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UK businesses are more interested in implementing CSR policies to impress employees than out of any desire to save the planet, according to research by business and financial advisers Grant Thornton.
The findings highlighted that 54% of UK businesses are influenced to move towards more ethically responsible practices by a desire to attract or retain staff, but only 30% are doing so because they are concerned about the planet.
Cost management is also a key factor, with 52% citing this as an important motivator.
And concern about public perception was mentioned by 48% of businesses, emphasising the extent to which CSR policies are now recognised as being an important element in creating brand profile.
Alysoun Stewart, head of entrepreneurial advisory at Grant Thornton, said: "Bottom line profitability will quite rightly be the greatest imperative for businesses, and given that the shortage of skilled staff is one of the biggest issues facing UK businesses it is easy to understand that attracting and retaining staff will be a top priority. However, it is encouraging to see CSR policies coming to the fore as an important element in the achievement of these objectives, recognising that such measures are good for business as well as good for the planet."
Government pressure was the least influential factor for UK business, with only one fifth (22%) saying such pressure would cause them to act. However, one area where government influence may be having an impact is waste management. October 31 2007 saw the introduction of new Government guidelines on waste management, which require businesses to treat their waste or face penalties for non-compliance. This may explain why waste management is the area that the largest number of UK businesses (83%) say they have improved on in the last year.
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