CSR = Responsible business

CSR is not simply a legal tick box for businesses – it is increasingly being viewed as central to business development, sustainability and competitiveness. In today’s society, ignoring CSR can be costly –  in terms of both business opportunities and business success.  

  • Is the productivity of your workforce being held back by a lack of development or an inflexible approach to recruitment or working practices?
  • Is your relationship with your community making business sense – or is your business’ reputation costing you customers?
  • Could small changes make big differences – to both your business and the wider contexts?

With numerous dimensions and features, implementing an effective CSR policy is an exciting and rewarding process, with wide reaching benefits.  

  • Improved staff recruitment and retention;
  • An expanded customer base and increased brand loyalty;
  • Reduced overheads and more environmentally friendly and efficient working practices;
  • Lower risk and better corporate image;
  • Competitive advantage and PR opportunities.

Whilst larger organisations with specific departments for HR and business development may find it easier to assimilate CSR into its activities, smaller organisations should not feel excluded from realising these benefits. 

Although the task of implementing CSR often falls to an already stretched business owner in smaller enterprises, understanding the value of CSR and the long term opportunities it presents form a strong case for investing time in this activity - and it is likely that many business owners will have already undertaken the groundwork in this process.

Dispelling the CSR myths

  • Implementing a CSR policy will take a lot of extra work and resource.
  • CSR policies will incur expensive costs.
  • A consideration of CSR will lead to big changes within an organisation.
  • The cost of CSR far exceeds any benefits an organisation may reap.
  • Developing and implementing a CSR policy will be a complex and time-consumming activity.

The vast majority of business owners and managers are the same as the vast majority of the population: they want to be environmentally friendly, they want to be ethical, they want to treat other people fairly and they want to make a decent living. Which is exactly what CSR is all about.

The problem with CSR lies, not in the above myths, but in a perception - or misperception - of what CSR involves and the steps required to develop CSR.  Contrary to common belief, the foundations of a CSR policy are often already in place and identifying these practices is the first step to developing effective - and cost-effective - CSR practices.

CSR Foundations

  • Does your organisation recycle paper or buy fair trade coffee?
  • Does your organisation donate money to local charities or participate in fund raising activities?
  • Does your organisation take on work experience students or engage with the local communities?

Such common features are the basis of a CSR policy, and by formalising these procedures through incorporating them in company policy or recording them, the first steps towards CSR are cost, time and pain free!

Furthermore, with Health and Safety legislation all organisations now have some CSR foundations and some experience of implementing effective policies and procedures - and those which demonstrate ethical and caring values. Indeed, introducing health and safety procedures - including policies, risk assessments, training and reporting - and incorporating these into an organisation's culture is a far greater challenge than embracing CSR: yet one that has been managed and acheived.

Embedding CSR

The beauty of CSR is that it can be embedded throughout your business and your working practices: it is not simpy an agenda item or a tick box, but a culture, a way of acting and thinking which can be threaded through all your activities and include all individuals effected by your business.

  • Staff motivation can be increased as employees enjoy the creativity and sense of community encouraged by CSR;
  • Employees demonstrate a higher level of loyalty to organisations which behave ethically;
  • Consummers are more attracted to organisation's that respond to and respect their input;
  • Connecting with the community can lead to new business opportunities and relationships;
  • Organisations benefit from reviewing their business practices and looking towards their long term development.

The reality is that CSR brings huge benefits, not just to the business but also to its employees the community in which it operates, to its suppliers , to the environment and ultimately its profits.

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