Winning business using social value credentials
The Responsible Business Standard: What is the Standard?
A national standard independently verifying best practice for business sustainability, environmental management and social responsibility. This Standard has received many accolades for the unique service it provides to small businesses, including support for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) from Local Authority Councils and trade bodies. These credentials help small firms win public tenders.
Why Should Business Report on Social and Environmental Issues?
Organisations are being increasingly required by law (Companies Act 2006) to ensure they meet specific standards in environmental and social governance. “Triple Bottom Line ESG” reporting (Environmental, Social and Economic Governance) is now a statutory requirement for public-funded bodies, health, education, and PLC’s. In turn, small enterprises down the supply chain are being asked to demonstrate their social and environmental credentials. The UK Public Services (Social Value) Act March 2012 obliges public procurers to check all suppliers show evidence of environmental management and social value as a pre-qualification for a share of the UK public procurement budget worth over £100 Billion a year.
How does it work?
Most organisations already meet parts of the standard. As a starting point, organisations are welcome to take a simple online questionnaire that acts as a quick SWOT analysis, providing immediate detailed responses and signposting where appropriate. This online review is free and online tuition costs just £15 at https://www.orbuk.org.uk/
Why Apply?
It shows evidence of sustainable operations and business continuity against an approved national standard. It reduces the risk of non-compliance with new Environment Laws. It improves opportunities to win tenders for corporate and public works. It uniquely includes both Environmental and Social Standards making it broader than other forms of certification, and it is less complex. It is tailored specifically for smaller organisations employing 1 to 49 persons who are unable to divert financial and technical resources to meet other standards such as B Corp and ISO
It widens marketability into public sector and corporate prime contractors. Local Authorities spend £40 Billion pa on external services and are now targeted to ensure 25% of suppliers are SMEs. The Responsible Business Standard enables small enterprises to prove their sustainability as quality suppliers for public limited companies, and public sector bodies such as NHS, schools, central government and local authority services.
For more information contact Clive Bonny [email protected] 01273 308865