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FAQ

THE AGENDA

What is corporate social responsibility (CSR)?

It refers to how an organisation works with its stakeholders to create a sustainable business that operates on a responsible and ethical platform. CSR takes into account the organisation's impact on society and the environment. The stakeholders that are affected include customers, employees, suppliers, investors, and the community to name a few.
Take a look at how other bodies describe this influential business issue:
"A catch-all title referring to companies' activities in areas where they impact on society and/or the environment, as well as on shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees and other players."
CBI
"How companies conduct business in an ethical way, taking account of impact economically, socially, environmentally and in terms of human rights. Moves beyond traditional stakeholders ..."
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE CSR.GOV.UK
"How companies integrate social and environmental concerns into business operations and interactions with stakeholders."
BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
"A responsible organisation recognises that its activities impact on the society in which it operates."
CIPD
"The need to observe fair employment rights, equality and diversity, human rights, ethics, environmental and international issues."
UNISON
"The best and most successful organisations recognise that they will only prosper in the long term if they satisfy the aspirations of their stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, employees, local communities, investors, governments, public interest and environment groups."
INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ACCOUNTING

What is a stakeholder?

Any individual or group that is affected by an organisation or who have an effect on the organisation.

Surely CSR just about securing good PR?

There are PR benefits but the research shows that improved performance goes much deeper and is achieved through developing happy and motivated employees who deliver goods and services to satisfied customers. CSR also entails introducing "green" processes to manage and eliminate waste. CSR's wide ranging benefits include improved recruitment and retention, effective supply chains and productivity improvements - all of which impact powerfully on the bottom line.

Why would public and private sector organisations approach the CSR Consortium?

The breadth and depth of its service providers guarantees a high level of proven expertise across a range of CSR-related areas such as the community, the workplace, the supply chain and the environment. Because it operates as a one-stop shop, organisations requiring help with their CSR policy need only make one phone call or email contact.

But surely companies know how to work with their communities?

They may well know how to - but responsible business practice is much more. And, of course, when it comes to the community, it's about creating long-lasting impact not a quick fix. CSR involves forging and developing strong community and supplier partnerships, training and developing fulfilled employees, sharing the vision, the strategies and values of the organisation. It's about working with a host of stakeholders to create a sustainable business.

Surely, there are other bodies or experts apart from the CSR Consortium?

Other organisations do exist, but we believe our combined expertise across an array of CSR areas, and the number of companies involved, make us unique.

What feedback are you receiving about the CSR agenda?

That there are some exceptional organisations making the most of the opportunities that CSR brings in driving performance. There are, however, a lot whose understanding of the agenda is limited.

SERVICES

What services do you provide?

There is a very long list of services - too many to mention here. To make it easier, we've condensed our services into our CSR temple that appears on our website home page. By clicking on each part of the temple, you will learn about the services we provide in each area. We also use the temple to convey how the strands of CSR are integral to improving business performance:

STRUCTURE

How are you structured?

The CSR Consortium is a marketing initiative established to make life as straightforward as possible for the client. It is not a partnership but a loose grouping of organisations sharing the same values and a passion for pushing the business performance case for a responsible approach.

Where do you operate?

Our members are based geographically in the north of England but operate nationally and internationally.

BRANDING

What does the image in your logo depict?

We were seeking a concept that reflected a group of individual companies joining together in a cohesive manner. The consultation feedback was excellent - with most respondents describing the logo as either a jig-saw with pieces coming together or as a pool of talented individuals and companies flowing into one.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

How does a company join the Consortium?

We are at capacity having identified those companies that give us the expertise we require to make a joined-up CSR offering. We will only address this if we feel that there are further CSR services to incorporate.
 
© 2010 the CSR Consortium