Bill Midgley column

Dec 21 2005 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

One of the current Government initiatives is that of Corporate Social Responsibility, in other words encouraging business to take a wider involvement in the community as a whole.

Many businesses may well argue that they fulfil their social responsibility by the very fact that they exist, and in doing so provide employment and create wealth in their local economies.

However, it would also be true to say that an increasing number of businesses take a much broader view and fulfil what the Government is asking of them.

They do support many local initiatives, be they sport, the arts or charitable, encourage work experience, and perhaps more importantly are very keen to see members of their staff involved in non-business organisations.

In particular, the business community provides not only support but expertise to areas such as health, housing, education and a wide range of Government quangos that would benefit from the input of well trained managers. In turn, such managers also benefit from learning how the public sector works and from the sheer experience of seeing how a different organisation delivers its objectives, or fails so to do, as the case may be.

However, there is a degree of disillusionment on the part of many businesses with the way in which their staff are received.

Many of the organisations that claim to need business help are then dismissive of the individuals who spend their time and energy in providing such an input.

In the vast majority of cases those individuals who come forward as part of what may be seen as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative are unpaid, yet give willingly and freely of their time and expertise.

The very fact, however, that they are unpaid often means that they are not respected by those with whom they work alongside.

I am by no means advocating payment for involvement in areas such as housing and education, but nevertheless I do think that the public sector in particular has to respect the fact that paid, or not, people who have a skill deserve the appropriate level of respect.

Hopefully most companies will rise above what may often be seen as an insult, but in seeking help from the business community, quangos, charities, Government organisations and all like bodies need to respect what they are given so freely and willingly.

Bill Midgley is president of British Chambers of Commerce.