What is CSR?

CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. It is your company’s commitment to ethical business practices and sustainability. Beyond legal compliance, your initiatives are voluntary. They may include charitable giving, community engagement, and adopting more environmentally friendly work methods. 

No business that is not compliant with regulations and standards can be seen as responsible, so ensuring compliance is a first step. However, it is only the beginning, and companies with a strong approach to CSR go above and beyond what is required. 

What is ESG?

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) consists of a set of criteria that investors and stakeholders use to determine a company’s operations-based and sustainability-related risks and opportunities. 

On the environmental front, it considers impacts like carbon emissions and waste management. The social element examines how the company interacts with employees, suppliers, and communities. The governance element unpacks elements like leadership, audits, and the rights of shareholders. Since it is used to inform investors, ESG information is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. 

Similarities Between CSR and ESG

From these two definitions, you will likely identify some of the key similarities between ESG and CSR. Summing these up, they both:

• Seek to demonstrate a high standard of ethics and responsibility. 
• Examine the environmental and social impacts of a business while striving to minimise negative effects and increase positive impacts.
• Seek to engage stakeholders by demonstrating that the organisation is striving to uphold the well-being of employees, communities, and the environment.

However, the fact that these two similar-sounding things are, in truth, very different from one another cannot be overlooked. 

Differences Between CSR and ESG

The purpose, intended audience, and the very nature of CSR and ESG are vastly different. They are measured differently, regulated differently, and integrate differently with a business’s strategic intent. That’s quite a mouthful, so a more detailed explanation is in order. 

Purpose of CSR and ESG

CSR is voluntary. No authority or law requires a business to make CSR statements, although many do since it demonstrates the organisation’s values and drives goodwill. ESG, on the other hand, focuses on data and risk assessment. It is used to help businesses show regulatory compliance and aid business leaders and investors in their decision-making. 

Intended Audience For CSR and ESG Reports

CSR has a greater relationship-building focus. It strives to engage employees who feel they are working towards something positive and customers who hope to support ethical businesses. 

Community engagement also has potential benefits, as the wider community can influence prospective employees and customers. It is a key component of the environment in which a business operates. 

ESG can be viewed as a form of non-financial accounting, as it is used to inform investors and investment analysts while also drawing attention from regulatory bodies. 

How the Nature of CSR Differs From ESG

CSR is qualitative rather than quantitative. Although measurements can be included, they are not an absolute requirement. For example, a company may say it supports specific community initiatives or donates a percentage of its profits to charity, but absolute numbers are not required. ESG, by contrast, is based on measurables, and reports must be informed by objective data.  

CSR and ESG Measurements

In a related point, CSR documentation is often focused on narratives and is not standardised in any way. ISO 26000 offers a way to standardise CSR, but it remains voluntary and is used as guidance for businesses that hope to take the high road in terms of CSR. 

It is generally agreed that, just like accounting, ESG should use standardised reporting frameworks. In the UK, drafts of  UK SRS S1 and UK SRS S2 were tabled in 2025, and we can expect standardisation of ESG reporting to follow. 

Regulatory Requirements and Intervention

In the EU and the UK, CSR is largely unregulated, while ESG is increasingly subject to regulation. It certainly seems unlikely that regulators will come after your business if you fail to make a promised donation to a food bank, for example. However, when data is used to influence financial decisions, the stakes become higher, and regulatory intervention is likely if misrepresentations are made. 

Integration Into Business Strategies

While some CSR concepts may form part of a business’s strategy, and simply working to increase their business’s positive impacts can be seen as a strategy, many companies treat CSR as a separate matter. ESG information is very different. It will be integrated into risk management strategies and strategic plans. 

Business Size and CSR vs ESG

Most smaller businesses will not undertake a structured approach to ESG, although some sources recommend that they do so anyway. Corporate enterprises are another matter. Up to 88 percent of them have implemented ESG, and a similar percentage of investors say it is important to them. A growing number of countries require ESG from larger companies. By contrast, both small and large businesses can provide CSR information if they choose to. 

Differences Between CSR and ESG in Brief

We can sum all of this up quite neatly. CSR is what your business chooses to do, while ESG indicates what you are expected (and sometimes even required) to measure, how it will be measured, and how the results will be disclosed.

While CSR appears less weighty and “serious,” we believe that it should be taken very seriously indeed. After all, doing good things of your own volition is rather special and will mean more to your clients and beneficiaries than anything you are forced to do.

Our Top CSR Tip is a Golden Opportunity

It is not always possible for businesses to find ways to benefit society as a whole. Charitable giving offers some opportunities, but it is always limited by its cost. At RSVP, a business process outsourcing company based in London, we have discovered an effective way to benefit society and increase our customers’ profits. You can be part of it.

