Businesses must take a hard look in the mirror to understand their corporate purpose February 11, 2020 Fifty years ago, Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman published an article in which he analysed the relationship between business and corporate social responsibility. The commentary was driven by the principle that the sole responsibility of business was “to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within [...]
Don’t dismiss the apprenticeship levy — it could fix the UK’s productivity puzzle February 11, 2020 The UK economy is not what it was 50 or even 20 year ago. We are an economy driven by services, data, and technology. As such, we need skilled managers to run the teams and operations that keep UK businesses at the forefront of innovation and change. The apprenticeship levy is a brilliant tool for [...]
The value of trust in an age of fake news February 10, 2020 | Sponsored Ipsos MORI may be best known for its political polls during the run up to a General Election, but that is only a tiny part of its business. Far more of its time and resources are devoted to conducting market research for a wide range of major organisations. It is an industry where trust is [...]
Art is food for the soul, so why not hang up a Picasso in the office? February 10, 2020 In recent years, we have seen businesses commit to new mental health initiatives, from training mental health first aiders to developing mindfulness apps, yoga classes at the office, plants, and bringing in pets. Employers of all sizes are looking for ways to keep their workforce happy and motivated. And rightly so — the global cost [...]
With apprenticeships, firms can teach old dogs new tricks February 7, 2020 We are living through extraordinary times. Disruptive tech innovations, dizzying political upheavals, and growing public demand for action on issues from inequality to the environment are all contributing to a landscape of unprecedented change. But we are still clinging to outdated ideas of how — and when — we should gain new skills. The use [...]
FTSE boards must turn intent into action when it comes to ethnic diversity February 6, 2020 “One by 21” was a target that seemed realistic in 2017. However, three years on and it is less clear whether the ambition of having one ethnic minority director on each FTSE 100 board by next year is achievable. It is impossible to deny that there has been movement in the last few years. Since [...]
The clock is ticking: Why it’s time to address IR35 February 5, 2020 There has been a lot of noise around IR35, the updated government intermediaries legislation. Generally, it seems to be leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths. And that’s the trouble with some taxation changes: their interpretation and intent can be tarnished with a negative brush. Instead of fuelling the current conversation, is it time to [...]
You’re never too old to start a business: Why we need to harness senior enterprise February 5, 2020 With a rapidly-ageing demographic across Europe, it is time to re-evaluate not only our own attitudes towards older people, but also the value of senior enterprise and their contribution to society. By 2020, the over-50s in the UK will make up nearly one third of the working-age population, and almost half of the adult population. [...]
Demystifying corporate social responsibility: It’s not just about ‘do-gooders’ February 4, 2020 When Nationwide Building Society asked us to maximise the impact of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) function, we were very excited. Nationwide already had a deeply embedded sense of social responsibility. The brand was born out of a social purpose, and since 2007 it has been committed to investing at least one percent of its [...]
Businesses and young people should embrace the apprenticeship revolution February 3, 2020 If you are looking for a business leader of the future, look no further than Jamilah. Her peers are yet to graduate from university, and this brilliant digital marketeer already has a qualification and a role at Google on her CV. Jamilah, and thousands like her, are taking advantage of new apprenticeship opportunities, shaking up [...]