1. Introduction

A one-day conference will take place in March 2003, hosted by Reading University Centre for Entrepreneurship, for the purpose of demonstrating to business and other organisations the benefits to be gained by adopting a strategy for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It will also link private sector organisations to those in the voluntary sector, and demonstrating to each the advantages of partnership arrangements. As CSR has now become accepted in principle my many large corporate sector organisations, there will be emphasis on how the concept works in practice, and the measurable benefits. The rhetoric over, now comes reality.

CSR is becoming an increasingly important part of the Government’s agenda, and fits well with their policy of encouraging regional partnerships among the public, private and voluntary sectors.  If adopted positively on all sides, the CSR movement can contribute significantly to the sustainability of the profit and non-profit sectors.

This follows a successful conference run on 23 November 2001 with Oxford Brookes University.

2. Objectives

To provide delegates with

o Knowledge of how a CSR strategy can make an impact on the social, ethical and environmental aspects of long-term sustainable development
o Practical examples and ways in which companies benefit from involvement with the community, as one of their key stakeholder groups
o A current view on the thinking of government and others on the role the private sector should play in the community
o A greater understanding of the not-for-profit sector, and its role in the economy, and the current attitudes of business towards the sector
o Ideas, contacts and networking opportunities
o Opportunities for participating on follow-up workshops on areas of interest

3. Target Audience

o Decision makers in the corporate sector – both large and SMEs
o Voluntary and community organisations
o Public sector organisations with an interest in this area
o In S E England and London

4. Programme

Speakers will include:

o Stephen Timms, Minister, DTI, whose brief includes CSR
o Introduction by Trevor Jones, Managing Director of Thames Water UK
o Prof. Bob Worcester, Chairman, MORI, on changing consumer attitudes to CSR, and corporate reputations
o Professor Peter Gregory, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Reading University on the role of public and social enterprise
o Director The Royal Bank of Scotland, on the business benefits of their active community programme
o Chief Executive or Director of the GoodCorporation on their charter and verification system for CSR
o Terry Ryall, Regional Director, The Prince’s Trust on the work of the Trust in working with young people in the area, and the need for corporate links and support
o Director of a SME committed to community activity
o Speaker from a small charity or social enterprise

5. Sponsorship

Thames Water has kindly agreed to take up sole sponsorship of the event. This will include assisting in the planning of the event, its publicity and associated materials. All printed matter will acknowledge this sponsorship.

6. Support 

The event will be managed to cover its costs, but in the spirit of the subject matter, all surplus funds will be donated to The Princes Trust. This charity runs programmes in this region to encourage young people onto the employment market and to set up in business. The Trust has agreed to this, and will be able to mail their extensive local contact list of businesses.

Reading University Centre for Entrepreneurship have kindly agreed to host the event, and provide delegate administration.

The Government Office - South East has agreed to support the event, and enlist speakers and other contacts in the region.
RAISE - Regional Action and Involvement South East (the network of networks for voluntary and community organisations in the South East) has agreed to support the event by means of communication with its 1200 members.
Reading Borough Council has agreed to support the event with promotion, mailing and links to business and other contacts. They are the local authority leading on CSR within the Thames Valley.

Other organisations offering support are:

* Institute of Public Relations, Thames and Chiltern
* Institute of Public Relations, Home Counties South
* Reading Business Community Partnership
* Slough Business Community Partnership
* Institute of Public Relations
* CompanyCare
* Institute of Fundraising, Chilterns Branch
*

Support is also being sought from such organisations as

o SEEDA
o Thames Valley Economic Partnership
o Thames Valley branch of the Institute of Directors
o Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry
o Thames Valley Partnership
o Learning Skills Council(s)

Organisations supporting the event will be recognised in the external promotion, as well as in delegate packs. They will also be able to display their material at the event.

Forms of support can include:

o Providing contacts who would like to be involved
o Using contacts and mailing lists to distribute the conference flyer
o Promoting on websites, with links to an on-line booking form
o Using press offices and media contacts to publicise the event

7. The Event

Date:    18 or 19 March 2003 (to be confirmed as soon as possible)
Time:    10 am to 4.30 pm
Location:   Reading University, Whiteknights Campus
Numbers:   100 - 150

8. Delegate fees

The planned levels of charges are

 Private and Public sectors:   £95
 Voluntary Sector:                  £80
      

Charles Baker

Consultant in Social Marketing

18 November 2002

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