Our Restart initiative trains people who are soon to be released from prison to work as customer service representatives. It is a core business area in which we excel, and our trainees will earn money as they learn. 

Apart from having an opportunity to earn and save before their release, they will achieve a certified qualification and will stand a better chance of reassimilating into society. Research shows that finding employment after release reduces the potential for reoffending substantially. 

We are offering our trainees’ services at a lower cost than our premium offering, but we can assure you that all candidates given an opportunity to work already demonstrate competence and professionalism. Through Restart, your business can benefit society while enhancing your customer service, boosting customer satisfaction, and improving customer retention metrics. CSR really can be a not-to-be-missed opportunity. Contact us to find out more. 

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post The Differences Between CSR and ESG appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

This article examines the practical implications of different types of corporate social responsibility, illustrating how responsible businesses benefit their employees, owners, investors, society, and the environment in which we live. 

Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility

From wasteful resource use to pollution and urban sprawl, human activity has harmed the environment to the point where many people are at risk. A responsible business considers its negative environmental impacts and works to reduce or offset them. Examples of this include:

Limiting Waste 

Inefficient use of scarce resources is bad for everyone. By working more efficiently and minimising waste, companies can mitigate the negative impacts of their activities. This also improves profitability. After all, wasted resources equate to wasted costs.

Recycling

From packaging to office paper, a business can produce large volumes of waste that may end up in overburdened landfills. Many responsible businesses recycle waste, sending it to companies that recover useful materials. 

Limiting Energy Use

Although the UK is generating more clean energy these days, not all energy comes from clean sources. Some companies generate their own electricity and work from energy-efficient buildings that require less energy for heating, lighting, and cooling. 

Reducing Emissions

Factories are working hard to reduce emissions, and fleets are increasingly consisting of electric cars and trucks. Local sourcing is another strategy that helps to reduce transportation emissions. With reduced air pollution, we enjoy cleaner air, improved health, and a brighter future for our planet. 

Conserving Water

Surprisingly large amounts of water are needed to produce everyday products. Nowadays, responsible businesses are looking for ways to reduce water usage, and some even recycle their wastewater. Since drinking water is an increasingly rare resource, every bit helps. 

Ethical and Human Rights Corporate Social Responsibility

There are several significant topics to explore, with both local and global implications. Naturally, a responsible business works to maintain legal compliance and a high standard of ethics in its dealings with employees and the public. However, they can look beyond their own businesses, too. 

Monitoring supply chains for human rights abuses, such as child labour and modern slavery, are among the things businesses can do for the betterment of global society. A business is only as ethical as its supply chain, and with ever-improving traceability, it is becoming possible to vet suppliers more carefully than ever before.  

Economic Corporate Social Responsibility

Businesses are responsible to their customers, employees, investors, and governments for compliance with economic best practices. Apart from complying with laws and regulations, they must work to remain profitable, since only a profitable business can reliably serve its community. 

Another approach is to provide economic benefits to communities. For example, a company can choose to provide work opportunities in disadvantaged communities or help to revitalise neighbourhoods. 

Philanthropic Corporate Social Responsibility

When businesses are strong, are generating profits, and are confident that they are doing all they can to be responsible in their operations, they can look further afield to see how they can help people and the environment. 

They may donate some of their goods or profits to charitable organisations or community initiatives, hoping to better society and contribute to a better world. Other businesses may not have plentiful funds, but they can help by volunteering or collecting money for charities. 

Focus Areas That Some Businesses Highlight as Important Types of Corporate Social Responsibility

Some businesses highlight specific areas that fit into the 4 types of corporate social responsibility because they believe they can make the most difference there. For example, British Petroleum places special emphasis on the environment and its quest for net-zero operations. 

For many service-oriented companies, on the other hand, the people-oriented aspects are the top focus areas. They may strive to be equitable employers through diversity and inclusion programs, or they may focus on employee well-being and engagement. 

Financial service providers may place a particular emphasis on governance, demonstrating their economic and financial responsibility. Each company’s strategists should therefore think about the areas where they can make the most positive difference to the greatest number of people.

Save Money, Offer Better Customer Service, and Benefit Society With RSVP

As we have pointed out, responsible businesses can enhance their profits while benefitting others at the same time. You can partner with RSVP and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services to do just that. Here’s how you can save money, offer your customers better service, and help others all at the same time. 

RSVP, in partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services, has launched the Restart initiative. We provide accredited customer service training for people who have shown their commitment to rehabilitation and are nearing the end of their sentences. 

