CSR – Not just a tick in the box

Over ten years ago we made a bid for some work to provide translations and interpreting for a Government department in the North of England. The feedback was that the sample tests we submitted were excellent and, whilst our prices were not the least expensive, they were competitive at the level of quality we were providing.

However, they also said that they had decided to award the contract to a company who had demonstrated they had a CSR Policy. To be totally honest we didn’t understand what that meant so we reviewed their tender document and saw a section on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Policy’. We didn't really understand what the section of tender meant, nor at that time did we have a formalised policy. The great shame was that at the time we actually informally carried out quite a few initiatives around the business working with various charities and organisations that we could have put in the tender.

I can’t admit my initial motivation for introducing a CSR Policy to thebigword was purely for altruistic reasons. Initially and honestly we were motivated to tick a box. We formed a CSR committee, bringing together staff from different departments and levels within the business and, without going into much detail, from there we created our CSR Policy. By the second meeting, it was no longer a ‘tick of a box’ exercise or something we had to have for our tenders, it was something which was really great for our company, our people and our communities.

In 2013, we were thrilled when our CSR program was recognised by the award of a Gold Stevie (American Business award) as a winner of the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year. The award, which looks like an Oscar, has pride of place in our ever growing awards cabinet.

There is a saying that “charity begins at home” which is why all our staff are given the opportunity to take at least one volunteering day per annum. These days have been used in a variety of ways, whether it’s working on a garden on an Age Concern project, painting my old school or to setting up a recording studio in a local school in New York. 

Over the past few years we have added even more structure to our CSR program and joined forces with charity partners globally to help co-ordinate our work in the community.

Even our eating habits contribute to the community. In our offices we provide daily fruit baskets and in the UK with every basket of fruit we eat, a tree is planted. So far this year we have already planted 400 trees!

Through partners we are introduced to new charities. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with a local food bank where we collected food and also translated their booklets, as well as provide over the phone interpreting to the non-English speakers in the community. 

Our charitable employees have been very successful at fundraising, mentoring and volunteering which has been recognised by the National Investor in People when we were shortlisted for the ‘Best School/Business Partnership in 2014’ award. 

At our annual conference (two weeks ago) for the first time in our history, we included a presentation on CSR, and the sense of pride felt by thebigword was really evident.

We celebrated many of our successes, including our International Defence Division. We wanted to mark our success by giving something back so we decided to involve our Telephone Interpreting division, where we deliver 12 million minutes a year. We involved our clients and our staff in raising money to make a special donation to one of the longest serving national tri-service military charities. SSAfa.  We donated 1p for every spoken minute provided in a week for SSafa, raising an impressive £2,100.

Each year we nominate at least one global charity and I am pleased to announce that our global charity this year will be The International Rescue Committee (IRC). The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC teams provide health care, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in 40 countries, with special programs designed for women and children.

I know many of you have exciting fundraising projects coming up over the next few months (most of them involve running up mountains!) Good luck to all of you and thank you for all your support and hard work.