Bucks: Scrutiny panel endorses CSR accreditation scheme

CSR Accreditation, the UK’s first and only accreditation scheme for corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been endorsed by a scrutiny panel at Buckinghamshire New University.

This endorsement adds a valuable level of prestige to the accreditation scheme and is currently the only system for measuring CSR best practice which has been officially recognised by an educational body.

Promoting involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility activity has become an increasingly important objective for organisations, as they recognise the business benefits of a comprehensive CSR policy. Until recently there has been no way for them to effectively demonstrate their positive impacts.

CSR Accreditation (CSR-A) assists organisations in auditing and reporting on their sustainable and community engagement. The accreditation application process provides a simple and straight forward template on which businesses can record their activity against the CSR Four Pillars of environment, community, workplace and philanthropy.

Established in 2018, the company has accredited the CSR activity of organisations including Morgan Sindall Property Services, Seymour Taylor, B P Collins LLP and Bucks Business First. Each was assessed by the independent accreditation panel, representing the public, private and third sectors.

CSR-A required independent endorsement and recognition by a reputable educational body, such as the university, to prove due diligence. Bucks New University was ‘highly impressed’ by the company’s processes, and made recommendations which included helping schools to report on their CSR, which CSR-A has welcomed and implemented.

Richard Collins, managing director of CSRA, said: “We’re delighted to receive the University’s endorsement. A good CSR policy connects businesses with the community that surrounds them, ensures they act responsibly with regards to the environment and helps them value and look after their staff while ensuring that products and services are delivered ethically and responsibly. We hope that more companies will embrace a culture of sustainable and social purpose with profit.”

Professor Nick Braisby, vice-chancellor at Bucks New University, explained: “The scrutiny panel was highly impressed with CSR-A’s visionary approach and the way that it is working to integrate and embed CSR into all levels of education, and for its commitment, particularly to support small to medium enterprises."

Organisations can find out more about CSR accreditation, impact reporting and training courses at www.csr-accreditation.co.uk