They get an opportunity to test their newfound skills and earn a little money by working through our call centre at Five Wells Prison. By the time they are released, they have valuable work experience and a qualification. We will even search for employment opportunities so that they step out of prison and into paid employment.

According to the Ministry of Justice’s statistics, this may reduce the chance of re-offending by as much as 50 percent. Rehabilitated prisoners benefit from a fresh start, and society benefits too. Meanwhile, you can help our best trainees gain valuable work experience. We will ensure that they understand how to represent your business effectively, and you can gain their services at a lower cost than our premium offering. It’s the ultimate win-win situation. 

Boost Your Business’s CSR Profile With RSVP

RSVP, a premium customer service company based in London, is proud of its trainees at HMP Five Wells. They will do you proud, too. To participate in this CSR initiative, simply talk to us about our Restart program. 

Our regular customer service and business process outsourcing activities continue as before. However, we believe that with Restart, we are offering a competitively priced service that will benefit you, your customers, and our successful trainees alike. Enquire today for a better tomorrow. 

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post The Different Types of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

While the latter type of CSR example may be considered a matter of pragmatism, it still offers benefits. In an ideal world, each company gives, supports, or forms CSR partnerships according to its capacity. From the big and bold to the low-profile yet thoughtful, there are many inspiring examples of corporate social responsibility out there.  

In a world where we are desperate for good news, these stories spanning a range of industries may inspire you, giving you aspirational or actionable tips for your responsible corporate future. 

Unilever

London-based Unilever has received many accolades for its approach to CSR. The company begins its approach to sustainability at home, taking care of worker wellbeing and promoting diversity. As a powerful company with worldwide influence, it may yet change the world through its funding of important research, including sustainable agriculture and water stewardship. 

One percent of the company’s pre-tax profits goes to community initiatives. Despite scaling back some of its ambitious sustainability goals, the company intends to have a worldwide positive impact through a focus on plastics reduction and recyclability, care for the environment, and community upliftment.  

Companies House: Leading the Way Through Sustainable Practices and Volunteering

It’s good to know that government entities are contributing to sustainability rather than just calling for it. Companies House explains that it uses carefully vetted supply chains and strives to limit its own waste and emissions. The organisation also sets a great example by volunteering for community initiatives.

Expecting your employees to “volunteer” their own free time is a clear case of doing CSR the wrong way. Companies House sets the CSR example by allowing each employee five workdays a year for volunteer activities. These include litter picking, volunteering at food banks, and doing free work at an animal welfare charity. 

Greggs: Doing Its Part To Make The World a Better Place

Greggs means business when it comes to baking, but also on the CSR front. Its Breakfast Clubs offer healthy breakfasts to children in need, and the company raises funds to support the BBC Children in Need program and other charitable initiatives. The company has committed to producing products that will be healthier choices for consumers and is absorbing the higher cost of free-range eggs for the sake of animal welfare. 

Abel & Cole: Responsibility and Generosity

Abel & Cole is renowned for its organic fruit and veg subscription service. As such, CSR is entwined with the business’s central activities and core values, and Abel & Cole goes beyond that by giving back, too. This RSVP customer donates, volunteers, and even collects children’s books for needy kids to learn from and enjoy. 

Apart from keeping its business activities as sustainable as it can, it collects plastics for recycling, uses less plastic, and offers customers the option of choosing refillable containers. Its voluntary sustainability report provides a great example of CSR and is recommended reading for companies seeking to develop a holistic approach to sustainability.

Audible: Fostering Access to Educational Content And More

We couldn’t resist featuring at least one more of our inspiring clients among our CSR examples, and we love this famous brand’s approach. Audible is helping the world by doing what it does best: offering audiobooks. Of course, not all students can afford educational resources like this, but the company has made a huge volume of content available to students for free. 

This will be particularly helpful to students in disadvantaged communities as they work to better their future prospects. From volunteering to promoting the arts, Audible is setting a great example that we hope will inspire you. 

Get Inspired with RSVP

Following Audible’s example, RSVP is giving back by using its core business strengths to serve the community. You can join us in building better futures, and the best part is that by supporting our initiative, you will get a professional business service for less. 

Our Restart Program works with G4S and His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service to give people who have atoned for past errors a fresh start in life. At the same time, it may contribute to safer communities. People who have paid their debt to society and are released from prison often reoffend for the simple reason that they are unable to find jobs. 

We make it easier for them to start a new life by providing an accredited training program at HMP Five Wells. Putting their newly learned skills into practice, soon-to-be-released prisoners get a chance to gain real work experience and earn a little money. We don’t stop there. Our trainees may even get offers of longer-term employment through our program. 

