Our Energy businesses in the UK, North America and Australia made charitable donations and raised funds for community projects worth in total £112,708 and contributed £25,398 for academic bursaries to students studying at universities in the UK and Australia.The largest single charitable donation, £15,450 (the same amount as in 2005 & 2006), was made towards the Gondwana Link project, which seeks to protect, restore and sustain the natural heritage in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia.

At the end of 2007, RPS Group Plc continued its corporate support for Tree Aid and its educational, tree planting and woodland conservation programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa by making a charitable donation of £12,500 towards its work in Mali, where RPS has worked on oil and gas exploration and mineral extraction studies in recent years. Deforestation in this part of Africa presents particularly acute problems for some of the world's most vulnerable traditional communities.

During 2007, RPS took the decision to commit £45,000 per annum in 2008 and 2009 to establish an Urban Design Scholarship working in partnership with the publishers of the Architects’ Journal and in association with Design for London. The five design scholarships each year will not only contribute to the development of the profession but will benefit five very different local communities in London within which one of the successful scholars will

apply creative ideas for urban renewal in consultation with local people and other stakeholders.

Environmental Management
RPS contributes to environmental management in many of the projects that it undertakes for clients.The group advises international bodies, governments, local authorities and private companies on improving their environmental performance. A wide range of services is available from conducting ecological surveys through to carbon trading. In the organisation there are many employees with professional qualifications in environmental management, some have achieved international recognition for their work and play a leading role in professional bodies.

RPS seeks to manage and reduce its own environmental impact. All businesses in the Group are encouraged to put in place systems to ensure that they identify and reduce potential environmental liabilities.

Using these management techniques, RPS endeavours to:

• Comply with all relevant national and regional legislation as a minimum standard;
• Comply with codes of practice and other requirements such as those specified by regulators and our clients;
• Utilise suppliers that offer products which are sustainable, recyclable or environmentally sensitive wherever practicable and economic;

• Promote practical energy efficiency and waste minimisation measures; and
• Provides a shared inter-office IT network and communications technology that reduces the need for business travel.

In order to achieve this RPS:

• Ensures employees are trained and motivated to conduct their activities in an environmentally responsible manner;
• Reviews the policy on a regular basis to take into account any new developments in legislation, or environmental management or shareholder expectations; and
• Allocates sufficient management resources to ensure effective implementation of the environmental policies.

Some parts of the businesses have achieved ISO14001, the internationally recognised environmental management system. In January 2008 RPS Water achieved ISO14001 registration for the whole of its UK business.This was a significant achievement that has already resulted in substantial environmental benefits as well as reinforcing the environmental message to its 650 staff. In 2008, other businesses in the Group will be working towards ISO14001.

RPS produces relatively little waste; we also have recycling facilities at most of our offices.