Corporate Responsibility

The seminar revealed both how far corporate responsibility (CR) has come in the last 25 years and why it is still gathering momentum. It began, in the aftermath of the huge run-down of the steel, shipbuilding and mining industries, as a drive to persuade companies that the viability of local communities could not be left to government.

The argument was based on the concept that CR was ultimately in the interests of shareholders because, if communities prospered, it would be easier to sell goods and services. This in turn led to an understanding that the central nature of all businesses involved maintaining good customer relations and the commitment of their employees. All recent research shows that young people prefer to join and stay with companies that have positive reputations for fair dealing and involve staff in their outreach programmes.