Restart Your CSR with RSVP

You benefit by allowing our trainees to act as your customer service call centre reps, and you’ll pay a discounted rate for a premium customer support service. We believe that our Restart program offers you an opportunity to give back while getting back. It’s a high-road solution for those who wish to boost their CSR profile through beneficial partnerships. 

We need your support to make Restart work for everyone, and we have turned this CSR opportunity into a profitable proposition for you. If you’re interested in learning more about our example of corporate social responsibility and what Restart can do for you and for others, simply get in touch.

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post Inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Examples appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

In addition to this, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting is on the rise, and there are plans to make it as important as your financial reporting in years to come. So, apart from helping you to build a positive reputation, CSR compliance seems set to become a set of activities all businesses will be required to commit to in future.

See some inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) examples here.

What is CSR Reporting?

CSR reporting is a form of transparency. It’s an area in which you show how your company takes responsibility for its own impacts on society and the environment and strives to support the best standards of ethics possible. For example, you may be committed to fair employment practices in your business and supply chain or try to minimise and offset any negative impacts your business and its suppliers have on the environment. 

Your customers will want to know that your business has high ethical standards. In your CSR reporting, you will state the principles you uphold clearly and explain how you are implementing them in practice. 

Once you have placed your own internal policies and practices under the microscope, you can talk about the positive things your business does outside of its day-to-day business activities. For example, your business supports specific community initiatives or donates part of its profits to worthy charities. Clearly state specific causes you contribute to, how you do it, and what your positive impacts may be.

Then, it’s a matter of tracking your results, looking for areas for further improvement, and making this information available to customers, stakeholders and, when required, to the government.  

Why is CSR Reporting Important?

By reporting your business’s CSR profile, you are showing that you accept accountability for your business’s role in society. Not only that, you are working to have a positive impact while minimising any unavoidable negative impacts. 

By doing this, you build trust and engagement, not only with the public but with internal stakeholders. Employees, investors, and customers will feel that they are putting their time, energy, and resources into a business that is worthy of their respect and loyalty. 

More pragmatically, you are managing long-term risks. For example, by being as economical as possible with resources, you are building a business that has a greater chance of being sustainable in the long term. In addition, you may have an advantage over competitors who do not work as responsibly as you do. As a result, you may win market share from them. 

Reporting Frameworks That Support CSR

Corporate social responsibility is not a once-off action. It is a constant striving toward a set of goals that benefit everyone. Reporting frameworks that support this include: 

• The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards provide a framework for reporting both positive and negative impacts your organisation may have. This helps you to track progress and keep working towards your sustainability goals.
• International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards include ISO 14001, which focuses on your environmental management system and provides a framework for continuous environmental improvement.
• Principles for Responsible Investments (PRI) is supported by the United Nations. It encourages its signatories to invest responsibly with the aim of developing a more sustainable global financial system.
• The United Nations Global Compact supports businesses that are working to contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs). These goals include social and environmental goals while recognising the need for continued profitability.

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting Laws

The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive came into effect in 2024. Its initial rollout only requires large companies to submit formal CSR reports. However, the EU says that it has plans to extend this regulation to smaller enterprises in the future. 

The EU intends this form of reporting to accelerate the pace of change as businesses integrate CSR principles into their strategic priorities, recognising sustainability as a strategic opportunity. Reporting responsibilities are extensive and include the submission of data spanning 1,000 indicators. 

Environmental and Ethical Reporting in the UK

The UK government aims to develop a framework for environmental reporting and is still in a consultative process to prepare for a rollout at the time of writing. It aims to align itself with the International Sustainability Standards Board’s sustainability reporting baseline as part of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation.

On the ethics front, a growing body of law ensures that society is protected from abuses, and these laws are refined on an ongoing basis. Here, we can consider areas like employment law and financial ethics that exclude abuses like bribery and money laundering.  

What Are CSR Audits?

CSR audits are not yet a legal requirement. However, they help companies to identify and address CSR-related risks and develop strategies to counter them. Principles include looking beyond your business to its supply chain and seeking ways to improve the lot of at-risk people and communities. 

At present, CSR audits are still a voluntary exercise that aims to help you make a difference where it matters most. They also help you identify sources of reputational harm for your company. For example, if child labour is used in your supply chain, your business may ultimately be held accountable for supporting this practice. 

Sustainability Reporting For Small and Medium Enterprises

The UN notes that sustainability reporting in its most extensive form presents a challenge for smaller organisations and has expressed concern that the cost of formal reporting can be too high for them to contemplate. However, the UN says that global standards are converging, making it somewhat easier for smaller businesses to understand which standards they should help uphold. 

