OXFORDSHIRE COMPANIES LEAD THE WAY WITH BETTER BUSINESS Why and how the way you do business can improve your business Written by: Grant Hayward
Growing evidence shows that companies placing “purpose” at the heart of what they do can lead to stronger and more profitable business. Building upon articles in previous issues of B4, we take a closer look at what that means and more ways in which some B4 members are adapting to this new environment placing them in prime positions as employers of choice, preferred suppliers and attractive to investors Dominic Hare - Blenheim
Seacourt printing
The evidence
Better Business
A recent Harvard Business Review Executive survey suggested: “Organisations that embody Purpose see significant, measurable results”: Evidence set out in that report and Building The Case for A Connected Britain from Business In The Community suggests:
New B4 member, Seacourt, has created a company that they, collectively; the team at Seacourt, its clients, suppliers and all stakeholders are proud of and truly believe in. They are all passionate about what they do, believe in their journey and have a shared ethos, working to the Triple Bottom Line of Environment, Society and Profit, something they also believe is the future and how all businesses need to work. They deliver this as Planet Positive Printing™.
• Employees are 1.4x more engaged, 3x more likely to stay with the organisation and most young people want to join a purposeful business • Customers - 89% believe they will get the highest quality products/services from such companies and are prepared to pay more for sustainable goods with 72% recommending them. • Performance - Purpose is considered a driver for innovation and transformation with an increasing number of examples of higher returns for shareholders. This is reinforced by evidence that investors are also seeking ways for their money to have social and environmental impact as well as a return on investment.
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Keen to share the benefits of operating in this way, Seacourt took a leading role to establish “Better Business”, designed and funded to help Oxfordshire businesses become environmentally sustainable. It addresses the challenge faced by many SME’s that recognise sustainability has strong commercial advantages but need some simple action steps. Commenting on this collaborative project with Oxfutures, Low Carbon Hub, Oxford City Council,
the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Cherwell District Council and Bioregional, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Managing Director of Seacourt, Gareth Dinnage explained “Better Business offers a roadmap that enables firms to take important steps towards sustainability, from addressing energy use and printed communications to financial investments, recycling and transportation”.
A growing movement More and more businesses understand the benefits, opportunities and necessity to explore and develop their purpose. I was delighted to hear Dominic Hare, Chief Exec of Blenheim speaking earlier this year at a B4 event, about the shift it has made placing Purpose at the heart of the organisation. He went on to explain that not only was it the right thing to do, but it was also good for business, reiterating that the organisation is very much a business.
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