Leadership and Learning | Basic Services Human Rights Network
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The Basic Services Human Rights Network was established in 2004 for a three-year period by National Grid, Severn Trent, RWE npower, and Thames Water. EDF Energy and E.ON UK joined in 2005. Centrica and Scottish Power joined in 2006. The Network existed to share learning, develop sector-specific expertise and tools, and catalyse sector-wide action on corporate responsibility for human rights. Throughout its three years, the Network stayed connected to the international Business and Human Rights agenda via National Grid, members of the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights
The Network explored the following topics: Vulnerable Customers, Supply Chain, the Social Impacts of Climate Change, Diversity and Inclusion, Corporate Lobbying, Fuel Sourcing and Ethical leadership. During its three years, the Network succeeded in becoming a forum for shared learning and debate amongst member companies. Members have articulated that the issues addresses, and quality of discussions, were instrumental in improving their own corporate responsibility strategies and practices. The Network also engaged with a range of experts and stakeholders including The Consumer Council for Water, The Commission for Racial Equality, Social Accountability International, Business in the Community and The United Nations.

As well as providing a forum for shared learning, Network collaboration led to some concrete results, most notably around ethical supply chain management. Examples of these achievements are: the completion of a diversity benchmarking exercise for all members followed by some clear commitments for improvement; Working with Achilles Group and procurement directors to include human rights/social questions in the sector’s supplier database; identifying six common themes/issues relating to vulnerable customer services; and raising awareness of the social impact of climate change. Functional managers responsible for delivering these services within member companies attended these sessions.