Corporate responsibility is not about philanthropy. It is not simply about giving some of an organisation’s profits to charity because it makes us feel good about who we are and what we do. It isn’t even a public relations exercise; an attempt to convince our stakeholders that somehow we are better than we are, more ethical, more moral, that we can be trusted more than our competitors.
Corporate responsibility is a genuine, whole-organisation approach, ‘to mitigate an organisation’s negative impacts upon society’ and to engage in a positive and mutually beneficial way with key stakeholders. What is more the organisation should do this through its own structures, processes, goods and services thus ensuring the relevance or ‘materiality’ of the activities being considered.
A genuine commitment to this agenda, one with Board and Executive management buy-in as well as the support of staff and colleagues, can offer a range of competitive advantages. These advantages are important in any economy or marketplace but particularly now, in a period of economic uncertainty.

• builds confidence
• enhances reputation
• where applicable, builds shareholder value
• focuses the organisation on meeting the needs of its key stakeholders
• encourages closer and more effective working with suppliers
• reduces waste
• improves morale

If you are a public body or private business that would like support and advice on creating a CR agenda, or would like to focus community investment activity on a particular stakeholder group or you are a charity wishing to improve your appeal to the corporate marketplace, then why not contact me by clicking here. I would be only too happy to discuss your requirements and to explore how I may be able to assist you in your desire to help improve the communities in which we all live.