The Benefits of Investing in CSR Partnerships

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a business approach that aims to balance the interests of a company with those of society and the environment. A CSR policy outlines a company's commitment to ethical and sustainable practices and can have numerous benefits for both the company and the community.

Traditionally, Agenor has always been invested in supporting our local community through fundraising, sponsorship and donations to good causes that are close to the hearts of our employees.

This Blog looks to demonstrate how CSR partnerships can be a win-win for both parties, by helping to create a positive impact in the community while also providing benefits to the company.

In the last 2 years we have looked to reinforce our CSR commitments by entering more formal partnerships with three fantastic organisations:

1. Agenor's Partnership with Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL)

VOCAL is a charity who supports and empowers unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian through individual support, information, training and access to free services.

Partnership benefits for VOCAL:

• Promotion: Agenor promotes the services of VOCAL through our own marketing channels and website.
• Fundraising: Agenor staff have raised funds for VOCAL via a sponsored Kiltwalk, the Edinburgh Marathon and an Agenor Team Parachute jump.
• Volunteer Support: Agenor staff provide a ‘collection and delivery’ service of mobility equipment to support VOCAL’S Treasure Tree shop in Ocean Terminal.

Partnership benefits for Agenor:

• Education: VOCAL provided education and support to Agenor in developing a comprehensive Carers policy which support the rights of our employees who are carers.
• Employee engagement: VOCAL have provided volunteering opportunities which help our staff feel more connected to the company's values, and which can lead to increased employee engagement and retention.
• Recognition & Accreditation: Partnering with VOCAL has enabled Agenor to achieve Carer Positive ‘Established’ employer status and meet the commitments required to sign up to the Scottish Business Pledge.

2. Agenor's Partnership with The Edinburgh Remakery

The Edinburgh Remakery is an environmental social enterprise with a vision to create a culture of sustainable, waste-free living, and protect our planet for future generations.

Partnership benefits for Edinburgh Remakery:

• Volunteer Support: Agenor volunteers supported the Remakery to move their office location from Leith Walk to Ocean Terminal, providing manpower and use of a transit van.
• Supporting the Circular Economy: Agenor donates all of their old IT equipment to the Remakery for reuse and also sponsors one of their Tech Donation boxes, located in the Charteris Centre, where people in the local community can also donate their unwanted tech devices for reuse or sustainable disposal.
• Knowledge Transfer – Agenor provided information and advice to the Remakery on how to become an ISO 27001 Accredited business (which they now are!).

Partnership benefits for Agenor:

• Free & Sustainable Tech Disposal: Agenor use Edinburgh Remakery’s free and environmentally friendly way for businesses to pass on their old IT equipment for reuse
• Information Security: Edinburgh Remakery provide evidence of the safe destruction of confidential data (very useful when our external ISO27001 audit takes place!)
• Employee Engagement: Agenor volunteers supported the Remakery to move premises from Leith Walk to Ocean Terminal, providing a great opportunity for our people to get involved in giving something back to the local community.

3. Agenor's Partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS)

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is on the frontline of the NHS, despatching immediate medical assistance or clinical advice to over 5 million people across Scotland.

Partnership benefits for SAS:

• Wellbeing & Moral Support: Since August 2022 Agenor employees have been supporting Kirkcaldy Ambulance staff one day a month by providing tea, coffee and biscuits to ambulance crews who are queuing outside the emergency department with their patients, waiting for them to be admitted.

Partnership benefits for Agenor:

• Employee engagement: By fostering a culture of corporate responsibility, Agenor hope to attract and retain talented employees who are committed to making a difference. Having the opportunity to volunteer for SAS is a great way for our employees to make a tangible difference to our community.

Summary

Our experience with our CSR Partners over the past couple of years has been hugely positive. It has demonstrated to us, and hopefully our partners, that there is much to be gained by both parties from having a formal CSR partnership agreement in place.

For our partners, who are Not for Profit organisations, it gives them access to much needed support through additional funding, willing volunteers, and other skills and resources that they would not have been able to easily afford otherwise.

For Agenor, there are clear commercial benefits from improved brand awareness and reputation; reduced waste and improved operational efficiency; and increased staff engagement, all of which impacts positively on our bottom line. In addition, our CSR Partner work has helped us attain a Silver Medal award from EcoVadis, who are a leading global sustainability ratings provider. This in turn helps to build and maintain stronger relationships with all stakeholders, including our clients, who have the added assurance via EcoVadis that we are operating to the highest possible ethical and sustainability standards.

As result, we believe these benefits outlined above make a strong case, for companies who haven’t yet done so, to look at developing and implementing their own CSR policies for the benefit of all their own stakeholders.

If anyone would like to find out more about how we’ve gone about developing our CSR policy and partnerships, please do get in touch directly with tony.smith@agenor.co.uk or kevin.rooney@agenor.co.uk. We’ll be happy to share our experience.

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