Company’s deeply-rooted involvement in welfare matters also provides a fertile
environment for more independent Vauxhall employee fundraising initiatives.

1. Macmillan Cancer Support local and national charities. Today, each

Luton Macmillan Cancer Support raises plant has got its own fund and another
money to improve the lives of people fund is managed at Griffin House, raising
and families affected by cancer in the more than £27, 600 in total this year.
local area. Through cake sales alone, 3. The London to Brighton Bike Ride
Vauxhall employees helped raise over
The ride was organised by Vauxhall
£800 in 2010, and over £1,208 in 2011.
employees for the first time in 2006. Since
More energetic fundraisers participated
then, the company is also supporting this
at the ‘MacZumbathon’, which consisted
fundraising activity by providing transport
of 140 attendees managing to Zumba for
for all Vauxhall participants and their
4 hours, and raising a brilliant £2,092
friends. Over the last 5 years, Vauxhall
in just one evening. This money raised
employees raised £160,000 to the
has contributed to the Luton Macmillan
benefit of the British Heart Foundation.
Cancer Support Fundraising Committee.

2. T
 he Vauxhall Employee
Charity Fund
The Vauxhall Employee Charity Fund
was founded 34 years ago by Vauxhall
employees raising money in support of

vauxhall.co.uk 35
Andréa Caumon
Vauxhall UK
Griffin House
Osborne Road
UK1-103-320
Luton LU1 3YT
vauxhall.co.uk