IT services group Sopra Steria signs up to business pledge

Sopra Steria, the IT services group, has become the latest firm to put its name to the Scottish Government’s voluntary pledge to embrace fair business practices.

Sopra Steria's Alison McLaughlin said Scotland is a key market for the French group

The French company, which acquired Edinburgh-based Newell & Budge in 2005, said it already fulfils all nine action points of the pledge, which are:

• Paying the living wage

• Committing to an innovation programme

• Pursuing international business opportunities

• Not using “exploitative” zero-hours contracts

• Supporting progressive workplace policies

• Investing in young people

• Making progress on gender balance and diversity

• Playing an active role in the community

• Paying suppliers promptly

Alison McLaughlin, sector director for local and regional government, said: “Scotland remains a key market for Sopra Steria, and the pledge encapsulates everything we stand for. As leader of our public sector business in Scotland, I am honoured to be involved in the partnership and to reaffirm our commitment to Scottish business.”

Others organisations to have signed the pledge include law firm Brodies, accounting giant KPMG and Forth Valley College.

Roseanna Cunningham, cabinet secretary for fair work, skills and training, said: “The signees have undertaken to implement progressive workplace policies which support their growth ambitions and treat and pay staff fairly.

“This signals the growing enthusiasm of the business sector to share our vision of an innovative, entrepreneurial Scotland that grows in a fair and sustainable way. We want even more firms to commit to boosting their productivity through innovation, internationalisation, fair work and increased diversity in the workplace.”