Black Sun’s work with The Go-Ahead Group on their Annual Report won the best communication of sustainability at the IR Society’s Best Practice Awards. The annual Investor Relations Society Awards, now in their 13th year, recognise best practice in investor relations across print and online. The 2013 awards ceremony was hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy and saw around 400 IR professionals gathered to see the winners announced. 

John Dawson, Chairman of the IR Society, said of the event, “2013 has been a testing year in which IROs have participated in debates on corporate access, research, governance, investor engagement and stewardship while focusing on other facets of their role in delivering clear, consistent and relevant investor communications. So tonight’s awards are ever more pertinent and I am delighted that we are seeing more entries and higher standards from those taking part.”

On selecting the winner the judges commented, “Go-Ahead managed to really get to the heart of what they do and how they go about their operations. Sustainability comes across as wholly integrated and embedded in the organisation.”

Go-Ahead’s Group Communications Director Sarah Boundy said, “Sustainability is integral to our strategy and the way we operate at all levels of the business. We know the importance of this being reflected in our reporting so we’re delighted it’s been recognised at these prestigious awards. Our environmental performance in particular is a key issue for us and we’re always looking for ways to improve and innovate in this area.” 

“The team has worked hard to embed sustainability as a material part of Go Ahead’s business communications - we’re delighted that these efforts have been recognised at such a prestigious event”, says Simon Henderson, Managing Director of Black Sun.

Go-Ahead, one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport delivering bus and rail services to predominantly the South-east of England, has very good reason to win this category. Their commitment to high quality operations and operating responsibly is recognised and showcased throughout their reporting.