The organisation calls for governments to seek ways to make full sustainability reporting more accessible to smaller businesses. Meanwhile, Global Reporting Initiative standards and reference to the UN’s sustainable development goals can provide a starting point for businesses that would like to begin implementing CSR reporting. 

How RSVP is Reaching Out to Benefit Society, and How You Can Help

At RSVP, we have always prided ourselves on our track record of fair and ethical conduct toward our employees and customers. Now, we are taking it to the next level. We are donating our time and resources to the training of HMP inmates at Five Wells who are serving the last two years of their sentences and have demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation. 

Apart from certified training, they will receive real-life work experience and earn money they can save toward their reentry into society. As skilled customer service representatives, they stand a far better chance of finding work after their release. In fact, we will even seek opportunities for our alumni. 

While RSVP will continue to offer its premium service, we are also encouraging new customers to support our Restart initiative. They will receive access to RSVP’s services at a lower cost while supporting a worthy cause. Clients can rest assured that our trainees will be properly equipped to represent their businesses and will be highly motivated to succeed. 

Contact us today to find out how you can benefit society through our Restart program while receiving a valuable service for less.

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporting appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

Those that do take all the elements of Carroll’s pyramid of social responsibility into account, even when they have never seen this way of defining it, are universally respected. Consumers notice, employees are proud of it, and other businesses strive to emulate it. This article examines Carroll’s pyramid from its foundations to its apex. Where does your business stand? Here is where you find out. 

Carroll’s CSR Pyramid Levels

The Foundation: Economic Responsibility

A responsible business is financially stable. It fulfils its purpose, namely, the ability to make profits. As such, it is a business that consumers, employees, and shareholders can rely on. It contributes to society by providing stability and supporting economic growth. 

Legal Responsibilities

There are times when legal compliance can be an onerous task. However, laws and regulations are all there for good reason, and no responsible business shirks its responsibility to comply with the law. Many of these laws relate to safety and fairness, so without compliance, businesses place individuals and society at risk. 

Ethical Responsibilities

There are areas that may not be prohibited by law but still do not stand up to scrutiny as being “right.” In simple terms, just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should. Providing a positive workplace culture, for example, isn’t, strictly speaking, a law. But recognising your employees as people deserving of individual recognition and understanding is the right thing to do. 

You can also look beyond your business to your supply chains, ensuring that all contributors, even those not governed by UK law, are working in an ethical way. By including supply chain choices in your business’s ethics, you encourage other entities to work in ways that benefit society and the environment. 

The Apex of Carroll’s Pyramid: Philanthropic Responsibilities

Once you have built your way up, ensuring that all elements that are directly under your control represent best practice, it’s time to look further afield. How can your business share some of its prosperity with others?

Philanthropic giving, whether it be time, money, or other resources, helps to uplift society and the environment in which we live. In contributing to causes, you are going the “extra mile.” 

How Does Carroll’s CSR Pyramid Compare to Other CSR Models?

While other CSR models recognise the same elements of CSR as Carroll depicted in his pyramid, not all of them agree on the pyramid form. For example, the Intersecting Circle Model of CSR depicts each element in a series of intersecting circles. 

The reason for choosing this depiction is that each element overlaps with the other, creating harmonies and sometimes conflicts. In essence, the philosophy is that CSR is not a hierarchy. Instead, it is a series of equally-important elements that act upon each other. 

The Concentric Circle Model of CR places economic responsibility at the core of a series of concentric circles presented in the same order as Carroll’s pyramid. Again, the rejection of a hierarchy underlies the thinking behind this model. From the core outward, each element of CSR embraces the preceding circles. 

Finally, some companies prefer numerical models. For example, they may set percentages of time, equity, and profits to be used for the benefit of others. 

The Benefits of Carroll’s Pyramid

Although the thinking behind other CSR models remains valid, Carroll’s pyramid offers an easily understandable representation of the priorities businesses should bear in mind. For instance, it would be reckless to engage in giving if financial stability is in question, and it would be hypocritical to do so when legal and ethical matters have not been prioritised internally. 

Many businesses have been accused of CSR-washing – trying to make themselves look good through charitable acts even though their businesses may have negative impacts on people and the environment. By paying attention to Carroll’s order of priority, striving to reach the apex of the pyramid, they can be confident that they are not diluting what should be an internal focus with an external one. 

Latest Trends in Carroll’s CSR Pyramid

Various adjustments to Carrol’s pyramid have been proposed. Among these is the suggestion that legal compliance should represent the foundation of economic stability, occupying the bottom of the pyramid. This is a logical proposal in that economic stability without legal compliance is unlikely. 

