Corporate Social
Responsibility for Small Business
Kayte Judge from Goodthings Limited shares her top tips for
small businesses who are looking to improve their corporate social
responsibility.
- You don’t
have to be big to be good: small businesses can see huge benefits from a
streamlined approach to CSR.
- Don’t be put
off by the terminology: put simply CSR covers the activities your business voluntarily undertakes to improve your community and
usually covers your impact on both the environment (resources, waste, carbon
offsetting etc), and people (charity support, volunteering, community projects
etc).
- Be
proactive, not reactive: simply
responding to requests often results in large donations over time, and few
benefits. A proactive stance, ideally a policy and action plan, allows you to
manage both time and money spent on CSR activities and reaps benefits for both
the cause and the company. This will help you recognise when to say yes, and
crucially, when to say no.
- Get
engaged: Talk to your staff. What causes do they want to support? What
would create meaning and motivation for them in the workplace? By getting your
network of people on board you can harness their efforts. Match-funding and cause
related marketing are two ways to do this. Involve your clients and suppliers –
they can help you achieve your CSR goals. Joint activity strengthens
relationships.
- Aim for
commitment not flirtation: Commitment can reap benefits for the small
business. Connect meaningfully with one charity or cause.
- Shake
what your mother gave you: Use your skills and resources – what do you have
that you could easily give at little cost to you? Expertise, space, equipment
and web-presence can all benefit the community. Work with what you have.
- Ask the
expert: you don’t have to be an expert in all areas of CSR. The
environmental side of CSR can feel a little overwhelming but there is help. In
Bedfordshire we have the Green Business Network and nationally there is the Mayday network which
gives access to tools and techniques to review and report on your environmental
impact.
- Be an
ethical consumer: Commit to an ethical supply chain. Buy fairtrade consumables,
book charity venues, use local suppliers.
- Record
your progress: keep an eye on CSR activity and report on it. Tell your
stakeholders what you are doing, and keep a track of your progress.
- Don’t
be shy: There’s no need to keep quiet about the good
things you are doing. By blowing your own trumpet you champion the causes you
support.
