Policy Goals & Benefits

As a public authority, CSR in business addresses your policy issues too - see the examples below.  Click on each keyword to learn about the mutual benefits of collaborative action on important issues for your region.

Education and skills Transport Equal Opportunities Economic development Climate change Ageing population Sustainable production Community Safety Migration Social Dialogue Innovation Health Education and skills Sample goal: increase level of qualifications and skills Stakeholders: employers, training agencies, colleges, schools, employees CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Flexible work/training patterns for employees of all grades and ages Programmes targeting minority communities, residents of deprived areas, homeless, ex-offenders and drug addicts Employees to supply mentoring and coaching within companies and in community groups Supported work/training placements for disabled or young people at risk Ambitious graduate recruitment and training Competitive area attracting company investment because of available skills Strong foundation for innovation and sustainable development Supportive business network with smart local suppliers Improved staff motivation and productivity Higher staff retention and more opportunity for internal promotions Availability of wider pool of skilled recruits Easier to manage change and new working practices Transport Sample goal: reduce impact of freight on roads Stakeholders: business, road agencies, business advisers, retailers, hauliers CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Improved design of product and packaging to reduce weight and volume Integrating route planning of product delivery and collection of supplies Collaboration between businesses with compatible delivery patterns Use of full range of transport modes such as train and water Lease/purchase of cleaner quieter vehicles Reducing volume of new components delivered through reuse/recycling on the spot Emissions saving with benefits for environment and public health Reduce costs of road maintenance Reduce congestion on roads Promote new more sustainable distribution patterns Reduce waste Improved reputation with customers and neighbours Reduced costs of fuel consumption and time Better supply chain strategy for delivery “just in time”, reducing warehouse capacity requirement New markets for efficient vehicles Equal Opportunities Sample goal:  tackle discrimination and occupational segregation in the labour market Stakeholders: citizens, employers, NGOs, labour agencies CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Open-minded recruitment policies (in terms of age, race, ethics and gender) Recruiting from disadvantaged groups Improving workplace accessibility for people with disabilities Assessing diversity of the current workforce, and addressing under representation of particular groups Enabling equal opportunities for career development and pay Reducing harassment and bullying Regional campaigns to demonstrate equal opportunities for men/women, people with disabilities etc Reducing social exclusion of particular groups in the community Delivering basic minimum standards in employment for all Reintegrating into society those who become excluded Realising full potential of citizens Wider pool of talent to recruit from Broader understanding of the market – both customers and suppliers Creativity and innovation in product development and marketing Realising full potential of employees Enhanced local reputation Economic development Sample goal: expand the business base of the area Stakeholders: education (all levels), business, entrepreneurs, NGOs, financiers CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Inspiring potential entrepreneurs in school and further education Supporting new start ups by mentoring Developing facilities and finance channels for social enterprises Linking academic research with commercial opportunities Public and private procurement that is accessible to new and local business Providing internship and “job shadowing” opportunities to students Strong reputation for business support in the area attracts outside investment Local young people remain in the area and develop new local businesses Families remain close and continue to support each other Economic growth blending profit and not for profit enterprises for a modern business culture Direct links with potential recruits through school/college/university Strong local entrepreneurial culture attracts suitably focused recruits Access to ideas and new technology Staff development opportunities through mentoring Improved access to local markets Climate change Sample goal: reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20% by 2020 Stakeholders: government, business, citizens, NGOs, public sector bodies, education and research CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Policies promoting energy efficiency measures Supporting renewable energy use in public and private sectors Integrating and improving transport networks Developing innovative energy sources Developing expertise in the new carbon economy –energy efficiency, renewables, carbon capture, carbon trading Better designed and insulated buildings More efficient, linked transport systems reducing the need for cars Healthier population through more cycling and walking Reduced pollution from burning fossil fuels Controlling the longer term costs of managing impacts of climate change Better energy security from local and renewable sources Energy efficiency gains More predictable energy costs Costs avoided by anticipating carbon legislation Enjoying prime-mover advantage in an innovative, de-carbonising economy Less time wasted travelling – more video conferencing Ageing population Sample goal: reduce costs of aging population Stakeholders: citizens, employers, health and education services, NGOs CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Policies for work-life balance to support new families Flexible work patterns to enable employees to provide care for family elders and young mothers to return to the workplace Maintaining healthy living to retirement and beyond Combining reduced employment with retirement Lifelong learning to maintain engagement with developments and limit risk aversion Higher birth rate and potential new workforce Lower health costs of fitter engaged elders