Further suggestions include building a footing below that, consisting of beliefs, values, and assumptions informed by the broader environment. Again, this adds depth to Carroll’s model, allowing organisations to align their CSR with pressing external needs and internal values. 

Another suggestion proposed by researchers involves adding a layer of innovation between each level of Carroll’s pyramid. This would allow for fresh perspectives with the potential for enhancing overall business sustainability and approaches to philanthropy. 

Nestlé reinvented Carroll’s pyramid, adding some elements of its own. It proposes that compliance and human rights should share the base of the pyramid with environmental sustainability issues in the next tier. It also suggests that “philanthropy” should be replaced with the concept of creating shared value, addressing issues like water, nutrition, and rural development. 

See some inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) examples here.

RSVP Restart: A Sterling Example of Shared Value

The notion of giving to beneficiaries and society while also getting something back forms the backbone of RSVP’s Restart Program and is the essence of shared value creation. As a leading London-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company with a focus on sales and customer service, we have found a way for us and our customers to work together for the benefit of all. 

Partnering with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, we are extending training, a qualification, real-world workplace experience, an ability to earn, and potential for employment upon release to rehabilitated prisoners whose release date is drawing near. 

You Benefit

Clients who support this program will receive RSVP’s services, under our oversight, from imprisoned people who are preparing to re-enter society. We will undertake to offer the same quality of service for less. The mutual benefits are significant. 

We Benefit

We offer a way to give back, and we invest our time and resources, but we also train individuals we may one day employ. Meanwhile, we benefit from the efforts of our highly-motivated trainees. 

They Benefit

People can make life-altering mistakes. They should not pay the price forever after. However, the stigma follows rehabilitated prisoners – they may struggle to find employment after their release and have difficulty caring for their families. We will seek ways to deploy our trainees productively after their release from HMP Five Wells. 

Society Benefits

Reoffending should not be the only career option for former prisoners. Indeed, research has shown that people who find employment after imprisonment are far less likely to reoffend. Statistics spanning two years after prisoners’ release show a 50 percent lower likelihood of those with employment returning to crime. 

Enquire Today And Boost Your CSR Profile While Benefiting From RSVP-Quality Service

Through our Restart Program, we offer a perfect circle of benefits for all, and we encourage you to explore this program with us. Remember, RSVP’s call centre and BPO services are renowned for their excellence. We partner with you to build stronger businesses and a better world for everybody. Contact us today for more information.

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility Explained appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

Of course, you don’t help others because you want to be rewarded – but it’s rather nice knowing there’s a sort of instant karma. As the saying goes: “We do well by doing good.” Today’s post looks at the many business benefits of corporate social responsibility and offers you an opportunity to help others while reaping direct rewards. 

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility means more than just supporting the occasional charity. It’s a mindset that’s deeply ingrained in an organisation’s culture – at least, that’s how it should be. It begins in your own backyard: limiting environmental impacts, choosing supply chain partners with care, and treating your staff and your customers fairly.

Once you’re confident that your business is doing everything it can to treat people and the environment well in its day-to-day operations, it’s time to look beyond it. Decide which causes your business can support, either by donating time or money. Consider optimising benefits to others by working with community groups, other businesses, or government organisations. 

See some inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) examples here.

Business Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility

While corporate social responsibility shouldn’t be a tawdry publicity stunt, there are good reasons not to keep quiet about what your business does for society and the environment. If you need an altruistic reason for letting others know about your CSR initiatives, here it is. 

By showing how you serve others, you’ll inspire people and other businesses to join in. The more people there are that are helping, the greater the benefits to the causes that matter to you. At the same time, your business benefits. 

Increased Employee Engagement

It’s no secret that people want to experience a sense of purpose in the work they do. As part of that, they want to know that their employers’ ethics match their own and their work benefits society. 

While this has a lot to do with job design, simply knowing that companies care about those around them and are doing something to improve life for other people contributes. People want to be proud of the businesses they work for, and corporate social responsibility fosters that feeling.

Attract Top Talent

When you help others, people admire what you do. They want to become part of it. When you advertise vacancies, top-flight candidates will see an excellent CSR profile as an indication of a positive workplace culture. After all, who doesn’t want to work for a caring employer? 

Increased Customer and Brand Loyalty

When people support brands, they like to know that they’re doing their best to make the world a better place. If they’re in love with your approach to CSR, they’re more likely to remain loyal to your brand and business. 

Studies show that 50 percent of customers are willing to pay more for goods and services when providers demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Greater Consumer Trust

According to the World Economic Forum, consumers are increasingly turning towards brands they feel uphold their values. Factors like your environmental ethics and the social and environmental causes you support make them feel that your business can be trusted. 

