Responsible Business (CSR)

Companies are expected to play an increasingly significant role in making the world a better place. Today, customers, employees and investors are more driven to engage with purpose-driven companies that are taking action to overcome economic, social and environmental challenges. 

Our world has never been so well connected. News - both good and bad - travels fast, and we’re used to a 24/7 rolling news cycle, from both mainstream sources, and our social media feeds. We’re increasingly accustomed to seeing corporate responses to emergencies or major appeals roll out in real-time. As a result, there’s a growing public awareness of (and expectation for) better, bigger and more decisive action on the part of the business community in times of crisis, or when disaster strikes.

Since the 2006 United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) report, ESG criteria – Environmental, Social, and Governance – have been an essential component in the financial evaluation of companies. In the time that has passed since then, ESG has become an increasingly significant factor for major investors, who expect to see effective strategy, tactical implementation and tangible results in all three fields.

Welcome to the second in our "Your Way To CSR Leadership Series" of interviews, where KindLink speaks to the professionals leading the way when it comes to progressive CSR practice around the globe...

Today we speak to Ife Fanabi – who works as a Social Value Project coordinator within the AECOM Social Value team in the UK and Ireland.

How does AECOM see Social Value and what does a Social Value manager within AECOM do? 

The business world is no stranger when it comes to the leverage of acronyms – but in recent years, two have taken particular prominence when it comes to discussion of business positioning and values – ESG and CSR. 

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance – and covers the range of initiatives and activities that a business may enact in order to align themselves with a positive impact, social contribution and reduced environmental damage.

Welcome to the first in our "Your Way To CSR Leadership Series" of interviews, where KindLink speaks to the professionals leading the way when it comes to progressive CSR practice around the globe...

To watch a video of this interview, please head here.

Looking for more ways to successfully implement CSR strategy into your mid-size enterprise?

When it comes to getting ahead in the world of business, mid-size enterprises often find themselves in something of a no man’s land. Small businesses can be agile, edgy and experimental. Big business has heft, budget and significant data driving direction. If you fall somewhere between these two camps, specific advice on important strategic topics such as CSR can be lacking - but in this article, we’ll aim to redress the balance.

If you’re running an ecommerce brand, you’ll be well aware of the growing prominence that CSR holds within the sector. We’re seeing increasing numbers of online retailers aligning their marketing to a more ethical “mission-led” position – and CSR has an important contributing role to play.

The Growing Importance Of CSR In Business 

A proactive approach to CSR is an essential component to the success of modern day businesses. Growing public awareness of social and environmental issues and a rising number of brands answering the call to step up and do their part means that CSR in global supply chains and sustainability for corporates more broadly has become a high priority.

Corporate social responsibility – commonly abbreviated to CSR – is an increasingly well-established component of modern business strategy. While the ubiquity of the practice might be growing, many mistakenly assume that the benefits of CSR begin and end with positive “optics” – non-essential, but still nice to have.