Good for business: The importance of Corporate Social Responsibility

Increasingly the policies and practices of organisations are under scrutiny from their stakeholders. Corporate Social Responsibility can span many areas of business, from equal opportunities and diversity; the working practices of suppliers: the environmental impact of the business, to financial support of charities and community groups.

Importantly while CSR is sometimes seen as an added pressure, especially to resource-strapped SMEs, good CSR practices can positively impact on other areas of business. Reducing your environmental footprint, for example, could significantly cut down on waste and energy bills; support for local charities could feed into positive PR and lead to increased sales; a literacy programme for staff could increase production.

Goodthings believes that all companies can benefit from a concious commitment to corporate social responsibility. When done well CSR can feed into marketing, staff development, strategic thinking, networking, and staff engagement and motivation.

For more information about CSR and some of the organisations that can help you visit our links page.