About us

Meet the consortium companies and their experts

StraughanConsulting Ltd (based Knaresborough, North Yorkshire) Name Mervin Straughan (spokesperson) Expertise CSR strategy, corporate communications strategy, corporate coaching. There's a long list of stakeholders who are keen to see how responsibly today's firms are being run	The CSR Consortium was founded in 2007. Consortium companies were recruited because they offered a special combination - expertise in their chosen fields and a passion for helping organisations make a difference to the lives of their stakeholders. The companies include: Abeceder®, Abraxas Business Solutions, Acquire Resources, Aventis Management, Breathing Space HR, Brian Daniels Consulting, FWA Consulting, Ideas into Action, Ixabiso, PeopleProfitPlanet, Purely Nutrition, Primeast, Quest Public Relations, Red Squirrel Media, SaltaSustainable, Silverleaf, StraughanConsulting, The Ark Design and Print Ltd, Walton Environmental, Wilby Ltd.
Red Squirrel Media (based Otley) Name Suzanne Hudson Expertise Red Squirrel Media has been recruited for its expertise in green marketing campaigns, web design capability and search engine optimisation, seminars and training on green marketing, quantitative and qualitative research, stakeholder consultation including focus groups, workshops and citizen's panels. It is also our second member company to provide graphic and multimedia design and branding expertise. It is evident that people, both within the private and public sectors, are becoming increasingly more aware about the importance of CSR and this is now beginning to influence their choice of supplier.	Quest Public Relations Ltd (based Harrogate, North Yorkshire) Name Sharon Cain Expertise Media relations (business to business), MD and CEO profiling (business to business), media training (public and private sector delivered by former national broadcast and print journalists), corporate literature, website writing and new media (including blogs). Quest was founded on an ethical platform and seeks out clients who are likewise committed to playing their role in the CSR agenda.	Primeast (based Harrogate, North Yorkshire) Name Warwick Abbott Expertise Leadership, change management, teamwork, coaching, talent liberation and organisational development, customer service benchmarking. Primeast is keen to help organisations recognise, value, develop and use the unique talents of their people in the delivery of their business objectives.
Ideas into Action Ltd (based Leeds) Name Amanda Heenan Expertise Developing and integrating diversity strategy, formulating equality schemes for public sector organisations, providing skills and confidence in equality and diversity. The business case for diversity is compelling. It gives organisations access to previously untapped pools of talent, improves retention of skills and enables business to operate effectively.	FWA Consulting (based Sheffield) Name Frances Wells Expertise Strategic overview of the sustainable business agenda, stakeholder analysis and engagement strategies, facilitation of meaningful business-to-community engagement, and strategies for sustainable regeneration There are excellent opportunities to link business into community sustainability and renewal as part of an integral approach to sustainable business strategy. We believe that long term integration of sustainability strategy and practice is the only way forward for a successful organisation	Aventis Management (based Leeds) Name Alan Robinson Expertise Strategic environmental expertise, waste management advice, carbon sequestration offsetting. Only those companies that address their environmental issues will survive into the future, and the best will seize the opportunities this offers
SaltaSustainable (based Leeds) Name Dr Emma Harvey Expertise CSR and sustainability scoping, strategy and implementation (environment, economics, society); sustainable procurement and supply chains; practical behaviour change approaches; benchmarking, measurement and evaluation; complex multi-stakeholder project management; greening events - e.g. conferences, sports, music, venues, production. Businesses can make significant commercial gains while treating people and the environment with respect.	Breathing Space HR (based Leeds) Name Suzie Bogle Expertise Dovetailing organisational and people strategy, general HR service to SMEs. Too few companies analyse their policies, HR processes, benefits and impact on employees, ex-employees and future employees' perception.	Abeceder® Ltd (based Leeds) Name Michael Millward Expertise Abeceder ® combines on-line and off-line delivery to provide businesses with a comprehensive range of human resource management and employee development information, products and services. Within the CSR Consortium, it focuses on providing a comprehensive employee development service from development strategy to delivery of a blended learning solution. Abeceder (R) is a nationally recognised specialist creating employee volunteering programmes, and their use within employee development strategies. Society and communities are made up of people, so any employer wanting to be socially responsible should start by examining how they treat their people.
Brian Daniels Consulting (based Sheffield) Name Brian Daniels Expertise Strategic market and customer selection, establishing customer needs and developing products and services to meet them, formation of supplier associations and development of effective supply chains, communications management Supply chains founded on good CSR principles are highly competitive, very influential and the best places to work.	Ixabiso (based Derbyshire) Name Barry Pierce Expertise Stakeholder mapping and performance frameworks, triple-bottom line performance management and decision support, risk management frameworks, environmental management accounting projects, life cycle analysis, enterprise governance. Social and environmental agendas do not have to undermine shareholder value. New metrics and forward thinking can harmonise the triple-bottom-line.	Silverleaf Ltd (based Consett, County Durham) Name Glen Collins Expertise Purchasing and supply chain advice and support for SMEs By engaging with suppliers, procurement can help identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, allowing businesses to stay ahead of the competition.
Abraxas Business Solutions (based Leeds) Name Brian Whitehouse Expertise Strategic environmental expertise, waste management advice, carbon sequestration offsetting. Companies who ignore climate change will miss commercial opportunities and may be exposed to increased risk	PeopleProfitPlanet (based Leeds) Name Adam Woodhall Expertise Environmental business consultancy, environmental business coaching and behaviour change, environmental benchmarking, assistance with ISO14001 and other environmental standards. The CSR agenda is the wider context and all the different facets work together to create better businesses and consequently a better society.	The Ark Design and Print Ltd (based Leeds) Name Rob Bullock, MD Expertise Graphic design services Despite the rumoured demise of ink on paper, there's life in the old dog yet. It's important that companies look at better and more responsible ways to use it.
Walton Environmental (based Barnoldswick, East Lancashire) Name David Walton Expertise Environmental compliance audits, ISO14001 / BS8555 / EMAS help, IPPC / LAPPC help, environmental aspects assessments, general environmental management help, workplace noise assessments, LEV testing for COSHH. Business has a huge impact on sustainability and has a major role to play in protecting resources for the future generations and reducing global warming. Business can reduce its impact and make cost savings to fund progress in the other areas of sustainability.	Purely Nutrition Ltd (based Harrogate) Name Sorrell Fearnall Expertise Food policy and strategy, corporate governance, health and safety, nano technology, traceability, nutrition and regulatory affairs, employee health and wellness, specialist in the education market with a programme called PhunkyFoods which teaches children fun food choice behaviour techniques, employee wellness programmes and workshops. As public interest in health and nutrition increases, it is vital that companies work to develop this side of their agenda and help the public make healthier choices.	Wilby Ltd (based Halifax) Name Mark Dalton Expertise Expertise health and safety consultancy, health and safety management systems, risk assessments, CDM coordinator, training, risk management, commercial and personal insurance. We realise that organisations are under pressure from a wide range of stakeholders to be able to demonstrate their CSR credentials. Health and safety is just one feature of CSR. Through the CSR Consortium, clients can access the wide range of CSR skills required.