Families able to provide support and care, not depend on public agencies More efficient use of experience and skills Improved intergenerational cohesion Retention of valuable staff of child bearing age, and skilled older workers More flexibility in workforce More representative gender balance of workforce Higher disposable income of older customers who remain in employment Sustainable production Sample goal: reduce inputs of energy and resources and minimise waste Stakeholders: business, business advisers, technology suppliers, academics CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Measuring resource use and waste production to promote responsible allocation Involving employees in identifying initiatives for resource and waste management Generating new technologies and income streams Developing business to business links, ‘industrial symbiosis’, using one company’s waste as another company’s input Help to meet public targets for reducing packaging, waste and landfill Promoting professional standards of environmental management Limiting expansion of energy infrastructure Significant contribution to climate change targets Boost to company reputation with customers, investors and neighbours Reduce input, transport and storage costs Lower tax liabilities eg for landfill Innovative sustainable processes Community Safety Sample goal: improve safety in town centre Stakeholders: planners, police, retailers, transport operators, youth and community groups CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Tackling shoplifting Providing security and surveillance for business and public premises Incentives/awards for designing safe and secure business and public spaces Limiting inappropriate sales of alcohol Employee protection in, and while travelling to, the workplace Youth involvement projects Safe routes to schools and work Reintegration of ex-offenders to society and employment to reduce reoffending Vibrant commercially attractive local centres Collaboration and  additional resource from business Lower accident and crime rates Opportunities for young people at risk Safety for employees and customers Strong engagement with local community Reduced risk of infringing legal restrictions on trading (eg product safety) Reduced cost of theft, burglary and damage Better employee retention rates Migration Sample goal: integrate incomers into the area Stakeholders: employers, advisory services, welfare agencies CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Tools to manage recruitment/qualification checks Developing advocacy services on workers’ rights and entitlements Managing standards of accommodation Provision of language training Availability of culturally appropriate facilities and work schedules Local services, such as radio in migrants’ languages Social diversity and cohesion Resisting and uncovering people trafficking Maintaining standards of health and safety Balanced population profile - as indigenous population ages Increasing public tolerance and cultural sensitivity Sustaining local licence to operate with flexible labour supply Maintaining standards of health and safety Securing appropriate skills, in particular communication Avoiding undercutting of labour costs Improving access to the market by reflecting diversity of the market in the workforce Social Dialogue Sample goal: improve participation of workers Stakeholders: employees, employers, civil society CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Employee engagement in the success of organisations Sustainable reward and incentive structures Training and skills development Involving management and workers together in collaborative ventures with local civil society eg volunteering programmes Greater local cohesion enhancing reputation and attractiveness of the area Culture of fair employment that reinforces agreed standards of conduct (such as health and safety) and reduces regulatory burden Competitive organisations Improved job design More effective return on investment in the workplace Higher productivity, reduced down time, absenteeism Licence to operate Innovative thinking gained from involvement outside the workplace Innovation Sample goal: improve effectiveness of services promoting business start ups, R&D&I, and management models. Stakeholders: business advisers, business associations, academics, research centres, potential entrepreneurs, financiers, civil society organizations, other public bodies (European, national and municipalities) CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Building trust which reduces tendency to resist new products, technologies or management practices Increasing transparency and collaboration promoting sharing of ideas Cluster approaches e.g on science parks relating to employment and environmental management Bringing innovation into education at school and college level Original approaches to sustainable development issues through new products and services Higher attractiveness of the region for investors/partners Sustainable models of enterprise, reducing the requirement for public intervention and continuing commitment Investment in lifelong learning Support for eco-friendly and people-friendly developments Attraction of high quality employees Attraction of range of ethical/responsible investment and new models of finance New skills of innovative and lateral thinking among potential workforce Discovery of symbiosis and mutual gains Opportunity to shape services Health Sample goal: improve performance in terms of  obesity, heart disease, mental health Stakeholders: health professionals, citizens, NGO-s, employers CSR partnership with business promotes initiatives for: Travel to work plans promoting walking/cycling Policies for work-life balance, reducing stress and alcohol consumption Healthy food in staff canteens Volunteering  in sports and health related public bodies and NGOs Support for carers in employment Raising awareness of health hazards – e.g. heart disease, HIV Additional channels to reach citizens Reduced costs of public healthcare Wider resource  and skills to promote desired goals Business skills engaged Healthier workforce leading to higher productivity Shared understanding of the issues and solutions Opportunity to help shape services for employees Addressing modern health issues with innovative interventions New business opportunities in delivering health solutions