Brokers urged to review attitudes to corporate social responsibility

Speaking on the Accord Growth Series podcast, Alison Hutchinson claims that any organisation, regardless of its size, will need to review its attitude to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to succeed.

Not only are consumers more inclined to buy services from organisations which factor in ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) criteria, but to attract and retain employees, Hutchinson said brokers need to develop a culture which cares about more than just the bottom line.

Recent research by Pennies found that 86% of millennials would take a pay cut to work with a company with like-minded missions and values.

Hutchinson, a non-executive director of Yorkshire Building Society, encourages bringing together a core group of engaged colleagues to really drive the programme. She recommends setting goals which performance can be measured against and ensuring regular communications with colleagues and clients to keep initiatives sustainable.

Alison added: “Don’t make it big and complicated, just do a few things well. Identify a charity you want to get behind which may align with your business objectives, have a personal meaning to you or be local to your organisation. You could even let your colleagues/clients choose who they want to support for added engagement.

“However busy you are, you can always add micro time and micro money to make a difference.”

Jeremy Duncombe, director of intermediary distribution at Accord Mortgages, commented: “Being a responsible business is about much more than simply adhering to regulation and guidelines.

“Having an organisational culture which cares about the environment it operates is crucial, not just to make your services more appealing to existing and potential customers, but also to make sure you have the best people working for you to help you grow and develop your business even further. Alison’s approach to success is simple and it’s reassuring to hear that getting started doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It just needs a team driving it and support from the top.”