The issue
This well known UK retail and entertainments group encompasses a chain of high street and out of town retail stores (supplying confectionery, children's toys and clothes, music and games, furniture and household products), and also media distribution companies. The group became interested in CSR for a number of reasons, including:
- Questions from investors and indices (e.g. Business in the Community’s CR Index);
- Observation that competitors were beginning to produce CSR reports, and desire to publish information of their own;
- Feeling of "exposure" in supply chain, especially sourcing children's products and household items from Asia; and
- Legacy of interest in the issue from its former parent company.
Our approach
Our first task was to establish CSR risks and opportunities across the group, and compare these to best practice. We worked with the Internal Audit function to interview those involved in the components of CSR (HR, EHS, Supply Chain, Environment, Quality, Charity & Community, PR) within the group and operating companies. We asked them about their vision for CSR, their governance arrangements, management practices and data currently collected. We then compared the group's approach to that taken by other similar companies in the UK, and to the requirements of the leading CSR indices.
We prepared a report illustrating current CSR risks and opportunities, management activities compared with best practice, benchmarking results, quick wins and longer term recommendations. We highlighted areas in which the group could quickly begin to report its progress. Our findings were presented to senior management.
We then assisted the company in implementing our recommendations, such as establishing the terms of reference for a CSR Committee and a framework for the group's first CSR report.
The outcome
The company appreciated having an independent third party assist in understanding current internal and wider CSR practice, and recommend practical steps for improvement. Our work helped the client identify areas of good practice and those where further action is required. The evidence of success is in the outputs – the group CSR Committee has now had its second meeting, and a first CSR report was published on the corporate website in summer 2003. We are continuing to provide ongoing support as required.