When a business goes above and beyond to do the “right thing,” customers have greater confidence that you’ll do right towards them too.   

Positive Publicity

Of course, you don’t make positive publicity the reason for helping others, but by publicising your efforts, you also publicise the causes you support. Everybody wins. Your causes get noticed, and as a spinoff benefit, your business gains recognition. You may attract new customers, and in doing so, you’ll have improved turnover, better profits and more resources you can put towards helping others.

Cost Savings

As part of corporate social responsibility, you’ll work to reduce waste and pollution. Because your business achieves more with less, you can benefit the environment while saving costs. For example, a food business that works to reduce food waste will have a positive impact on the amount of greenhouse gases it emits, will utilise production inputs better, and ultimately stands to profit.  

CSR Opportunity: Save Costs, Enhance Customer Service, and Help Others

RSVP presents a CSR opportunity that’s too good to overlook. As leading customer service specialists in the UK, we’ve partnered with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services and G4S to create the Restart Customer Service initiative. Here’s where you enter the picture and gain savings while boosting your CSR profile. 

Get Premium Services for Less

RSVP has gained a reputation for being a cut above the rest when it comes to outsourced customer service. Now, you can benefit from quality, human-centred customer service for less while helping people and benefitting society at large. 

What We’re Doing

Enhanced Status Prisoners have demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation. As their release date draws near, their big worry is how they’ll be able to find work. The stigma is real. Can they make a fresh start?

Beginning during their last two years of incarceration, RSVP customer service specialists provide training that prepares them for customer roles. Once they’ve mastered the art, they deserve opportunities to practice it and will benefit from paid work and experience – while they are still in prison. 

We’ve set up a call centre at HMP Five Wells to help them do just that. We know our trainees there have the necessary skills to help your customers. All they need is a chance to show their worth, and then on their release we’ll work to ensure there are job offers they can simply step into. 

How You Can Help – And Create Benefits For All

Give our Restart Initiative’s people an opportunity to become the valued members of society they want to be. Let us know about your interest in subscribing to quality outsourced customer service for less. 

Together, we can create a lot of happiness: 

• You’ll be pleased with the way Restart candidates serve your clients
• You pay less for trained customer service agents
• You earn a reputation as a company that cares about others
• Your customers are delighted with the service they receive
• Your staff members are proud of your contribution to society
• Your customers are happy to know that you’re supporting a worthy cause
• Our Restart beneficiaries gain skills and earn money they can use to build a new life after incarceration
• Employment brings with it a reduced risk of re-offending, so society becomes a beneficiary too

Let’s Work Together For a Better World

Whether you directly support our Restart program or prefer to work with our more experienced employees, you can rest assured that you’re supporting a business that is doing what it can to uplift others. This includes your customers and your business. 

Human-centered service shows you care about your customers. And RSVP has decades of experience uplifting brand images through sales and customer service. Contact us today and let’s work together!

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post The Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility): A Definition

Beginning with the basics, here’s a simple definition of CSR. Companies can benefit society in many ways. This includes:

• Launching or supporting projects that benefit society.
• Being kind to the environment and supporting organisations that do important work to safeguard it.
• Actively working to further human rights or supporting human rights organisations.
• Giving a little of your and your employees’ time to help others. This could be volunteering, running your own fundraisers, and even providing free training to marginalised people. 
• Running your business with environmental and social ethics as non-negotiable principles. This includes responsible sourcing, reducing your carbon footprint, recycling, having an inclusive business culture, and more. 

Some definitions of CSR say it’s a case of people and planet over profits – but the beauty of CSR is that you can do a lot with a little – and it can even boost your business. More on this shortly. 

Corporate Social Responsibility Examples

At RSVP, we’re doing our bit with an exciting project that helps people nearing the end of prison sentences to launch a new career in customer service. They’ll earn a little money as they work, and we help them with job offers, making it easier for them to reintegrate into society without re-offending. While we’re excited about this project, we’d love to highlight some other examples of CSR in action that might inspire you. 

• BT supports SOS Children’s Villages, an organisation that helps rural African children improve their lives and break free of the cycle of poverty. It also raises funds for other worthy causes. 
• Besides supporting a variety of children’s charities, Greggs has created the Greggs Foundation, which supports community projects. The bakery also offers a range of programmes that make it easier for people to find employment. 
• What if all you have to give is a little of your time? There are many opportunities to help others with this gift. For example, Cancer Research UK runs multiple fundraising events. Volunteers make it possible. 

Naturally, businesses with a great CSR reputation are working to keep their operations and supply chains as environmentally appropriate and people-friendly as possible. 

