Business in the Community

Business in the Community
Name	Business in the Community
Formation	1982
Type	Non-profit organisation
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom
Leader title	Chief Executive

Business in the Community is a British non-profit organisation established in 1982 to promote responsible business practices among corporations across the United Kingdom. It situates corporate responsibility within broader social and environmental challenges and engages firms from sectors including finance, retail, energy and manufacturing. The organisation interfaces with public institutions, multinational corporations and civil society actors to advance workplace inclusion, environmental sustainability and community investment.

History

Founded in 1982 during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher and amid debates following the Falklands War and the Winter of Discontent, the organisation emerged as part of a wider shift in corporate engagement exemplified by bodies like the Prince's Trust and initiatives linked to Prince Charles. Early activities paralleled developments such as the Brundtland Report and the rise of concepts promoted at the Rio Earth Summit and by actors including Shell plc and Unilever. During the 1990s the organisation expanded alongside corporate codes developed after incidents like the Bhopal disaster and corporate scandals involving firms listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the 2000s it adapted to regulatory and voluntary frameworks influenced by the Companies Act 2006, the Kyoto Protocol and reporting practices similar to those of KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and Ernst & Young. Post-2010 its agenda intersected with campaigns around the Living Wage, workplace diversity debates influenced by the Equality Act 2010 and sustainability imperatives framed by the Paris Agreement.

Mission and Objectives

The organisation states objectives aligned with responsible business commitments championed by bodies such as United Nations Global Compact, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and standards like ISO 26000. Its remit includes promoting inclusion policies resonant with the aims of Stonewall (charity), improving supply chain practices referenced in contexts like Fairtrade International and driving environmental action akin to initiatives led by Greenpeace and WWF. It seeks to influence corporate practice through benchmarking comparable to frameworks used by CDP and Global Reporting Initiative.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs have spanned workplace inclusion schemes that echo campaigns from Business Disability Forum and Race Equality Foundation, skills development partnerships modeled after City & Guilds of London Institute and community investment programs similar to those run by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Nesta. Environmental initiatives mirror efforts by Friends of the Earth and engage with corporate emissions reduction practices seen at National Grid plc and British Petroleum. The organisation has run mentoring and leadership projects that draw parallels with Teach First and corporate volunteering models used by BNP Paribas and Barclays PLC.

Structure and Governance

Governance aligns with typical UK charity and company structures overseen by boards comparable to those of Oxfam, Shelter and Save the Children. It works with CEOs and senior executives from firms such as HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco and Marks & Spencer and coordinates advisory panels reminiscent of mechanisms used by National Health Service trusts and British Red Cross. Senior staff liaise with policy institutions like Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters point to measurable outcomes in areas paralleled by studies from Institute for Fiscal Studies, IPPR and Nesta on employment and social mobility. Campaign successes have been compared to the influence of the Living Wage Foundation and corporate change documented by The Guardian and Financial Times. Critics draw on analyses by Corporate Watch and academic work at London School of Economics and University of Oxford to argue about efficacy, noting tensions similar to debates over corporate social responsibility raised in cases like Volkswagen emissions scandal and controversies involving Amazon (company). Questions have arisen about greenwashing allegations seen in sectors represented by Shell plc and governance concerns paralleling those raised in high-profile inquiries such as the Leveson Inquiry.

Partnerships and Membership

Membership encompasses multinational corporations, regional firms and public bodies with ties comparable to partnerships between NatWest Group and Social Investment Business. It collaborates with charities including Cancer Research UK, Shelter and British Heart Foundation as well as trade bodies like the Confederation of British Industry. International links reflect engagement with World Economic Forum participants and networks like Business for Social Responsibility and International Chamber of Commerce.

Funding and Financials

Funding streams mirror hybrid models used by organisations such as Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and British Council, combining membership fees from firms like Rolls-Royce and BP, grants from foundations comparable to the Wellcome Trust and income from consultancy and events similar to revenue models of TED and Institute of Directors. Financial oversight follows reporting practices consistent with Charity Commission for England and Wales guidelines and audit standards applied by firms like Grant Thornton.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom