Partner Article

How to implement a CSR policy: Willie Herman explains.

“Five years ago somebody asked me what corporate responsibility was, and I can quite honestly admit that I knew absolutely nothing,” says Willie Herdman, special projects manager at the North East BIC.

After some research, Willie quickly realised the value businesses get from putting a corporate social responsibility policy, and in the subsequent years, has become a self confessed expert on the topic.

“Businesses from the region contact us when they are looking to implement a CSR policy, and we give the management and staff an overview of what it means, and how they can do it,” he explains. “We also look at the things they they’re doing already – that they might not even realise are actually CSR activities!”

I have always believed that a company’s CSR policy focussed on charitable community work, but Willie is quick to correct me.

“Although it does involve this type of work, the way a company treats its staff and the environment also comes into it,” Willie continues. “By going into a business and helping them group it all together, we can show them what they’re doing already, and where they can do more.”

When working with businesses, the first thing Willie encourages them to do is form a CSR team to take on the responsibility of the related activity. As well as creating a cohesive policy, it is also a great leveller, bringing people together from all walks of corporate life.

“Rather than being management driven, this means that the CSR policy comes from the workforce as a whole,

“Often we get senior executives working alongside those in the lowliest of positions working jointly to adopt a policy for workplace.

“ These groups are also vital because they can keep the momentum of a campaign going, and also gives someone the responsibility of monitoring targets and goals to get the business to do even better.“

Many businesses in the region have now taken steps to implement a CSR policy, and the impact of social and environmental pressures has placed it at the centre of strategic planning measures.

However, Willie believes it is important to conduct these activities with honourable motives, as those businesses looking for purely financial dividends will soon come unstuck.

“Businesses need to make sure they have the right sentiment for doing CSR – they cant just say ‘we’re doing it’ because people will look at the company as a whole and will quickly realise their intentions.

“CSR can not only help to improve the reputation of companies, but can also benefit the economy as a whole. It’s not an expensive initiative to run, so really it’s in the interests of all businesses, big and small to do something positive.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .