News

Responsible Business Practice: Are you doing your bit?

(18 August 2005)

Expectations on corporations to conduct business responsibly have never been greater. Yet, as more and more companies recognise the benefits of responsible business practice, others are still questioning why they should get involved.

Leading practitioners will gather at Durham Business School on September 15 to address these issues, share their experiences with businesses and pinpoint benefits in a one-day 'Responsible Business in Practice' conference, organised by Business in the Community (BITC) in the North East.

Geoff Moore, Professor of Business Ethics at Durham Business School, said: "While there is a ‘business case’ for corporate social responsibility, so that in some instances business can actually be better off by engaging in responsible practices, there is also a ‘values’ case. What sort of businesses do we want to work in, supply and buy our products from? What sort of society do we want and how does business fit into that? These are important and timely questions."

Responsible business practice is about a host of things, from effective governance and employment policies - including investment in training and development, and promoting volunteering - to caring about how products are sourced and reducing energy consumption.

Louise Hunter, Head of Business Development for Business in the Community in the North East, explains: “We work with companies across the region to help identify what they can be doing to make a difference and to improve their positive impact on society. BITC encourages community involvement, arranges in-kind & pro bono work, helps with basic numeracy & literacy and advises on best practice amongst other things.”

BITC believes that business is a powerful engine for social progress through the way it recruits and trains people, the way it produces, sells and disposes of products, the way it manages its impact on the environment and the way it invests in the communities where it operates.

This attitude is embedded in Durham-based Northumbrian Water’s thinking. Managing Director John Cuthbert comments: “As one of the region's premier companies, Northumbrian Water and the people who work for it believe it is imperative to stay in touch and involved with the community - we are immersed in community life.

“For example, we introduced our 'Just an Hour' scheme to give our employees the opportunity to get involved with their local communities. The scheme allows all our employees to devote a minimum of twelve hours of paid work time a year to the good cause of their choice. There is a tremendous commitment to working together to make a difference through employee volunteering and in key areas such as education."

John Cuthbert, along with speakers from GlaxoSmithKline plc, Traidcraft, Durham Business School and Co-operative Financial Services will be sharing their experiences at the “Responsible Business in Practice Conference” sponsored by Durham County Council, Local Action 21and GlaxoSmithKline plc. For more details and information on how to book your place, please go to www.bitc.org.uk/events/events_calendar/responsibility.html

For further information: BITC Communications Manager Ruth Poulten, 0191 487 7799, Ruth.Poulten@bitc.org.uk or for Durham Business School, contact Clare Maxwell and Amy Davison at Bradley O’Mahoney Public Relations on 0191 281 8833, Clare Maxwell or Amy Davison