PwC: Ian Powell focuses on need to restore trust in business,

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

PwC’s recent annual Building Public Trust Awards dinner showcased Ian Powell, PwC chairman and senior partner. He used his keynote address at the awards ceremony, which was attended by more than 300 business leaders, senior civil servants, regulators, standard setters and professional bodies, to call for a concerted plan of action to demonstrate the vital role that business plays in society at a time when trust in business, and in institutions more generally, has never been in shorter supply and more difficult to earn.

The awards, now in their 10^th year and decided by a panel of independent judges, recognised the achievements of industries including the real estate sector. Land Securities and Great Portland Estates were two of only three ‘highly commended’ companies in the FTSE 350 for excellence in corporate reporting.

Lorrie Headley, real estate director, PwC, said:

“More than ever, real estate companies are making greater effort to tell their story – both of the highly commended real estate companies told an integrated commercial story on bringing together strategy, governance, performance and prospects to provide a clear all round view of the business. Across the sector there was a notable growing recognition that sustainability and corporate social responsibility matters to a range of stakeholders, and being able to communicate how companies make a positive impact is beneficial to their reputation and their ability to generate value in the long-term.”