CHRISTIAN MANCIER

Chair of Stockport Economic Alliance

DID you know that applying local relevance to your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy can generate invaluable benefits to your business and your workforce, as well as the local community?

The advantages have been well documented reducing absenteeism, improving staff performance, motivation, attendance and loyalty, whilst also supporting and raising the profile of the project or charity you support.

I’m aware of businesses with first-hand experience of the added value ‘putting back’ has brought. I’m also aware of others who can see and understand the benefits but simply don’t know where to start, they don’t know which projects fit best with their business or where their services might be best placed.

When I became chair of Stockport Economic Alliance, I spent time visiting fellow alliance members to better understand their needs and interests. One of the common discussion points was how businesses align their CSR strategies to local needs.

We’ve since taken a small group on a tour of some of Stockport’s amazing charities and voluntary organisations, opening their eyes to the range of very worthy projects that are out there and helping them see that CSR is not necessarily about financial support, but can be about sharing time, skills, resources and experience to much wider benefit.

Many community groups, voluntary organisations and charities need the skills that you can offer – this could be business advice, accountancy skills and digital marketing or some of the more familiar ‘asks’ such as gardening, painting, and fundraising.

I’m now working on asking every business to look at its CSR strategy. Does it meet your needs? Does it strengthen your workforce? Do your staff know of particular needs in your local area?

Above all it’s about doing something and doing it effectively - giving back, inspiring, making a difference, and keeping it local!