Scottish Business in the Community

May 2011

In this interview, Jane Wood, Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community, discusses the state of CSR in Scotland and the challenges and opportunities for Scottish businesses. She also explains how Scotland is addressing the growing issue of poverty and social exclusion and Scotland's vision for business over the next decade.

What are the key CSR/sustainability priorities for companies in Scotland?

There are approximately 295,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland, accounting for over 98% of all businesses. These companies are vital to the Scottish economy, providing 53% of employment and 37% of output. Access to appropriate support when implementing sustainable business practice is critical for smaller organisations as Scotland transforms to sustainable business model. Changes to procurement, supply chain and the market place demand put extra pressures on SMEs to incorporate sustainability into the core of their company. It is important that Scottish Business in the Community can support this transition.

How is Scottish Business in the Community working with companies to address these priorities?

Scottish Business in the Community is working in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government to research areas where support is required for SMEs and make available viable support, training and resources to ensure the transition to a sustainable framework is viable across sectors and organisations of all sizes. Additionally through community and in-work support initiatives Scottish Business in the Community is working with SMEs to increase their impact on local economies and communities.

Representing tens of thousands of the Scottish workforce, Scottish Business in the Community also provides consistent support to member organisations to help increase their impact through all levels of sustainability.

Across Europe, poverty and social exclusion has become a critical lever for economic growth. How is Scotland and Scottish Business in the Community addressing this?

Tackling Poverty is a one year project managed by Scottish Business in the Community to research and support small and medium enterprises in reducing the impact of poverty within local communities.

Scottish Business in the Community is conducting in-depth research the results of which research will identify support required by SMEs to integrating measures to reduce poverty. Scottish Business in the Community will align support required with a range of events, programmes and toolkits.

In partnership with the Scottish Government, Tackling Poverty will be rolled out across Scotland in regions with a high volume of SMEs and in challenged communities where support will have a wide, positive impact throughout 2011/ 2012. Through this model Scottish Business in the Community hope to create a lasting model of support for SMEs to raise awareness of poverty issues throughout Scotland.

What is Scotland's vision for business over the next decade?

As with the majority of Europe, businesses in Scotland are transforming and changing the way they work, balancing short-term pressures with long term success and doing so without compromising long-term business, environmental and social sustainability.

Scotland has set the hugely ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. The 20:20 Climate Group aims to inspire businesses and broader society to do that leading by example and showing how and why we have to change. Through the 20:20 Climate Group, tough Government targets and leading sector expertise, Scotland is perfectly positioned as we move towards sustainable business. Organisations must now adopt the triple bottom line into core business with success being measured by impact on society, the environment and the economy.

Scottish Business in the Community is also working with CSR Europe towards the goals of Enterprise 2020, a business' contribution to the European Commission's growth strategy, Europe 2020 strategy = smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Enterprise 2020 brings companies and stakeholders together to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change and other key social issues through collaborative approaches to develop practical solutions to these issues. By focusing on internal and external business markets; inclusive societies through employability and diversity; health and wellbeing in the workplace and society; and transparency and disclosure of business reporting; Enterprise 2020 drives sustainable business and thus a sustainable economy.

How does being a part of a pan-European network, CSR Europe, add value to Scottish Business in the Community's activities?

Sustainability and CSR are a central focus of business throughout Europe. CSR Europe's extensive network of pan European partner organisations allows an opportunity to engage and share best practice with business leaders and stakeholders on an unrivalled platform. The network also provides an important portal for research findings and news vital to the work of Scottish Business in the Community, our member organisations and positioning Scotland within a European framework.

More information on Scottish Business in the Community can be found here.