REG - Future PLC - Launch of Responsibility Strategy

FutureAnnouncement

09/12/2021 07:00

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RNS Number : 0532V  Future PLC  09 December 2021

9 December 2021

 

Future plc

 

Launch of Responsibility Strategy

 

'Our Future, Our Responsibility' - outlining Future's ESG ambitions

 

Future plc (LSE: FUTR; "Future" or "the Group"), the global platform for
specialist media, is pleased to announce the launch of its responsibility
strategy, 'Our Future, Our Responsibility', outlining the Group's ESG
ambitions to help build a more sustainable future for its communities and
planet.

 

Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO of Future, said: "Being a responsible business is at
the heart of everything we do. 'Our Future, Our Responsibility' reflects our
commitment to drive further change within our own company and through the
content we produce.

 

"We want to build on the work we have already been doing, increasing the
representation of diversity through our content and amongst our colleagues, as
well as providing opportunities for careers in media for young people from
disadvantaged backgrounds.

 

"It is paramount that we focus our efforts on what is important to us at
Future and where we can make a unique difference, building on what we do
already, with clear ambition to do more. Our portfolio of brands gives us the
platform and opportunity to set the agenda, inspire people, and to encourage
positive change for a more sustainable environment through trusted information
and advice."

 

The strategy is centred around four pillars, set out below, where Future has
the greatest opportunity to use its scale and reach to make a positive change.

 

FUTURE DIFFERENTIATORS - A unique opportunity to make a difference:

 

1)   Expanding horizons - Connecting people with their passions and lifelong
learning

 

We have an opportunity to take positive action to fuel passions and provide
compelling learning opportunities for our audiences.

 

●     Connecting our audiences' passions to social and environmental
content, inspiring them to effect positive change and facilitate lifelong
learning for all

●     Diversifying our output across our brands to widen learning
opportunities for our audiences

 

2)   Shaping the future - Leading conversations on the future of the
internet and publishing

 

As a leading digital publisher, we have a responsibility to create a safe
internet. Future has an audience reach of over 400 million, and with this
comes a responsibility to adopt a leadership position in championing a safer
internet and embedding it in our day-to-day business.

 

●     Taking an active role in the 'Future of the internet' debate

●     Creating an editorial steering group embedding and advocating
responsible content, further strengthening the responsible content framework
for our brands

●     Annual stakeholder survey to determine ethics committee themes

 

FUTURE FOUNDATION - The things we do which we believe are critical to all
businesses who operate responsibly:

 

3)   The culture behind the company - Great content emerges from a great
culture

 

We are a people business first and foremost. We believe in nurturing a smart,
diverse and inclusive culture which brings people together from all
backgrounds and lets them shine.

 

●     Strengthening our diversity of talent and opening up career
opportunities to be more socially mobile and supporting those from
disadvantaged backgrounds, building on the work we already do with Dreamworks
in the US and Media Trust and A New Direction in the UK

●     Setting Equality, Diversity & Inclusion objectives to be
published in our diversity policy

●     Investing further in the 'Future Foundation', providing mentoring,
coaching and internships to disadvantaged young people, inspiring them to
pursue a career in media

 

4)   Taking responsibility - Going further to deliver a sustainable,
transparent and well governed business

 

We are committed to behaving ethically, making a positive impact and inspiring
change - playing our part in building a sustainable future for our planet and
our communities.

 

●     Targeting net zero GHG emissions from Scope 1 and 2 by 2026 and
conducting a Scope 3 footprint in 2022

●     Setting a plastic free policy and targets to measure emissions
from our digital value chain

●     A new Responsibility Board Committee created in 2021, to ensure
board level oversight of the responsibility strategy

 

Further detail on each of these pillars can be found at
https://www.futureplc.com/responsibility-overview/
(https://www.futureplc.com/responsibility-overview/) and in the Annual Report
which will be published on 14(th) December 2021.

 

- End -

 

Enquiries

 

Future plc

Zillah Byng-Thorne, Chief Executive Officer               +44 (0)1225
442244

Penny Ladkin-Brand, Chief Financial Officer

Marion Le Bot, Head of Investor Relations                  +44(0)7775
641509

 

Media

Headland
 
  +44 (0) 20 3805 4822

Stephen Malthouse, Rob Walker, Charlie Twigg

future@headlandconsultancy.com

 

 

About Future

Future is a global platform business for specialist media with diversified
revenue streams. Its content reaches over 1 in 2 adults online in the UK and 1
in 3 in the US.

 

The Media division is high-growth with complementary revenue streams including
eCommerce for products and services, events, and digital advertising
(including advertising within newsletters and video). It operates in a number
of sectors including technology, games & entertainment, music, home &
gardens, sports, TV & film, real life, knowledge, wealth & savings,
women's lifestyle and B2B. Its brands include TechRadar, PC Gamer, Tom's
Guide, Android Central, Truly, The Week, Kiplinger, Digital Camera World,
Homebuilding & Renovating Show, GamesRadar+, The Photography Show, Top Ten
Reviews, Marie Claire, Live Science, Guitar World, MusicRadar, Space.com, What
to Watch, Gardening Etc, Adventure and Tom's Hardware.

 

The Magazine division focuses on publishing specialist content, with a
combined global circulation of over 3 million delivered through more than 131
magazines, and 735 bookazines published a year. The portfolio spans
technology, knowledge, games & entertainment, sports, music, photography
& design, homes & garden, country lifestyle, TV & film and B2B.
Its titles include Country Life, Wallpaper, Woman & Home, The Week,
Classic Rock, Decanter, Guitar Player, FourFourTwo, Homebuilding &
Renovating, Digital Camera, Guitarist, How It Works, Total Film, What Hi-Fi?
and Music Week.

 

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