Corporate Responsibility Group

The Corporate Responsibility Group (CRG) was a training and development network for corporate responsibility (CR) and sustainability practitioners in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1987, it was succeeded in January 2015 by spin-off Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS).

Corporate Responsibility Group
SuccessorInstitute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
Founded1987[1]
TypeNot-for-profit organisation
FocusCorporate Responsibility, Sustainability
Location
Area served
United Kingdom
Websitecrguk.org

History and governance

The group was founded in 1987,[2] as a not-for-profit organisation run by a volunteer board of corporate responsibility practitioners.

The Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability was created by CRG in 2014 to respond to the need for an organisation that supports the personal and professional development of individuals in CR, sustainability or related functions.[3]

Representing the profession

CRG undertakes research every few years on the state of its profession. Its 2009 study found that 84% of corporate responsibility professionals considered the discipline to be a mainstream business issue, compared to 72% in 2006 survey.[4]

In 2011 the group announced that it would create a professional body for individual corporate responsibility practitioners in the UK, distinct from the group's current organisation-membership model.[5]

Research

The group has collaborated with academia and government to produce research into the state of corporate responsibility. From 2002 to 2003 it supported the work of a UK government working group, commissioned by Stephen Timms MP, the then Minister of State for e-Commerce & Competitiveness[6] at the Department of Trade and Industry (now BIS), looking at professional skills development in the corporate responsibility sector. Its report, "Changing Manager Mindsets",[7] was published in 2003 in conjunction with Ashridge Business School.[8] In 2005 it produced a study with Ashridge Business School on the state of executive development amongst corporate responsibility professionals.[9] In 2007, a report published by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Cranfield School of Management reported that the "professionalisation of the corporate responsibility and sustainability function in many companies... has also been supported by organisations such as CRG".[10]

Partnerships

The group has an established link with Business in the Community (BITC). By convention, the Chair of CRG sits on the Board of Directors of BITC.[11] BITC's "Key Knowledge for CR Practitioners" primer cites[12] CRG's Code of Conduct for CR practitioners[13] under "Key Principles & Frameworks".

The Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, at the Cranfield School of Management cites the group as a partner.[14]

Membership

Membership is vetted, and comprises over 300[4] corporate responsibility professionals, representing approximately 85 organisations.[15] Membership covers those within member organisations in the private, public, and third sector, though consultants are not admitted. Among the members - many of which employ members of CRG's volunteer board - are Accenture, British American Tobacco, City of London Corporation, The Crown Estate, Herbert Smith Freehills,[16] IBM, Linklaters, Olswang, QinetiQ, RWE npower, Tata Consultancy Services, Thomson Reuters,[17] Wragge & Co and Zoological Society of London.

Events

The group runs frequent members-only events, including clinics; masterclasses and networking. In 2012 it hosted interactive sessions for members with academics in the subject.

See also

Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability

References
  1. "Boardrooms turn corporate shade of green". Marketing Week. 26 Mar 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  2. "The Corporate Responsibility Timeline". Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility. Cranfield School of Management. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  3. "UK's first professional body for corporate responsibility and sustainability launched". edie.net. Environmental Data Interactive Exchange. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  4. "CSR high on the business agenda". Philanthropy UK. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  5. "CSR: a profession that's coming of age". Ethical Performance. November 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. "Stephen Timms MP, "other offices held in the past". theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  7. Mather, Clive (18 November 2003). "Academy awards". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  8. "Changing Manager Mindsets" (PDF). Department of Trade and Industry, UK Government. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  9. "Executive Development for Corporate Responsibility Professionals" (PDF). Ashridge Business School. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  10. "Business-Led Corporate Responsibility Coalitions" (PDF). John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  11. "Board of Trustees". Business in the Community. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  12. "Key Knowledge for CR Practitioners". Business in the Community (BITC). Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  13. "Code of Conduct for Corporate Responsibility Professionals". CRG. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  14. "Our Partners". Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility. Cranfield School of Management. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  15. "Business Ethics Organisations". Institute of Business Ethics. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  16. "Corporate Responsibility". Herbert Smith LLP. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  17. "Corporate Responsibility". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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