Following the launch of its SustainAbilities plan in 2013, a comprehensive, business-wide sustainability plan which sets out ambitious targets for 2020, the report reveals that Interserve is managing risk in its operations and increasing opportunities for profitable growth.

The report provides the first set of performance data to compare with the 2013 baseline. It demonstrates positive progress, with Interserve having met or exceeded its initial set of 2014 targets in areas such as sustainable procurement, provision of school work placements, local employment rates, and more. Alongside this, it also highlights the main challenges and the areas where improvements still need to be made as Interserve progresses towards its 2016, 2018 and 2020 sustainability targets.

According to the report, 2014 saw a 10 per cent reduction in total construction waste created by Interserve, a 26 per cent reduction in on-site energy generation emissions and a 4.3 per cent reduction in water use. There were 1,076 work placements for school children and 320 apprentices and graduate trainees taken on.

“It demonstrates positive progress, with Interserve having met or exceeded its initial set of 2014 targets in areas such as sustainable procurement, provision of school work placements, local employment rates, and more,” the company said.

Tim Haywood, group finance director and head of sustainability, said: “With public trust in business at very low levels, it is all the more important that companies share and celebrate the positive impact that they are having.

“Interserve’s second annual SustainAbilities progress report, which we have released today, reflects our wide-ranging social, environmental and community achievements. The report demonstrates the many ways in which Interserve is a company that values more than just money.

“We are leading the debate in areas such as social value and apprenticeships. We have also set ourselves ambitious targets for reducing our global environmental impact, including in our Middle East operations. Above all, we want to show that businesses that act responsibly can - and will - thrive.”