IT and engineers lead the way in Irish business survey

The first survey of its kind in the country, based on the Belfast Telegraph’s Top 100, it placed the 75 responding companies into one of five groupings, or quintiles, according to their percentage score in the survey.

Companies were asked whether they had a written corporate environmental policy; a board member with environmental responsibility; an EMS; available environmental objectives; measurable targets; an internal audit process; an environment focused supplier programme; and an employee environmental action plan. They were also asked did they consider the environmental impact of their products, processes or services and if they communicate with stakeholders.

The top scoring companies included three engineering firms and three retail companies. BT (NI) and Nortel Networks led the IT sector and CAMCO, Ford Motor Co Ltd and TK-ECC Ltd led the Engineering sector. Other companies appearing in the top of the table included BT Northern Ireland, Nortel, Courtaulds Textiles and Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

In the two largest sectors in Northern Ireland, Food & Drink and Textiles and Clothing, the top scoring companies were Compass Services (UK) Ltd and Courtaulds Textiles, with scores 32% and 37% (respectively) higher than their industry sector average in each case.

Overall results from the General Manufacturing and Construction sectors, however, were poor, with the exceptions of Du Pont and Lagan Holdings who scored exceptionally well.