Green Gown Awards 2019 - The University of Edinburgh - Winner

In 2016, the Finance Department at the University of Edinburgh adopted the International Integrated Reporting Committee’s framework for Integrated Reporting to communicate a clear narrative that demonstrates our overall performance, and the value our University creates.  

Integrated reporting aims to highlight how we use our capitals (the resources which we draw on and influence) to create and sustain value for our many stakeholders. Our Value Creation Model is a fundamental part of our Integrated Annual Report. The Value Model, along with case studies throughout our Annual Report and Accounts demonstrate how we maximise the potential of these capitals to create value for our stakeholders and to ultimately enhance the capitals themselves. 

The adoption of Integrated Reporting helps to ensure that sustainability topics are not separate to our organisational reporting but that natural, social and human capital are key to the wider value creation and impact for society.   

Additional information for stakeholders is available via annual ‘Social Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting’ including reporting in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Top 3 learnings:

• By reporting on the various types of capitals and not just financial, we have been able to focus attention.  
• Through adopting the principles of Integrated Reporting, we are better able to tell our annual story to everybody. 
• Integrated reporting requires a collaborative process – involving colleagues of various disciplines across the institution.