Getting started on cost effective CSR

Starting a CSR programme for your company is easier than you think - especially with Collins McHugh as a partner. Chances are you are already involved in some CSR activity but might not know it. We will help you identify areas in which you are employing responsible business practices and then to widen the scope into a complete CSR solution.

We believe that every business should operate in a responsible way that benefits both themselves and the wider society.

Our 10 Top Tips

Benchmark where you are now and how you got there.

Almost all companies are doing CSR activity to some extent even if they are not calling it that, e.g. they have elements of responsible business practice that cover one or more of the areas of Community, Environment, Marketplace, and Workplace.

Cheer Up!

You will almost certainly be better than you think you are, a lot of CSR is just common sense on things such as H&S etc.

Always approach CSR as win/win.

There should be a business benefit in engagement in every area, otherwise it will not be sustainable (in other words you will stop doing it). This often applies to a company's community involvement where business principles go out of the window. The right community involvement can have major business benefits for your company. It can reflect your brand values, improve employee motivation and help attract the best people.

Draw up a brief gap analysis on your CSR activity and then look at the potential business benefits of filling in the gaps.

Simply becoming pro-active on this agenda will improve the way your main stakeholders view the company, be they Investors, Employees, Customers etc. Improving environmental procedures for example often leads to cost savings in the business, and also attract a wider customer base.

Appoint a champion for each of the areas of Community, Environment, Marketplace and Workplace.

Form a small steering group to benchmark progress and keep momentum. Set a fun competition to see which champion can bring the most business benefit over the first year. This immediately gives a business focus to your CSR activity.

Appoint your Community Champion from the HR or Business development sides of your business.

This will ensure a business focus to Community engagement. Often the first person to volunteer for this role may be so passionate about the community etc that business benefits (and therefore focussed connectivity to your business) disappear.

Appoint your Environment Champion for the Finance Team.

Improved environmental performance and cost savings go hand in hand. Finance people are passionate about cost savings! But don’t stop there, let marketing use the environment as a new product differentiator!

Appoint your marketplace champion from procurement or marketing.

Risk reduction and a competitive edge on selling mean a lot to these people! Set them a challenge to find the most innovative ways to use CSR to further enhance your product or service offering.

Appoint your Workplace Champion from HR or Operations.

No surprises here but operational involvement is as important as HR.

Call Collins McHugh on 0161 929 0707 or email info@collinsmchugh.co.uk.

We are the best at what we do. From initial strategic planning, to implementation and reporting, we offer a bespoke service for your company wherever you are on the Corporate Social Responsibility agenda.