4 minute read
BUSINESS MUST DEMONSTRATE ACTION
BUSINESS MUST DEMONSTRATE ACTION ON LEVELLING UP
SIMON BOSS
Simon Boss is Chief Executive of law firm Shoosmiths and sets out here why businesses must lead on the purpose agenda
There is nothing new about inequality in the UK – but the ways in which we address those inequalities need to be new, and need to increase – we are in no position to think that our society can improve, if we don’t really focus our minds on doing things differently. As a society, we need to ask ourselves - what can we do to really step up our efforts? What is working and what isn’t? What could we do to give everyone an equal and realistic chance to realise goals and ambitions in life – no matter who you are or where you start. Of course, there is no doubt the challenges around this are deep rooted and complex with no quick fixes, even in normal times. And thanks to Covid-19, the challenge has become even more difficult to grapple with as the pandemic has made the issues deeper and more pronounced. Building on what increasingly looks like a hugely successful vaccine rollout, we have recently heard what the route out of the latest lockdown looks like (all being well). Whilst the debate continues about the pace of this re-emergence, the promise of the greater freedoms this will bring gives us all a much-needed lift as we look forward to better times ahead. At the same time,
OPINION
we should also use this time of change to reflect on what to learn from this experience and how we want to see society change for the better as a result. Whether you call this a ‘Covid Recovery’, ‘Build Back Better’ or ‘Levelling Up’, we need to make some critical decisions to ensure there is a positive legacy for all our society, for this generation and for the next generations to benefit from. These decisions are for all of us to make – in both the public and private sectors. It cannot be about waiting and watching for someone to step up. It cannot be about just talking the talk. It cannot be about only having the best of intentions. Alongside Government, now is the time for business to turn our focus and energy to effect change to ensure we re-build from the pandemic in a fairer way for everyone. I know from my role as CEO at Shoosmiths that the expectations on business, and on business leaders, are changing – and rightly so. As important as it is to have an active and successful CSR programme, this is not enough. Our teams, this generation and the next, want to know what it is we stand for and what we are about. They want to feel connected and want to feel emotionally
engaged. They want to know what their business is doing as a responsible and decent corporate citizen and they want to be part of that. Equally, and increasingly so, our clients and customers want to know the same. Ticking boxes, making grand statements or simply getting by through doing just enough, no longer cut the mustard. To be clear, it is not just about doing the right thing (as important as that is). Operating with a strong sense of social and environmental purpose is not just a good and moral thing to do. It also makes good business sense. There is nothing new in this, there are no great revelations here. The connection is well known, researched and reported.
Operating with a clear sense of purpose and being profitable are undoubtedly linked and mutually beneficial. A powerful driver for any business, especially right now. I should put this into closer context for a moment. Shoosmiths is a leading UK law firm with over 200 partners and 1600 people operating across 13 locations. I know that we have not got all of this right at Shoosmiths – but I do believe we are very much on the right path. We are focused on this like never before through various initiatives including our levelling up action plans, reciprocal mentoring for the senior leadership team, unconscious bias training for all, our inclusion networks and our new shadow board to name some of the work we are doing. There is more we can and should be doing, building on our work in schools and colleges, in our local communities and within our organisation; building on a strong, values based culture, a place where people can be themselves and achieve their ambitions and potential to whatever level they aspire. I am proud that at Shoosmiths we are doing our bit however and whenever we can – through using foundations created by the Levelling Up Goals and by being able to spot where we can make an impact against specific community needs in the locations where our offices are based across the UK. Right now, there is an opportunity to do something different and to make a difference. As we emerge from the pandemic it is crucial that business takes the opportunity wherever it can to help with ‘Levelling Up’ across the UK; by putting social purpose at the forefront of mind, strategy and action. Now we just need to put our minds to it.