See more CSR examples here.

How CSR Benefits You

Although it might feel odd to think that your giving means you’ll also get something back, there are tons of benefits for companies that make CSR an integral part of their businesses. There’s an old-fashioned notion that you should keep quiet about the good things you do, but going public inspires others to follow your example. Here are some of the direct benefits your CSR initiatives bring back to you. 

• Boost your company’s image and inspire customer loyalty and trust. 70 percent of people would like to know how your business benefits society. They’re proud to support organisations that work for a better world.
• Inspire and engage your employees. If they care about the causes you support and feel proud to be part of the initiatives you undertake, they will have a strengthened sense of purpose.
• Team-building is an additional benefit when you make the right CSR choices. Participating in activities that support a good cause can be fun, bringing your employees closer together as a team. 
• Attract the best job applicants by sharing your CSR initiatives publicly. Jobseekers want to work for businesses with a positive culture. 
• You can reduce costs through CSR, too. Simply cutting down on waste, pollution, and emissions has a positive impact – and it can save you money at the same time. 

Corporate Social Responsibility: What to Avoid

There are ways to do “CSR” that will actually damage your company. Here are a few examples of CSR gone wrong. 

Greenwashing

So-called “Greenwashing,” trying to make your business look better than it really is, can be terribly offputting and have the opposite effect of what CSR should achieve. The truth will come out. Consumers will see greenwashing as the hypocrisy it is, and brands can suffer irreparable harm. 

Lesson learned: be sincere and never try to mislead anyone. 

Not Considering Your Customers and Employees

Before you embark on a well-intentioned CSR programme that falls flat, do your homework. What matters to your customers? What matters to your employees? Consult them to help you shortlist ideas that they’ll support. Give them ongoing feedback. They’ll feel valued and involved. 

Lesson learned: Never assume an idea you think is great is going to get support. Listen to others. 

Treating CSR as a Publicity Stunt and Nothing More

People can spot hypocrisy a mile off. While you can and should benefit from positive publicity for your CSR, don’t do it for that reason alone. When you focus on benefitting others, you’ll automatically benefit yourself. But if you have nothing but selfish intentions, it’s just smoke and mirrors and everyone will see through it. 

Lesson learned: Focus on long-term benefits for others. 

Not Working to Address Your Own Shortcomings

Emissions, waste, child labour in your supply chain – whatever your negative impacts on the world, don’t try to sweep them under the carpet. Walk the talk. Show what you’re doing to make things better. Do your utmost and be open about any challenges you still face. 

Lesson learned: Clean up your own backyard before trying to claim kudos as a responsible company. 

Trying to Do it All Yourself

You can make a tiny difference on your own – or you can get more and better results by working with others. Partner with your customers, suppliers, local government, and charitable organisations to maximise your positive impact. RSVP’s Restart Programme is a great example of partnerships that make a positive difference.

Lesson learned: No organisation or business is an island. Work together for the greater good.

Expecting Your Employees and Customers to Do It All

Add a little extra to the price of specially labelled products to support a cause. Expect your employees to “volunteer” in their free time. Rake in the goodwill. 

Wake-up call: this doesn’t work! Match that donation that’s included in a product’s price and tell your customers how it works. Involve employees during work hours. Bring your share to the table and let your customers or employees get the recognition they deserve. 

Lesson learned: If you involve customers or employees, always match or exceed their efforts. 

See some inspirational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) examples here.

Corporate Social Responsibility UK: How We Can Work Together

Putting our heads together, the RSVP team realised that it has much to give – including skills development to a group of people who need our help. Once prisoners have served their terms, they may be eager to make a fresh start – but society and circumstances can make this hard to do.

Partnering with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and G4S, our Restart initiative offers Enhanced Status Prisoners training, paid work, and the prospect of longer-term employment after their release. These are people who have demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation. More than anything, they want an opportunity to prove themselves as valuable members of society. We’re helping them do just that.

Through training, qualifications, paid real-world work before their release, and offers of employment afterwards, they’ll step out with everything they need to start anew. Adding to our contribution, we’ve made our Restart Customer Service offering a very competitively priced service your company can subscribe to. Our call centre trainees at HMP Five Wells are trained and equipped by RSVP, one of the UK’s leading customer service agencies. You get a premium service for less while helping others.

There are potential benefits to the prisoners we help – but our work benefits society too. With employment, released prisoners are far less likely to re-offend, so helping them “restart” benefits everyone. If you’re interested in working with us to make all of this possible, get in touch with RSVP. By working together, we can do so much more. 

Read more about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The post What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? appeared first on RSVP Call Centre.